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Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon, West Virginia
from Wikipedia

Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, West Virginia, United States.[6] Located along the Buckhannon River, the population was 5,299 as of the 2020 census.[3] The city is 46 miles (74 km) southwest of Morgantown, 88 miles (142 km) northeast of the capital city of Charleston, and 100 miles (160 km) south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, held annually during the third week of May.[7]

Key Information

History

[edit]
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad "Blue Goose" in Buckhannon, 1914

According to tradition, the first settlers in the Buckhannon River Valley were brothers John and Samuel Pringle. John and Samuel were soldiers serving in the British army during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) who, in 1761, deserted their posts at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). They traveled southward and upstream along the Monongahela and Tygart Valley rivers, continuing up what is now called the Buckhannon River. John and Samuel are said to have arrived in present-day Upshur County in 1764 and took up residence in the hollow stump of an American sycamore tree. They lived there for three years, surviving on game and fish. When they ran out of bullets in 1765, John made the journey to settlements along the South Branch Potomac River to purchase more and found out from the locals that the war was over and the brothers were no longer wanted men. After his return, they moved to the South Branch settlements. John later went to Kentucky, but Samuel returned to the river valley in 1769 with his new wife Charity Pringle (née Cutright), her brother John Jr., friends Thomas Hughes, and John and Elizabeth Jackson with their sons George and Edward. (Edward was the grandfather of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson).[8]

The City of Buckhannon was established on January 15, 1816, possible named for Buckongahelas[9] (1720-1805), the legendary Lenape Chief. A statue of Buckongahelas and his fallen son, crafted by Buckhannon sculptor Ross Straight, was erected in Buckhannon West Virginia’s Jawbone Park in 2000.[10] Most historians think it more likely that the community and river were both named for John Buchannon, a missionary to the area in the 1780s.[11] The city was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1852, and remained part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until the secession of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War. Because of its near-central geographic location, Buckhannon was long considered a prospective site for the state capital. In 1866, the legislature approved a bill including Buckhannon among the choices for capital, but officials decided the river was not wide enough to accommodate desired commerce and ultimately settled with Charleston as the state capitol.

The first courthouse was built in 1854. It served multiple functions, including as an opera house and town hall. Electricity was installed in 1891 to replace oil lamps, but the building suffered fire damage in the first six months of electrical service, eventually being razed in 1898. In its place, a Classical Revival style courthouse, designed by Charleston architect Harrison Albright, begun construction in 1899 and was completed in 1901. An annex of the same style was added in 1995. In the cornerstone of the main building is a time capsule filled with turn of the 19th century artifacts.

The Sago Mine Disaster, January 2, 2006, killed 12 and left one survivor. Officials said that a lightning strike in the coal caused the explosion. It was the worst mining disaster in the US since a 2001 disaster in Alabama killed 13 people, and the worst disaster in West Virginia since a 1968 incident that killed 78 people. National and international news crews were in the area for upwards of three days to cover rescue and recovery efforts.

Geography

[edit]

The city lies in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. It is in the Mountain Lakes tourism region.[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.83 square miles (7.33 km2), all land.[13]

Climate

[edit]

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Buckhannon has a humid continental climate using the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm, or a humid subtropical climate using the −3 °C (26.6 °F) isotherm.[14]

