Buchanan, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Buchanan, Michigan
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Buchanan, Michigan


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Berrien

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.4
area_land_km2 = 6.2
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 2.5
area_land_sq_mi = 2.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 4681
population_density_km2 = 753.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1950.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 212
elevation_ft = 696
latd = 41 |latm = 49 |lats = 39 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 21 |longs = 41 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 49107
area_code = 269
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-11400GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1618891GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Buchanan is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,681 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southeast corner of Buchanan Township, about 5 miles west of Niles.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.83%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,681 people, 1,915 households, and 1,191 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.8 per square mile (753.1/km²). There were 2,098 housing units at an average density of 874.3/sq mi (337.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.26% White, 10.23% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84% of the population.

There were 1,915 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,244, and the median income for a family was $43,860. Males had a median income of $32,950 versus $21,857 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,600. About 10.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

The St. Joseph River was once a major transportation route for Native American tribes in the area, especially the Potawatomi, and a historical marker to that effect has been placed on Moccasin Trail north of Buchanan near Batchelors Island [cite web |url=http://www.michmarkers.com/pages/L1437.htm |title=Moccasin Bluff |accessdate=2008-04-01 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=The Michigan Historical Marker Web Site |publisher= |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] .

The City of Buchanan was settled in 1833 at the spot where McCoy Creek meets the St. Joseph River. [cite web |url=http://www.berriencounty.org/econdev/pdfs/buchanan_city.pdf |title=City of Buchanan profile |accessdate=2008-04-01 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month=January |format= |publisher=Berrien County Community Development Department |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Buchanan was historically known as the headquarters for Clark Equipment Company, a manufacturer of truck axles, fork lift trucks, front-end loaders, and other heavy machinery, until that company left the area in the 1990s. This departure forced the city to diversify and a number of smaller businesses took over the buildings Clark essentially donated to the city.

Electro-Voice, a manufacturer of high quality audio equipment such as microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers, was also headquartered in Buchanan.

On April 12, 1979, farms, houses and mobile homes just north of the city were damaged by an F2 tornado. No lives were lost but several residences sustained significant damage. [cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/iwx/IWX_Tors/countymaps/Berrien.pdf |title=Berrien County MI Tornado Track Map |accessdate=2008-04-01 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=National Weather Service Northern Indiana Weather Forecast Office: [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/CLI/IWX_Tors/ Historical Tornado Data, Statistics and Maps For NWS Northern Indiana County Warning Area] |publisher= |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/wxhisttdy/index.php?url=Apr12 |title=On Apr 12 in weather history... |accessdate=2008-04-01 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=National Weather Service Northern Indiana Weather Forecast Office: [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/wxhisttdy/calendar.php Toady in Weather History] |publisher= |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Attractions

Pears Mill, a flour mill using the water power of the swiftly flowing McCoy Creek, was built in 1857 and still stands. It is open during the summer for visitors.

The Tin Shop Theatre, located near Pears Mill, is a small theater with performances in the summer. The seasons run into September and a variety of shows for everyone of any age and any occasion are performed there.

Many other attractions are located in surrounding Buchanan Township.

chools

Buchanan consists of three elementary schools, Ottawa, Stark, and Moccasin (grades K-5), with Ottawa and Moccasin making up most of the elementary age students. Buchanan also features one middle school (grades 6-8) and Buchanan High School, currently a Class C school in terms of student population (and, therefore, athletic participation). However, currently BHS is near classification as a class B school. Known as the Bucks, BHS has a strong reputation for success in high school sports including state champions in basketball in 1976 and 1978, baseball in 1985 and 1999, Women's Basketball in 1990, Men's Track & Field in 1999, and tennis in 2003.

Famous natives

1924 Olympics 200 m sprint champion Jackson Scholz was born here. He was immortalized in the film Chariots of Fire.

References

External links

* [http://cityofbuchanan.com/ City of Buchanan Home Page]
** [http://cityofbuchanan.com/community_attractions.php Buchanan Community Attractions] - Official information on Pears Mill, Tin Shop Theatre, and the Common
* [http://www.buchanan.mi.us/ Buchanan Chamber Of Commerce]
* [http://www.buchananschools.com/ Buchanan Public Schools]