Buchanan

History

The community was named after James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States. Popularly known as "Redbud City" because of the many redbud trees that have historically lined city streets and the major approaches to the city, Buchanan has long been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The area, already having been populated by Native Americans in places such as the Moccasin Bluff site, was first settled in 1833 at the spot where McCoy Creek meets the St. Joseph River. The village of Buchanan was platted in 1842 and incorporated in 1858. In 1941, as part of the Section of Fine Arts arts projects, Gertrude Goodrich painted a mural, Production, in the Buchanan post office. Later painted over, it is in the process of being restored. On April 12, 1979, farms, houses and mobile homes just north of the city were damaged by an F2 tornado. There were no deaths but several residences sustained significant damage.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Niles Senior High School
  High · NILES · 834 students · 20.9:1 ratio
• Berrien Springs High School
  High · BERRIEN SPRINGS · 561 students · 18.7:1 ratio
• Ring Lardner Middle School
  Middle · NILES · 554 students · 21.3:1 ratio
• Ballard Elementary School
  Elementary · NILES · 538 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• Buchanan High School
  High · BUCHANAN · 522 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Eastside Connections School
  Elementary · NILES · 432 students · 19.6:1 ratio
• Berrien Springs Middle School
  Middle · Berrien Springs · 408 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• Sylvester Elementary School
  Elementary · BERRIEN SPRINGS · 369 students · 14.2:1 ratio