Climate data for Buckhannon, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26)
80
(27)
86
(30)
93
(34)
95
(35)
96
(36)
99
(37)
99
(37)
100
(38)
92
(33)
82
(28)
79
(26)
100
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 65.3
(18.5)
67.4
(19.7)
75.2
(24.0)
83.9
(28.8)
86.8
(30.4)
89.6
(32.0)
91.4
(33.0)
91.0
(32.8)
89.8
(32.1)
82.3
(27.9)
75.2
(24.0)
66.1
(18.9)
92.9
(33.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 40.8
(4.9)
44.3
(6.8)
53.2
(11.8)
65.9
(18.8)
74.1
(23.4)
81.0
(27.2)
84.3
(29.1)
83.8
(28.8)
78.6
(25.9)
66.8
(19.3)
54.6
(12.6)
45.0
(7.2)
64.4
(18.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.0
(−0.6)
33.5
(0.8)
41.2
(5.1)
51.9
(11.1)
61.4
(16.3)
69.2
(20.7)
73.1
(22.8)
72.0
(22.2)
65.8
(18.8)
53.8
(12.1)
42.9
(6.1)
35.4
(1.9)
52.6
(11.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.1
(−6.1)
22.8
(−5.1)
29.2
(−1.6)
37.9
(3.3)
48.6
(9.2)
57.4
(14.1)
62.0
(16.7)
60.2
(15.7)
53.0
(11.7)
40.8
(4.9)
31.2
(−0.4)
25.9
(−3.4)
40.8
(4.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −2.3
(−19.1)
1.3
(−17.1)
11.7
(−11.3)
23.6
(−4.7)
33.2
(0.7)
43.7
(6.5)
51.5
(10.8)
50.0
(10.0)
39.1
(3.9)
27.4
(−2.6)
17.0
(−8.3)
7.8
(−13.4)
−5.9
(−21.1)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34)
−31
(−35)
−13
(−25)
5
(−15)
19
(−7)
29
(−2)
35
(2)
34
(1)
26
(−3)
11
(−12)
−2
(−19)
−28
(−33)
−31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.61
(92)
3.29
(84)
4.15
(105)
3.82
(97)
5.18
(132)
5.10
(130)
5.31
(135)
4.21
(107)
3.76
(96)
3.82
(97)
3.03
(77)
3.93
(100)
49.21
(1,250)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 11.9
(30)
11.3
(29)
6.7
(17)
0.7
(1.8)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
1.8
(4.6)
6.9
(18)
39.4
(100)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 17.3 14.5 14.4 14.1 15.6 14.4 13.6 12.2 11.0 11.7 11.9 15.9 166.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.4 6.2 3.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.5 4.9 25.3
Source: NOAA[15][16]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860427
187047511.2%
188076160.2%
18901,40384.4%
19001,58913.3%
19102,22540.0%
19203,78570.1%
19304,37415.6%
19404,4501.7%
19506,01635.2%
19606,3866.2%
19707,26113.7%
19806,820−6.1%
19905,909−13.4%
20005,725−3.1%
20105,639−1.5%
20205,186−8.0%
2021 (est.)5,265[3]1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 5,186 people and 2,084 households residing in the city. There were 2,431 housing units in Buckhannon. The racial makeup of the city was 90% White, 3.2% African American, 1% Asian, 0.07% Native American, 0.8% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 2,084 households, of which 37.2% were married couples living together, 37.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 21.8% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 2.97. The median age in the city was 37.8 years with 14.5% of the city's population under 18. The median income for a household in the city was $46,602 and the poverty rate was 19.5%.[18]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[19] of 2010, there were 5,639 people, 2,148 households, and 1,149 families living in the city. The population density was 1,992.6 inhabitants per square mile (769.3/km2). There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 847.3 per square mile (327.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 2.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 2,148 households, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.5% were non-families. 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 16.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 25.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 5,725 people, 2,159 households, and 1,180 families living in the city. The population density was 2,314.2 people per square mile (894.9/km2). There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 979.8 per square mile (378.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.16% White, 2.01% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 2,159 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 15.5% under the age of 18, 28.1% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,421, and the median income for a family was $36,975. Males had a median income of $30,691 versus $18,041 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,959. About 15.8% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

[edit]
The Upshur County Courthouse in Buckhannon, 2006

Upshur County and Buckhannon have maintained a Republican majority since the days of the American Civil War.[citation needed] On May 23, 1861, the voters of Upshur County voted 7 to 3 against secession from the United States.[20] The majority of soldiers from Upshur served in the Union Army, while over 180 soldiers enlisted in the Confederate Army.[21] In the 1864 presidential election, incumbent President Lincoln won the county handily against General McClellan.

The City of Buckhannon is under a Mayor-council government system. The Mayor of the City of Buckhannon serves as a Strong Mayor. He has a seat on the City Council, which includes five additional elected council members. The City Recorder is also an official. The election of the Mayor occurs every four years in the same year as the presidential elections. By law, the City Recorder succeeds to the Office of Mayor acting as the Chief Executive in the event of the sitting Mayor's death or vacancy. The City Recorder also administers the Mayoral Oath of Office.

The City Council for the City of Buckhannon:

  • Robbie Skinner - Mayor (2020–2024)
  • Randy Sanders - City Recorder (2019-2022)
  • David W. McCauley - Council Member - (2022–2026)
  • Pamela M. Cuppari Bucklew - Council Member - (2016–2024)
  • Jack Reger - Council Member - (2020–2024)
  • CJ Rylands - Council Member - (2020–2024)
  • David Thomas - Council Member - (2016–2022)

Education

[edit]
West Virginia Wesleyan College

The institutions of public primary and secondary learning serving the community of Buckhannon are operated by Upshur County Schools. West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private liberal arts college located in Buckhannon.

