Buchanan, Virginia
Buchanan is a town of 1,367 people in Botetourt County, Virginia, founded in 1832.
Why visit Buchanan
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 1 place to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Buchanan Theatre, Buchanan Historic District and Greyledge.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 27°F.
Weather in Buchanan
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Buchanan
Buchanan is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,196 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Roanoke metropolitan area. It was the western terminus of the James River and Kanawha Canal when construction on the canal ended.
From the Wikipedia article Buchanan, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
Buchanan Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Virginia, USA
Greyledge
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Wilson Warehouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Buchanan, Virginia
Restaurants and cafes1
Where to stay1
History
The town of Pattonsburg was incorporated in 1788 and was located on the opposite side of the James River. It was named for Colonel James Patton, and was connected to Buchanan via a bridge.
The town of Buchanan was established in 1811; the current town was created in 1882 from a merger of the two towns.
An 1855 gazetteer described Buchanan and Pattonsburg together containing "3 or 4 churches, 1 bank, 1 printing office, and several tobacco factories and mills." Buchanan was named for Virginia colonist John Buchanan (died 1769), a soldier and landowner who built Fort Fauquier on the James River, just south of the town.
The James River & Kanawha Canal project linked the town with the port in Richmond. It was completed in 1851 and brought a great deal of riverside development.
The Buchanan Historic District, Buchanan Theatre, Greyledge, Lauderdale, Looney Mill Creek Site, and Wilson Warehouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most buildings and structures within the historic district date from the town's large period of development in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which started after the arrival of the railroad and other industries.
From the History section of Buchanan, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship7
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Map of Buchanan
22 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 27°F | 3.2 in | 2.5 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 28°F | 2.7 in | 2.3 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 35°F | 3.7 in | 1.8 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 44°F | 3.8 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 77°F | 54°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 63°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 67°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 66°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 3.5 in | 4.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Buchanan (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Botetourt County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-04: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-10-01: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-10-15: Hurricane Florence (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Blue Ridge 12 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Hollins 19 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
- Roanoke 22 mi southwest, about 36 min by car
- Buena Vista 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
- Forest 25 mi southeast, about 40 min by car
- Salem 26 mi southwest, about 41 min by car
- Cave Spring 27 mi southwest, about 43 min by car
- Lynchburg 28 mi east, about 46 min by car
- Timberlake 28 mi southeast, about 45 min by car
- Madison Heights 32 mi east, about 52 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- TrinityEpiscopalChurchBuchanan, DwayneP ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wilson Warehouse - full view, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- GREYLEDGE, BUCHANAN, BOTETOURT COUNTY, VA, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.