About Buchanan County

Buchanan County, originated on December 31, 1838, was named for Pennsylvania Senator and U.S. President James Buchanan. The population is approximately 85,998, occupying 409 square miles of land.

Located in latitude 39.77 degrees north and longitude 94.85 degrees west. The elevation is about 1000 feet above sea level. It is about 400 feet higher than Chicago in elevation and 600 feet above St. Louis. Its major metropolitan community is the city of St. Joseph.

The land is a mixture of rolling prairie, valleys and hills. The land is drained by several streams and rivers including the Platte, One-hundred and Two, Missouri, Bee, Castile, Malden, Ten-mile, Forty-mile, Sugar, Contrary and Blacksnake Creeks. There are numerous natural lakes in the area too, including: Contrary, Sugar, Singleton, Horseshoe, Muskrat, New Made and Mud Lakes.