High schools

[edit]

Middle schools

[edit]
  • Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School

Elementary schools

[edit]
  • Buckhannon Academy Elementary School
  • French Creek Elementary School
  • Hodgesville Elementary School
  • Rock Cave Elementary School
  • Tennerton Elementary School
  • Union Elementary School
  • Washington District Elementary School[22]

Media

[edit]

There are a few radio stations and television stations located in Buckhannon. Some transmitters reach to Weston, WV, Elkins, WV, Parkersburg, WV, Morgantown, WV, Martinsburg, WV and Clay, WV.

Buckhannon is also home to a local Leased access Cable television station, Channel 3, which is available to Suddenlink cable subscribers. The station features a community bulletin board with local television advertising and events, as well as religious broadcasting and family television programming.

Buckhannon's main newspaper is the Record Delta.[23]

Notable people

[edit]

In other media

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Buckhannon is the county seat and sole incorporated city of , located along the Buckhannon River in the Appalachian region of the . As of 2023 estimates, the city has a population of approximately 5,144 residents, with a median age of 32.6 years and a household income of $48,720. Originally settled in the early and formally established in , Buckhannon developed as a hub for and later natural resource industries including , , and production. The city is home to , a private liberal arts institution founded in 1890 as the West Virginia Conference Seminary, which contributes to its educational and cultural profile through academic programs, arts events, and community engagement. Buckhannon hosts the annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival, a longstanding event originating in that celebrates the region's agricultural heritage with parades, contests, and local produce, drawing visitors to its rural charm and small-town traditions. Economically, it functions as a trade center for livestock and strawberries, supplemented by manufacturing and energy sectors, though it faces challenges like a rate exceeding 24 percent amid broader Appalachian economic patterns. These elements define Buckhannon as a quintessential Appalachian community balancing historical roots, educational presence, and resource-based livelihoods.

History

Early Settlement and Founding

The region encompassing present-day Buckhannon was historically utilized as hunting grounds by Native American tribes, including the Delaware (Lenape), with evidence of earlier Adena mound-builder activity dating to prehistoric times. European pioneer settlement commenced in the 1760s amid the broader frontier expansion into northwestern Virginia, marked by isolation, rudimentary living conditions, and vulnerability to attack. John and Samuel Pringle, British deserters from Fort Pitt, are documented as the earliest known settlers, taking refuge in 1764 within a massive hollow sycamore tree at Turkey Run, approximately two miles north of the modern town site along the Buckhannon River. By around 1770, additional families—including the Hackers, Cutrights, and Hughes—had coalesced into a nascent community in Buckhannon Valley, constructing basic fortifications such as Bush's Fort for defense against Native American incursions. The river's name derives most plausibly from (c. 1720–1805), a prominent chief and British ally during the Revolutionary War who led migrations westward and conducted hunts in the vicinity, though some accounts posit a local indigenous term for the waterway. Settlers endured profound hardships, including food scarcity, exposure to harsh Appalachian weather, and persistent violence from tribal raids, which were exacerbated by intertribal displacements and European encroachment; for instance, Bush's Fort was razed by Native warriors in 1782 during a broader wave of frontier assaults tied to post-Revolutionary tensions. These conflicts, part of conflicts like Dunmore's War (1774), compelled residents to maintain vigilance, with notable scouts such as Jesse Hughes aiding in reconnaissance against and other groups. The community achieved formal recognition when the incorporated Buckhannon as a town on January 15, 1816, following a 1815 platting of the site by Colonel Edward Jackson, grandfather of . This step followed stabilization after the (1795) and subsequent pacts that curtailed large-scale raids, enabling gradual population growth. In 1851, the Virginia legislature created Upshur County from portions of Lewis, , and Barbour counties, designating Buckhannon the seat due to its central location and established infrastructure.

