Buckner is a village in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 409 at the 2020 census. The current mayor is Aaron Eubanks.
History
The village was named after American Civil War Union veteran Moses Buckner (b. February 11, 1827, d. April 17, 1882), who served in the 15th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry.
United Coal Mine No. 2 opened in 1911 in Buckner under the ownership of the United Coal Mining Company (later the United Coal Corporation). The mine was sold to the Old Ben Coal Corporation in 1960, and renamed Old Ben Coal Mine No. 14. Eight men were killed in an explosion in 1915, and one man was killed in a gas explosion in 1931. The mine was idle in 1933. Its last production was 1960.
The opening of the mines attracted immigrant workers. A large number of miners arrived, many of them from Austria-Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and many of Lemko and Rusyn origin.
Along with the still standing Holy Protection Church in Royalton, Grand Tower, and Dowell.
This village had a number of taverns and nightclubs and was known as one of the biggest entertainment areas of Franklin County from the 1950s to the early 1980s. in 2023 the last restaurant closed leaving only the liquor store left. In 2025 the restaurant reopened under a new name & company.
Geography
Buckner is located in west-central Franklin County. Illinois Route 14 passes through the village, leading east to Benton, the county seat, and west to Christopher.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Buckner has a total area of , of which (or 97.65%) is land and (or 2.35%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2020 census