Buchanan County, Virginia

Not to be confused with Buchanan, Virginia.

Buchanan County
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
Founded	1858
Named for	James Buchanan
Seat	Grundy
Largest town	Grundy
Area
• Total	504 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Land	503 sq mi (1,300 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,355
• Estimate  (2023)	19,087
• Density	40/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	9th
Website	www.buchanancountyonline.com

Buchanan County (/bə.kæn.ən/) is a United States county in far western Virginia, the only county in the state 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. Buchanan County was established in 1858 from parts of Russell and Tazewell counties, and it was named in honor of then-President James Buchanan. Local pronunciation differs from that of the 15th president's surname; here the county is pronounced as "Búh-can-nin". In 1880, part of Buchanan County was taken to form Dickenson County.

As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,355. Its population has decreased by double digits in each census over the last forty years. As of 2012, Buchanan was the fifth-poorest county in Virginia, when ranked by median household income; it has consistently been in the bottom 5% over the past decade.

History

President James Buchanan, for whom the county was named

The county was formed in 1858 from parts of Russell and Tazewell counties. It was named for James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States. In 1876, Grundy was chosen and designated by the legislature as the county seat of Buchanan County, it was named in honor of Felix Grundy, a United States Senator from Tennessee.

In 1880, the southwestern part of Buchanan County was combined with parts of Russell and Wise counties to become Dickenson County.

Helen Timmons Henderson (1877–1925) participated in the work of the Buchanan Mission School at Council, Virginia. She and Sarah Lee Fain (1888–1962) of Norfolk were the first two women to be elected to the Virginia General Assembly. They were both Democrats in the House of Delegates. When Henderson was in office, delegates approved construction of 6.2 miles (10.0 km) of improved road to be built from Russell County, across Big "A" Mountain, to Council. What is now Route 80 is also known as "Helen Henderson Highway".

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. Outdoor recreation is provided by Poplar Gap Park near Grundy and William P. Harris Park located in Council.

Districts

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

Adjacent counties

• Mingo County, West Virginia – north
• McDowell County, West Virginia – east
• Tazewell County, Virginia – southeast
• Russell County, Virginia – south
• Dickenson County, Virginia – southwest
• Pike County, Kentucky – northwest

Major highways

• US 460
• SR 80
• SR 83

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	2,793		—
1870	3,777		35.2%
1880	5,694		50.8%
1890	5,867		3.0%
1900	9,692		65.2%
1910	12,334		27.3%
1920	15,441		25.2%
1930	16,740		8.4%
1940	31,477		88.0%
1950	35,748		13.6%
1960	36,724		2.7%
1970	32,071		−12.7%
1980	37,989		18.5%
1990	31,333		−17.5%
2000	26,978		−13.9%
2010	24,098		−10.7%
2020	20,355		−15.5%
2023 (est.)	19,087		−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Buchanan County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	23,205	19,210	96.29%	94.37%
Black or African American alone (NH)	614	613	2.55%	3.01%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	18	15	0.07%	0.07%
Asian alone (NH)	53	49	0.22%	0.24%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	1	0.01%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	4	10	0.02%	0.05%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	107	280	0.44%	1.38%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	95	177	0.39%	0.87%
Total	24,098	20,355	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

Age distribution of Buchanan County, Virginia

As of the census 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 people/km²). There were 11,887 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/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 aged 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: Jeff Cooper
• Hurricane District: Tim Hess
• Knox District: Trey Adkins (D)
• North Grundy District: James Carroll Branham (D)
• Prater District: Drew Keene (chairman)
• Rock Lick 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: M. Nikki Stiltner (R)
• Sheriff: John C. McClanahan (R)
• Treasurer: Keith Boyd (R)

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

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

United States presidential election results for Buchanan County, Virginia

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,939	85.03%	1,355	14.51%	43	0.46%
2020	8,311	83.50%	1,587	15.94%	55	0.55%
2016	7,296	78.90%	1,721	18.61%	230	2.49%
2012	6,436	66.72%	3,094	32.08%	116	1.20%
2008	4,541	51.99%	4,063	46.52%	130	1.49%
2004	4,507	45.85%	5,275	53.67%	47	0.48%
2000	3,867	39.23%	5,745	58.29%	244	2.48%
1996	2,785	26.96%	6,551	63.40%	996	9.64%
1992	3,297	28.17%	7,405	63.27%	1,002	8.56%
1988	3,912	35.68%	6,935	63.25%	118	1.08%
1984	5,053	38.71%	7,828	59.97%	172	1.32%
1980	4,554	42.85%	5,768	54.27%	307	2.89%
1976	3,850	35.89%	5,791	53.98%	1,087	10.13%
1972	4,801	56.13%	3,566	41.69%	187	2.19%
1968	3,699	37.68%	5,003	50.97%	1,114	11.35%
1964	2,349	32.97%	4,756	66.76%	19	0.27%
1960	2,370	38.86%	3,706	60.76%	23	0.38%
1956	3,191	46.71%	3,616	52.94%	24	0.35%
1952	2,330	38.65%	3,613	59.93%	86	1.43%
1948	2,085	39.15%	3,174	59.61%	66	1.24%
1944	1,971	41.02%	2,826	58.81%	8	0.17%
1940	1,291	33.55%	2,554	66.37%	3	0.08%
1936	808	29.94%	1,886	69.88%	5	0.19%
1932	727	34.57%	1,372	65.24%	4	0.19%
1928	1,333	49.41%	1,365	50.59%	0	0.00%
1924	1,080	54.93%	870	44.25%	16	0.81%
1920	1,078	61.42%	675	38.46%	2	0.11%
1916	827	53.22%	720	46.33%	7	0.45%
1912	223	19.60%	524	46.05%	391	34.36%

Education

Colleges

• Appalachian School of Law, Grundy
• Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Oakwood

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.

• Grundy Senior High School, Grundy
• Twin Valley High School, Pilgrims Knob
• Council High School, Council
• Hurley High School, Hurley

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)
• Jewell Valley Elementary School (Demolished: ?)
• 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 (Closed: 2014)

Communities

Towns

• Grundy

Census-designated place

• Vansant

Other unincorporated communities

• Big Rock
• Council
• Davenport
• Harman
• Harman Junction
• Hurley
• Keen Mountain
• Mavisdale
• Maxie
• Oakwood
• Pilgrims Knob
• Prater
• Shortt Gap
• Stacy
• Royal City
• Rowe
• Whitewood

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Buchanan County, Virginia
• The Virginia Mountaineer

Further reading

• Sutherland, Elihu Jasper. Some Sandy Basin Characters. Self-published by Elihu Jasper Sutherland: Clintwood, Virginia, 1962.