19th Century Development

During the antebellum era, Buckhannon's development was anchored in and nascent extractive industries, including small-scale and grain milling powered by local sources along the Buckhannon . Farmers cultivated crops such as corn and on hilly terrain unsuitable for large plantations, supplemented by rudimentary timber harvesting for construction and fuel, which relied on overland trails and river flatboats for transport to markets in nearby counties. Upshur County's formation on March 26, 1851, from portions of Barbour, Lewis, and Randolph counties, elevated Buckhannon's status as the prospective , spurring modest infrastructure improvements like improved county roads to connect isolated farms. The Civil War profoundly shaped local trajectories, with Upshur County's predominant Unionist orientation—rooted in economic self-sufficiency and aversion to eastern Virginia's planter dominance—positioning Buckhannon as a key Union staging point in spring 1861, from which federal troops advanced toward the on June 3. militias repelled early Confederate probes, including a June 1861 skirmish involving clashes that highlighted divided local loyalties despite overall pro-Union control. Confederate forces briefly recaptured the town on April 28, 1863, amid guerrilla disruptions, but Union dominance prevailed, contributing causally to voter approval of West Virginia's statehood constitution on May 23, 1863, effective June 20; these events caused temporary economic halts through troop requisitions, bridge burnings, and supply shortages, though slavery's limited local footprint (under 7% enslaved population regionally) minimized plantation-scale devastation. Postwar recovery emphasized institutional consolidation and commerce revival, with Buckhannon leveraging its role to host the Upshur County (established circa 1851) for legal and administrative functions, fostering in agricultural goods and milled products via restored routes. Basic mercantile growth ensued, supported by Republican-leaning governance that prioritized stability over reconstruction-era federal interventions, enabling gradual population influx and farm expansions without reliance on external capital; by the , residential districts began coalescing around , reflecting incremental prosperity from local resource utilization rather than industrial booms.

20th Century Growth and Challenges

In the early 1900s, Buckhannon and surrounding Upshur County saw economic expansion fueled by resource extraction, particularly timber, , and . Timber operations, bolstered by railroad access established in 1883, contributed to a statewide peak around 1910, with hundreds of sawmills operating across and supporting job growth in processing. The discovery of and gas reserves in the region introduced new and production activities, drawing workers and stimulating local prosperity through energy exports. This period aligned with Buckhannon's population rising from 1,589 in the 1900 census to higher levels by mid-century, as employment in these extractive sectors attracted migrants seeking resource-based livelihoods. The World Wars provided temporary surges in demand for West Virginia's natural resources, including timber for construction and fuel from and gas for military needs, temporarily elevating production and employment in Upshur County. Post-World War II, however, transformed extractive industries, with technologies like continuous miners and advanced rigs reducing labor intensity; by 1950, agreements in (analogous to oil and gas operations) permitted widespread machine adoption, cutting workforce needs despite steady output. Timber harvesting similarly shifted toward efficiency gains, diminishing manual jobs as forests regenerated but operations consolidated. By the late , hit Buckhannon amid declining oil and gas output—statewide production peaked around 1970 before falling due to exhausted fields and competition from lower-cost sources elsewhere—leading to job losses and outmigration. stalled, peaking at 6,612 in the before modest declines, as extractive employment contracted from and market shifts, trapping the area in Appalachian patterns driven by rugged terrain limiting diversification and resident skills mismatched for emerging non-manual sectors. These dynamics reflected broader causal factors like and technological displacement over policy interventions.

Recent Developments

Buckhannon's population declined from 5,299 in the 2020 census to an estimated 5,144 by 2023, with projections indicating a further drop to approximately 4,971 by 2025 at an annual rate of -0.84%. This trend reflects broader rural depopulation pressures in north-central , though has bolstered local stability through enrollment increases, including its largest mid-year incoming class since at least 2017 and student-led service projects contributing nearly 10,000 volunteer hours—equivalent to $85,400 in economic value based on state —in the 2023-2024 . The institution's growth, supported by initiatives like first-responder tuition discounts and high financial aid penetration (over 95% of students), has helped sustain retail and service sector activity amid outmigration. In October 2025, timber company announced a $1 million multi-year investment in Buckhannon via its THRIVE program, partnering with local officials, businesses, and nonprofits to fund community projects enhancing workforce development and infrastructure tied to regional timber operations. This commitment, distributed over several years, underscores adaptive economic strategies in a county reliant on natural resources, with early planning sessions focusing on self-sustaining initiatives rather than short-term aid. Local responses to the opioid crisis have emphasized targeted recovery efforts, including the North-Central West Virginia Community Opioid Response consortium serving Upshur County through resource coordination for prevention and treatment. Buckhannon City Council has allocated opioid abatement funds to support West Virginia Wesleyan College's new certificate program in addiction counseling, aiming to build endogenous capacity for management without heavy external dependency. These measures align with 2025 county priorities for infrastructure upgrades, such as a $33 million plant, to foster resilience in core services.

