Buchanan

Formed December 31, 1838 (61^st county)

Buchanan County (84,798), Saint Joseph (72,481)

The classic red brick, concrete and stone Renaissance courthouse was built in 1873 and remodeled in 1885 and 1979.  The courthouse is on a square at Jules, 4^th, Faraon, and 5^th streets.  United States Highway 59 is four blocks west of the courthouse.  P. F. Meagher designed this building.  The courthouse features a dome and columns with an internal rotunda.  A Justice Center has been added recently.  Buchanan County was originated on December 31, 1838 from Platte County as the 61^st county.  Benton was the first county seat until 1846 when Saint Joseph assumed the role.  The county is named for United States President James Buchanan.  The county seat is named by settler Joseph Robidoux for his patron saint. 

Buchanan County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a collector, a coroner, an assessor and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four Circuit Court Judge serves Buchanan and Andrew counties and One County Court Judge and a court clerk serve Buchanan County (judicial.) The county is in the northwest part of the state on the border with Kansas.  The Missouri River is its western border.  Kansas City, Missouri is south and Omaha, Nebraska is northwest of the county.  The county center is 10.9 miles South of Saint Joseph nearer Agency.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Andrew, De Kalb, Clinton, and Platte counties and Kansas. 

The area of the county is 410 square miles.  It is 109 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 14 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 206.8 persons per square mile making it 10 out of 115 in the state.  Buchanan County has 87.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 29 goes north to south through the county from Andrew County to Platte County.  United States Highway 36 passes east to west from De Kalb County to Kansas.  United States Highway 59 enters from the north, Andrew County, and exits west into Kansas.  United States Highway 71 is joined with Interstate Highway 29 from Andrew to Platte counties.  United States Highway 169 comes from the Andrew County, north, and goes into Clinton County, east.  The county is shaped like a scoop.  Saint Joseph is in the northwest corner of the county on the Missouri River.  Saint Joseph is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 85.5% of the county population.  This county is in the Saint Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area.