Buchanan County, Virginia

Buchanan County is a United States county in far western Virginia, the only Virginia county to border both West Virginia and Kentucky. The county is part of the Southwest Virginia region and lies in the rugged Appalachian Plateau portion of the Appalachian Mountains. Its county seat is Grundy.[1]

Not to be confused with Buchanan, Virginia.
Buchanan County
U.S. county
Buchanan County Courthouse in Grundy
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°16′N 82°02′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1858
Named forJames Buchanan
SeatGrundy
Largest townGrundy
Area
 • Total504 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Land503 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total24,098
 • Estimate 
(2018)
21,221
 • Density48/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.buchanancountyonline.com

Buchanan County was established in 1858 from parts of Russell and Tazewell counties, and it was named in honor of then-President James Buchanan. In 1880, part of Buchanan County was taken to form Dickenson County.

As of the 2010 census, the county population was 24,098, and had a double-digit percentage population decrease over the last three censuses.[2] In addition, as of 2012, Buchanan was the fifth-poorest county in Virginia, when ranked by median household income and has been consistently in bottom 5% percent over the past decade.[3]

History
President James Buchanan, for whom the county was named

The county was formed in 1858 from parts of Russell County and Tazewell County. It was named for James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States.[4] In 1880 the southwestern part of Buchanan County was combined with parts of Russell County and Wise County to become Dickenson County.

Helen Timmons Henderson (1877–1925)[5] helped participate in the work of the Buchanan Mission School at Council, Va. She and Sarah Lee Fain (1888–1962) of Norfolk became the first two women to be elected into the Virginia General Assembly. They were both Democrats in the House of Delegates. When Helen was in office, the delegates agreed to let 6.2 miles (10.0 km) of improved road to be placed from Russell County, across Big "A" Mountain, to Council. Route 80 is also known as "Helen Henderson Highway." In 1876, Grundy was chosen and became the county seat of Buchanan County, it was named in honor of Felix Grundy, a Senator from Tennessee.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 503.8 square miles (1,304.8 km2), of which 502.7 square miles (1,302.0 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6] It is home to Poplar Gap Park.

Districts

The county is divided into seven supervisor districts: Garden, Hurricane, Knox, North Grundy, Prater, Rock Lick, and South Grundy.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18602,793—
18703,77735.2%
18805,69450.8%
18905,8673.0%
19009,69265.2%
191012,33427.3%
192015,44125.2%
193016,7408.4%
194031,47788.0%
195035,74813.6%
196036,7242.7%
197032,071−12.7%
198037,98918.5%
199031,333−17.5%
200026,978−13.9%
201024,098−10.7%
Est. 201821,221[7]−11.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2018[7]
Age distribution of Buchanan County, Virginia

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 26,978 people, 10,464 households, and 7,900 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 11,887 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.75% White, 2.62% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.10% from other races, 0.33% from two or more races, and 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,464 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. Of all households, 22.50% were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,213, and the median income for a family was $27,328. Males had a median income of $29,540 versus $17,766 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,788. About 19.80% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of Supervisors
  • Garden District: Buddy Fuller (R)
  • Hurricane District: William P. Harris (D)
  • Knox District: Trey Adkins (D)
  • North Grundy District: James Carroll Branham (D) (Chairman)
  • Prater District: Mike Scott (D)
  • Rocklick District: Craig Stiltner (R)
  • South Grundy District: Gary Roger Rife (R)

Constitutional officers
  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Beverly S. Tiller (D)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: A. Ruth Horn (R)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Gerald D. Arrington (D)
  • Sheriff: John C. McClanahan (D)
  • Treasurer: Keith Boyd ()

Buchanan County is represented by Republican A. Benton Chafin in the Virginia Senate, Republican James W. "Will" Morefield in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican H. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Buchanan County has become a Republican stronghold at the presidential level, in common with much of Appalachia.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 78.9% 7,296 18.6% 1,721 2.5% 230
2012 66.7% 6,436 32.1% 3,094 1.2% 116
2008 52.0% 4,541 46.5% 4,063 1.5% 130
2004 45.9% 4,507 53.7% 5,275 0.5% 47
2000 39.2% 3,867 58.3% 5,745 2.5% 244
1996 27.0% 2,785 63.4% 6,551 9.6% 996
1992 28.2% 3,297 63.3% 7,405 8.6% 1,002
1988 35.7% 3,912 63.3% 6,935 1.1% 118
1984 38.7% 5,053 60.0% 7,828 1.3% 172
1980 42.9% 4,554 54.3% 5,768 2.9% 307
1976 35.9% 3,850 54.0% 5,791 10.1% 1,087
1972 56.1% 4,801 41.7% 3,566 2.2% 187
1968 37.7% 3,699 51.0% 5,003 11.4% 1,114
1964 33.0% 2,349 66.8% 4,756 0.3% 19
1960 38.9% 2,370 60.8% 3,706 0.4% 23
1956 46.7% 3,191 52.9% 3,616 0.4% 24
1952 38.7% 2,330 59.9% 3,613 1.4% 86
1948 39.2% 2,085 59.6% 3,174 1.2% 66
1944 41.0% 1,971 58.8% 2,826 0.2% 8
1940 33.6% 1,291 66.4% 2,554 0.1% 3
1936 29.9% 808 69.9% 1,886 0.2% 5
1932 34.6% 727 65.2% 1,372 0.2% 4
1928 49.4% 1,333 50.6% 1,365
1924 54.9% 1,080 44.3% 870 0.8% 16
1920 61.4% 1,078 38.5% 675 0.1% 2
1916 53.2% 827 46.3% 720 0.5% 7
1912 19.6% 223 46.1% 524 34.4% 391

Education

Colleges

Private schools
  • Mountain Mission School, Grundy
  • Keen Mountain Christian Academy, Oakwood

Public high schools

All public schools in Buchanan County are operated by Buchanan County Public Schools system.

Public elementary and middle schools
  • Twin Valley Elem/Middle School
  • Council Elementary School
  • Riverview Elementary Middle School
  • Hurley Elementary/Middle School

Former schools
  • Harman Elementary (Demolished: 2009; site is now a baseball field.)
  • Vansant Elementary (Demolished: 2007)
  • Big Rock Elementary (Demolished: 2009)
  • Grundy Jr. High School (Now the Appalachian School of Law)
  • Garden Elementary (Demolished)
  • Garden Middle School
  • Garden High School (Now the Appalachian College of Pharmacy)
  • J.M. Bevins Elementary School (Closed: 2018)
  • Whitewood Elementary School (Demolished)
  • Whitewood High School (Demolished: 2010)
  • D.A. Justus (Demolished)
  • P.V. Dennis (Now the ASL Library)
  • Russell Prater Elementary

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities
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See also

References
  1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  3. State and County Estimates through 2012. Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2011-07-06.
  4. Salmon Jr, edited by Emily J.; Campbell, Edward D.C. (1994). The Hornbook of Virginia History: a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past (4th ed.). Richmond: Library of Virginia. ISBN 0884901777.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. Sutherland, Elihu Jasper. Some Sandy Basin Characters. Published by Elihu Jasper Sutherland: Clintwood, Virginia, 1962.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2018". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-08-18.

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