Geography

Physical Features and Location


Buckhannon is located in north-central within Upshur County, serving as the and positioned along the Buckhannon River, a of the . The city occupies a site at the river's approximate elevation of 1,310 feet above , where the waterway drops from higher headwaters reaching 3,750 feet. This positioning places Buckhannon in a valley setting amid the Appalachian Plateau's dissected landscape.
The surrounding terrain consists of rolling hills, narrow valleys, and dense forests typical of the portion of the Appalachian region, with sedimentary dominated by Paleozoic-era shale, , and associated strata that underlie the area's surface. These geological formations contribute to the region's , including periodic flood risks from the river's meandering course through the valley, while the valleys and forested uplands historically support timber resources and limited . Regionally, Buckhannon lies approximately 27 miles south of Clarksburg, facilitating access to broader north-central networks, though the hilly terrain constrains direct connectivity. The Appalachian setting underscores potentials for extractive activities tied to the underlying and layers, which have shaped local landforms through and deposition over geological time.

Climate

Buckhannon has a (Köppen Dfb), featuring warm, humid summers and short, cold, snowy winters influenced by its Appalachian elevation around 1,400 feet. Average high temperatures reach 83°F in , while lows average 21°F, with an annual mean of 51.4°F. These conditions support a of about 170 days, enabling seasonal such as corn and hay production, though frost risks persist into late spring. Annual measures 49 inches, evenly distributed but peaking at 5.2 inches in May and , contributing to lush and river-fed water supplies vital for local farming and economies. Snowfall averages 40 inches yearly, concentrated in winter months, which can disrupt transportation but allows for limited winter outdoor pursuits like when conditions permit. remains high year-round, averaging 75-80%, fostering comfortable summers for residents but increasing mold risks in poorly ventilated structures. The city's riverside setting exacerbates flood vulnerability during heavy rains, as seen in the November 1985 Election Day floods that inundated parts of Buckhannon, damaging homes and infrastructure amid statewide losses exceeding $700 million. Similar risks materialized in June 2016, when intense downpours caused localized overflows, though primary devastation struck southern counties; these events underscore the need for resilient management to protect and residences. Variability in patterns, rather than long-term trends, drives such episodic impacts on daily life and economic stability.

Demographics

Buckhannon's population peaked at 6,612 residents in 1990, reflecting mid- to late-20th-century stability tied to regional resource industries. Subsequent decennial censuses documented consistent erosion: 5,639 in 2010 and 5,299 in 2020. By 2023, estimates placed the figure at 5,144, marking a -0.84% annual decline rate over recent years.
YearPopulation
19906,612
20005,905
20105,639
20205,299
20235,144
Projections forecast further contraction to 4,971–5,040 by , assuming sustained -0.8% annual losses driven by net outmigration exceeding natural increase. This trajectory aligns with broader Appalachian rural patterns, where youth outmigration—primarily 20–24-year-olds departing for urban job markets—accounts for up to 43% of decadal losses in depopulating counties. Primary causal factors include selective of working-age individuals amid limited local opportunities, exacerbating dependency ratios despite Buckhannon's age of 32.6 (younger than West Virginia's statewide 42.7, partly due to college enrollment). Aging trends persist as in-migration fails to offset exits, contrasting marginally with state-level declines tempered by occasional inflows. The 2020 census enumerated 2,431 housing units, with occupancy rates implying vacancy around 15–20% when benchmarked against household sizes, signaling structural underutilization from prolonged depopulation.

Composition and Socioeconomic Indicators

Buckhannon exhibits a racially and ethnically homogeneous population. The reported that 86.6% of residents identified as White (non-Hispanic), 5.9% as Black or African American (non-Hispanic), 3.8% as two or more races, 1.3% as Asian, and smaller shares for other groups.
Race/EthnicityPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)86.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)5.9%
Two or more races3.8%
Asian1.3%
Other groupssmaller shares
The foreign-born population is minimal at 1.7%, consistent with broader patterns in rural where immigration remains low. The median age in Buckhannon is 32.6 years, younger than the national median due in part to the student population at . Household composition includes 44% married-couple families among all households, a figure that aligns with data indicating relative stability in family structures amid regional economic pressures. Socioeconomic indicators reflect challenges typical of small, rural communities in . The median household income was $48,720 in 2023, below both state and national averages. The poverty rate stood at 24.6%, elevated compared to the U.S. rate of about 11.5%, attributable to factors such as limited job diversity and outmigration in the Appalachian region. Educational attainment is relatively strong for high school completion, with approximately 90% of adults aged 25 and older holding a or equivalent, though advanced degrees are less common at around 22% for bachelor's or higher. The presence of a local contributes to postsecondary participation, with levels of associate's degrees or above reaching about 35% when including some college credits leading to credentials.

