Buchanan ( ) is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,196 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Roanoke metropolitan area. It was the western terminus of the James River and Kanawha Canal when construction on the canal ended.

History

The town of Pattonsburg was incorporated in 1788 and was located on the opposite side of the James River. It was named for Colonel James Patton, and was connected to Buchanan via a bridge.

The town of Buchanan was established in 1811; the current town was created in 1882 from a merger of the two towns.

An 1855 gazetteer described Buchanan and Pattonsburg together containing "3 or 4 churches, 1 bank, 1 printing office, and several tobacco factories and mills."

The James River & Kanawha Canal project linked the town with the port in Richmond. It was completed in 1851 and brought a great deal of riverside development.

The Buchanan Historic District, Buchanan Theatre, Greyledge, Lauderdale, Looney Mill Creek Site, and Wilson Warehouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most buildings and structures within the historic district date from the town's large period of development in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which started after the arrival of the railroad and other industries.

thumb|The swinging bridge across the [[James River in Buchanan, Virginia. Constructed in 1938, the piers of the bridge were built in 1851.]]

Geography

Buchanan is located at (37.525177, -79.683405).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 2.09%, is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Buchanan has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

<!-- Infobox ends -->

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census

Manspile rejects these allegations, saying a clique in the town wants to blame everything on him and that most of the former town managers no longer work as town managers, which he argued to be evidence of their ineffectiveness in the role. Cardinal News cited multiple citizens also accused Manspile and his family of using intimidation tactics against them and accused other councilmembers of always voting with Manspile, they also said that there were issues with cliques in the town. One of the councilmembers who votes with Manspile also said that he spends a lot of unpaid time dealing with maintenance issues around town, with which Manspile agrees, while also expressing that he feels underappreciated for this work and that discussions of ending utility management are an attempt to remove his influence.

Emergency medical services are also provided by the Botetourt County Department of Fire and EMS. The department operates an ambulance out of the Buchanan fire station. Previously, the Buchanan Rescue Squad provided emergency medical services to the town and surrounding area. In 2010, Botetourt County began taking measures to aid the rescue squad which had been struggling with low volunteer participation.

Transportation

Roads

U.S. Route 11 runs through the center of town as Main Street. Interstate 81 runs along the northwest side of the town, with access from Exit 167 to the north and Exit 162 to the south, both with Route 11. State Route 43 crosses the James River with Route 11 in the center of town; Route 43 leads northwest up the James River to U.S. Route 220 at Eagle Rock and southeast to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Peaks of Otter.

Rail

The CSX-operated James River Subdivision and Norfolk Southern-operated Roanoke District both run through the town.

Notable people

  • Mary Johnston, novelist and women's rights activist
  • Matthew Ramsey, songwriter and lead singer of country-rock music group Old Dominion, who conducts annual fundraisers in the town to benefit the local food bank
  • Hughie Thomasson, musician and member of Outlaws and Lynyrd Skynyrd born in Buchanan
  • James Patton, first sheriff of Augusta County, owned a "small stone house" around 1750 at Cherry Tree Bottom, across the James River from Buchanan.
  • John Buchanan, who lived for many years in the Anchor and Hope Plantation just west of the town.