Botetourt’s 250th Anniversary Facts:Buchanan
Buchanan, VA Celebration Facts
Our Town of Buchanan got a start in the late 1740s as the Gateway to the Southwest from the Great Shenandoah Valley along the Great Valley Road.
Looney’s Ferry carried settlers across the James River to continue the trek. Many were of Scotch-Irish, German and Swiss Origins. But some did settle here
Some early names of note in Buchanan were: Patton, Buchanan, Beale, Preston, Fulwiler, Cambell, Anderson and Taylor. The Town of Buchanan is featured in a wonderful large book for sale at the Botetourt Historical Society. (Not only informative, but I have pressed a few 4 leaf clovers in wax paper in the back.) It is called: “Buchanan, Virginia: Gateway to the Southwest.” By Henry Fulwiler, Jr. Published in 1980 it has over 900 pages of good information and reading.
Buchanan began as a transportation center due to the Great Valley Road, and later the James River and later yet, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad as well as the Norfolk and ad Western Railroad.
Today with Interstate 81 running by it, Buchanan continues to have notoriety in traffic accidents unfortunately, but being bypassed by the interstate led local resident Harold Enstminger to note for the 250th Anniversary Magazine, “It took a toll on Buchanan. “ While Route 11 ran right through the middle of town, I-81 runs around it.
Buchanan in mid 20th century thrived. It had a grocery, Sears catalog store, manufacturing and a downtown reminiscent of small-town America at its best. Today the community remains a good place to live and visit. It is a place pf festivals, churches and the Fireman’s Carnival!
The Town of Buchanan strives to revitalize and has hopes for a brighter future!
After the Covid-19 pandemic restriction is over, print out the walking tour at www.townofBuchanan.com and give Buchanan a visit!
–Cathy Benson, The Botetourt Bee. Sources, Buchanan Gateway to the Southwest by Fulwiler; Town of Buchanan website