Economy

Key Industries and Employers

The primary resource-based industry in Buckhannon is timber and wood processing, anchored by 's products facility, which has operated in the city for over 25 years and consistently ranks among the company's highest performers. In October 2025, committed $1 million to local community development through its THRIVE program, partnering with businesses, nonprofits, and officials to bolster workforce and infrastructure stability. Complementing this sector, Prime 6 announced a $35 million in 2024 to establish a facility specializing in sustainable wood products, enhancing processing capabilities and local supply chain resilience. Education stands as a cornerstone employer, with , a private liberal arts institution, supporting approximately 787 positions across administrative, academic, and support roles. This institution contributes to economic steadiness by fostering skilled labor and retaining talent in a region with small-scale , specialty , and retail operations that primarily serve local consumption and tie into broader service ecosystems. Buckhannon's economy has oriented toward diversification into services and light industries since the late 1990s, as outlined in the city's 2025 Comprehensive Plan, which prioritizes , innovation hubs like the IDEA Center, expansion, and entrepreneurial networks to mitigate volatility from traditional sectors. Energy extraction remains limited relative to West Virginia's statewide reliance on and , with planning efforts instead emphasizing renewables such as solar to promote sustainable growth without heavy dependence on volatile extractives.

Employment, Income, and Challenges

The rate in Upshur County, where Buckhannon serves as the , stood at 4.6% in 2024, aligning with regional figures of approximately 4-5% amid broader labor market trends. Median household income in Buckhannon reached $48,720 in 2023, reflecting modest growth from prior years but remaining well below the national median of $78,538. This stagnation underscores income disparities, with local at $25,259 and a rate of 24.6%, exceeding national averages. Key challenges include persistent outmigration, which has contributed to West Virginia's workforce shrinkage by over residents in the past decade, exacerbating labor shortages in Buckhannon's rural context. Skill gaps persist in declining sectors like traditional and , where transitions demand enhanced competencies in areas such as and technical proficiencies, limiting adaptation without targeted training. These factors compound over-reliance on employment, which data indicate fosters inefficiencies through lower productivity relative to private alternatives in comparable Appalachian regions. Adaptation strategies emphasize private sector partnerships and college-aligned job pipelines, leveraging institutions like to address skill mismatches via workforce-aligned programs. Empirical resilience counters Appalachian stereotypes of high ; while exhibits elevated federal aid reliance, Buckhannon's poverty metrics reflect structural economic pressures more than entrenched non-participation, with private investments signaling viability. Notably, announced a $1 million multi-year commitment in October 2025 through its THRIVE program to bolster community economic initiatives in Buckhannon, prioritizing timber-related over public subsidies.

Government and Politics

Local Governance Structure

Buckhannon employs a mayor-council form of municipal government as authorized under West Virginia Code §8-3-2. The mayor functions as the chief executive, overseeing administrative operations and delivering annual addresses on city priorities, while the city council handles legislative duties including budget approval. As the Upshur County seat, Buckhannon administers county-level functions through the county commission, which manages fiscal and administrative responsibilities outlined in West Virginia Code Chapter 7. The Upshur County Courthouse in Buckhannon hosts the Circuit Court and shares Family Court jurisdiction with Lewis County in the seventeenth circuit. The city's fiscal year 2025-26 general fund budget totals $6.86 million, down from $7.59 million the prior year due to diminished one-time grant inflows such as FEMA reimbursements. Revenue derives mainly from property taxes, municipal business and occupation taxes, and variable state or federal grants, with recent incentives including partial property tax rebates for targeted developments. Allocations prioritize public safety via police and volunteer fire services, alongside utility operations managed by semi-autonomous water and sewer boards. Municipal infrastructure maintenance draws from dedicated funds, with $200,000 annually committed to street paving amid broader needs exceeding 100,000 square yards of resurfacing. The 2025 Comprehensive Plan, adopted following public input and planning commission review in 2019, establishes goals for sustained infrastructure upgrades, parks improvements, and economic alignment without new revenue mandates. This framework addresses deferred maintenance realities, emphasizing cost-effective preservation over expansion.

