| Buchanan, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Buchanan, Michigan | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Berrien |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.5 sq mi (6.4 km2) |
| • Land | 2.4 sq mi (6.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 696 ft (212 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 4,681 |
| • Density | 1,950.8/sq mi (753.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 49107 |
| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-11400[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1618891[2] |
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 (8 km) west of Niles. It was named after James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States.[3] 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.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2)
As of the 2000 census[1], there were 4,681 people, 1,915 households, and 1,191 families in the city. The population density was 1,950.8 per square mile (753.1/km²). There were 2,098 housing units, for an average density of 874.3 per square mile (337.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.26% White, 10.23% African American, 1.92% multiracial, 0.60% other races, 0.51% Asian, and 0.47% Native American. Hispanics or Latinos 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.
The age structure of the population was diffuse, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% aged 18–24, 29.0% aged 25–44, 21.3% aged 45–64, and 14.5% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35. Sex ratio was skewed toward females, with 87.5 males for every 100 females of all ages and 83.1 males for every 100 females 18 years or older.
Median income was $34,244 for a household and $43,860 for a family. Males had a median income of $32,950 versus $21,857 for females. Per capita income was $16,600. About 10.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those younger than 18 and 10.7% of those older than 64.
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.[4]
The area was first settled in 1833 at the spot where McCoy Creek meets the St. Joseph River.[5] The village of Buchanan was platted in 1842 and incorporated in 1858.[6]
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. The company was formed in 1916 out of an acquisition of two other Buchanan companies.[7] Clark left the area in the 1990s, forcing 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.[8][9]
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.
Buchanan is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of US 12, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) west of US 31, 9.3 miles (15.0 km) north of the US 31 interchange of the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 90), and 20 miles (32.2 km) east of Interstate 94 (Exit 4 via US 12).
The nearest rail hubs are the Amtrak stations at Niles and New Buffalo, and the South Shore Line station in South Bend, Indiana.
Commercial air service is provided by the South Bend Regional Airport, with flights to larger hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, and St. Petersburg-Clearwater.
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 B school in terms of student population (and, therefore, athletic participation). Known as the Bucks, BHS has a strong reputation for success in high school sports, namely their Men's tennis program, which qualified for the MHSAA state championship every year for 17 years, the last being 2009. They were state champions in basketball in 1976 and 1978, baseball in 1985, Women's Basketball in 1990, Men's Track & Field in 1999, and tennis in 2003.
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