Virginia

Buchanan

20,355
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Buchanan

Buchanan, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 2,793. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 20,355.

Its recorded population peaked at 37,989 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 46 percent.

On the ground today, 1 place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202020,355
201024,098
200026,978
199031,333
198037,989
197032,071
196036,724
195035,748
194031,477
193016,740
192015,441
191012,334
19009,692
18905,867
18805,694
18703,777
18602,793
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Buchanan

National Register of Historic Places listings in Buchanan, Virginia.

Buchanan County Courthouse
Grundy

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Everything a full report reveals about Buchanan County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Buchanan County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Buchanan

When does Buchanan first appear in the US census?
Buchanan, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 2,793.
What is the population of Buchanan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Buchanan had a recorded population of 20,355.
When did Buchanan's population peak?
Buchanan's recorded population peaked at 37,989 in 1980.
How many historic places are in Buchanan?
1 site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Buchanan, Virginia.
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