Political Orientation and Elections

Upshur , home to Buckhannon, demonstrates a consistent strong preference for Republican candidates in federal and state elections, aligning with broader rural trends favoring intervention and resource industry interests. In the , secured 7,721 votes (75.0%) against Joe Biden's 2,247 (21.8%), with minor candidates receiving the remainder, out of approximately 10,300 total votes cast countywide. This margin reflected a 53.2-point Republican advantage, exceeding the statewide Republican lead of 38.9 points. Similarly, in the 2024 presidential contest, Trump captured 77.4% of the vote in Upshur , compared to 20.6% for , yielding a 56.8-point margin amid 23,875 total votes.
YearRepublican CandidateVotesPercentageDemocratic CandidateVotesPercentage
20207,72175.0%2,24721.8%
2024~18,480*77.4%~4,916*20.6%
*Approximate based on reported percentages and total votes. State-level races reinforce this pattern, with Republicans dominating representation for Upshur County. In the 2024 general election, Republican Robbie Martin won the West Virginia House of Delegates District 65, which includes the county, defeating the Democratic by emphasizing local economic concerns tied to and sectors. data as of April 2023 shows Republicans outnumbering Democrats statewide, a trend mirrored in rural counties like Upshur where GOP affiliation has grown amid shifts from historical Democratic loyalty in . Municipal elections in Buckhannon operate on a non-partisan basis, yet outcomes often align with conservative fiscal policies, including resistance to tax increases and regulatory burdens on and extractive industries central to the local economy. Incumbent mayors and council members, such as those re-elected in and , have prioritized budget balancing and maintenance without expanding scope, reflecting voter emphasis on low-tax . Community engagement in elections underscores support for Second Amendment rights, with high rural gun ownership rates and participation in pro-firearm advocacy consistent with West Virginia's permissive laws and low regulatory environment.

Education

Higher Education Institutions

West Virginia Wesleyan College serves as the principal higher education institution in Buckhannon, operating as a private affiliated with the . Founded on September 3, 1890, as the West Virginia Conference Seminary, it adopted its current name in 1906 and emphasizes undergraduate alongside select graduate programs. The college spans a 110-acre rural and offers nearly 60 majors and 40 minors, with particular offerings in fields such as , , , and sciences including and . Its Department of History and International Studies provides an interdisciplinary major focused on global cultures, , and study abroad opportunities, preparing graduates for careers in , , and international business. Enrollment at West Virginia Wesleyan has shown growth amid national declines in small private college attendance, bucking broader demographic trends in . For the 2023-2024 academic year, total enrollment stood at 991 students, including 938 undergraduates, with undergraduate numbers rising to 971 by fall 2024. The institution reported a 20% increase in freshman enrollment from residents in 2024 compared to 2023, alongside a 37% rise in graduate enrollment for fall 2025 over the prior year, driven by expansions in programs like the Executive MBA and Master's in Counseling. Incoming freshmen for fall 2025 exceeded 390, marking the largest class since 2017 and reflecting strategic recruitment from 40 counties. The contributes to Buckhannon's as a major , supporting , staff, and administrative positions while fostering local spending by students and visitors. Its initiatives, including nearly 10,000 volunteer hours by service scholars in 2023-2024—equivalent to $85,400 in economic value at West Virginia's minimum wage—enhance regional vitality through partnerships with local organizations. Cultural events, athletic programs, and academic offerings draw external engagement, sustaining Buckhannon's profile as an educational hub in Upshur County despite rural challenges.

Primary and Secondary Schools

Upshur County Schools operates the primary and secondary public education system serving Buckhannon, encompassing 10 schools with a total enrollment of 3,776 students and a student-teacher of 15:1 as of recent data. The district includes elementary schools such as Buckhannon Academy Elementary and Middle schools, alongside Buckhannon-Upshur High School as the primary secondary institution for grades 9-12, which enrolls approximately 1,120 students with a student-teacher of 17:1. Enrollment figures reflect broader trends of gradual decline tied to shifts, though specific district data shows relative stability in high school numbers from 1,058 in 2021 to 1,120 in 2023-2024. Performance metrics from the West Virginia Department of 's indicate mixed results, with Upshur County schools testing below state averages in core subjects but demonstrating recent gains. In 2023, district math proficiency stood at 43%, compared to the statewide 51%, while arts showed similar underperformance; however, by 2024-2025, math achievement improved from 41.7% in 2022 to 49.67%, aligning with statewide trends where 86% of districts advanced in ELA and 83% in math. Buckhannon-Upshur High School ranks 67th out of approximately 100 high schools, placing it in the bottom 50% for overall test scores, with a 92% four-year rate exceeding state medians. These outcomes prioritize foundational skills in reading, math, and per state assessments, with limited emphasis on non-core curricula evident in scorecard priorities. Vocational education integrates with secondary schooling through the Fred W. Eberle Technical Center, which provides career and technical programs to high school students from Upshur County and neighboring areas, focusing on trades relevant to local and . Offerings include one- and two-year courses in allied , automotive , , HVAC, diesel , , and computer systems, alongside certifications in areas like commercial driving and for adult and high school participants. These programs emphasize practical skills for employment in Upshur County's economy, with clinical and hands-on training components, such as 120 hours for certified nursing assistant preparation, supporting alignment over generalized academics.

Culture and Community Life

Local Traditions and Events

The West Virginia Strawberry Festival, an annual event in Buckhannon since its inception in 1936, highlights the area's agricultural roots through strawberry competitions, parades, pageants, and exhibits of local produce. Organized initially by the Buckhannon Lions Club as the Central Strawberry Festival to promote regional strawberries, it expanded and was renamed in 1959, now spanning nine days in May with over 70 activities including carnival rides and artisan displays that draw thousands of visitors. Church attendance and family gatherings form core traditions, particularly around holidays such as and , where residents participate in services, shared meals, and communal activities that reinforce ties in Upshur County. With nearly 80 churches serving a of about 25,000, these practices underscore a community emphasis on mutual support and moral continuity amid Appalachian rural life. Outdoor activities like prevail as seasonal pursuits, facilitated by local suppliers and public lands such as Stonecoal Lake Wildlife Management Area, where deer and small game seasons align with state regulations and foster in the forested terrain. Community resilience manifests in volunteer-driven responses to adversities, including floods, where Buckhannon residents have mobilized aid for nearby victims through organized cleanups, supply drives, and partnerships with groups like , exemplifying grassroots coordination without heavy reliance on external mandates.

Media and Communication

My Buckhannon, an independent online news platform launched in the 2010s, delivers daily in-depth reporting on , developments, , , and community events in Buckhannon and Upshur County, staffed by experienced local journalists. The Record Delta, a longstanding affiliated with WVNews and published multiple days weekly (, , and Friday), covers similar local topics including sports, obituaries, and public records, serving as a key print and digital resource for residents seeking accountable, community-oriented journalism amid widespread skepticism toward national media narratives. Radio broadcasting in Buckhannon includes WBUC (105.7 FM), a classic country station licensed to the city and focusing on music alongside local announcements, and WBRB (101.3 FM, "The Bear"), which provides country programming and serves the immediate area. WVPW (88.9 FM), an NPR affiliate operated by West Virginia Public Broadcasting, extends public radio content including news and cultural programs to Buckhannon and nearby Weston, emphasizing non-commercial, fact-based coverage. Television access relies on regional affiliates receivable over-the-air or via cable providers like Optimum and Suddenlink, with up to 14 channels available, including WDTV ( affiliate, channel 5) for news and weather, WVFX ( affiliate, channel 10) for entertainment and local inserts, and WBOY ( affiliate) for broader reporting. Channel 3, a local leased-access cable channel, broadcasts community-produced content to over 10,000 viewers in Buckhannon and surrounding areas, prioritizing hyper-local issues over urban-centric sensationalism. These outlets collectively emphasize verifiable local coverage—such as infrastructure projects, minor crimes, and civic events—contrasting with national media's often remote and agenda-driven focus, thereby sustaining grassroots oversight and trust in a small-town environment where direct resident engagement enhances accountability. Post-2010s digital transitions, exemplified by My Buckhannon's online model, have bolstered resilience against print declines, enabling real-time updates and broader accessibility while countering information gaps from distrusted mainstream sources.

Notable Individuals

Jayne Anne Phillips, an acclaimed American novelist, was born in Buckhannon on July 19, 1952. Her works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Night Watch (2023), often draw on Appalachian themes and family histories. Stephen Coonts, a bestselling thriller author known for the Jake Grafton series and (adapted into a 1991 film), was also born in Buckhannon on July 19, 1946. A U.S. aviator during the , Coonts has published over 20 novels emphasizing military aviation and suspense. Colonel George R. Latham, a Union officer during the Civil War, resided in Buckhannon and served as a U.S. congressman from West Virginia's first district (1867–1869) before becoming U.S. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (1869–1870).

References

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