Buchanan County, Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Buchanan County, Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Buchanan County is located in the southwestern area of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is the only county to border West Virginia and Kentucky. The county was named after the 15th U.S. President, James Buchanan.[1]
County Courthouse
Buchanan County Courthouse
1012 Walnut Street
P.O. Box 929
Grundy, VA 24614
Phone: 276-935-6567
Buchanan County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1885. [2]
Buchanan County, Virginia Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth | Marriage | Death | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1853 | 1885 | 1853 | 1885 | 1885 | 1885 | 1810 |
General compliance year is unknown. | ||||||
Record Loss
Visit the Library of Virginia's website to determine exactly what records have been lost and their Lost Records Localities Database to find additional resources.
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Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Historic communities | ||
History Timeline
The county was named after President James Buchanan (1791-1868), who was in office at the time of the county's formation.
Resources
Bible Records
For databases and indexes, see Virginia Bible Records.
- 1607-2007 Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- 1800-1986 Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Census Records
For databases, indexes, and information online, see Virginia Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 2,793 | — |
| 1870 | 3,777 | 35.2% |
| 1880 | 5,694 | 50.8% |
| 1890 | 5,867 | 3.0% |
| 1900 | 9,692 | 65.2% |
| 1910 | 12,334 | 27.3% |
| 1920 | 15,441 | 25.2% |
| 1930 | 16,740 | 8.4% |
| 1940 | 31,477 | 88.0% |
| 1950 | 35,748 | 13.6% |
| 1960 | 36,724 | 2.7% |
| 1970 | 32,071 | −12.7% |
| 1980 | 37,989 | 18.5% |
| 1990 | 31,333 | −17.5% |
| 2000 | 26,978 | −13.9% |
| 2010 | 24,098 | −10.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org" | ||
1860 Agricultural Census
- The 1860 Agriculture Ceneus [sic] of Buchanan County, Virginia. 1992. By Jeffrey C. Weaver. Clintwood, Virginia : Mullins Printing. Available at FS Library.
1890 Union Veterans
- Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. By Ronald Ray Turner. FS Catalog book 975.5 X2t 1890; FS Library film #1425065, item 14(*); images.
- 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census. Online at: Ancestry ($).
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1865-1872 Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Funeral Homes
- 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
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Genealogies
Compiled Genealogies by Surname
- See Buchanan County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a few published books and Articles.
Compiled genealogies for multiple families
- Atkins, Oscar T. Buchanan County, Virginia, Families 1860. Williamson, West Virginia: East Kentucky/Southern W.Va. Family Records, 1997. FS Catalog Collection ["Taken in part from the federal census of Buchanan County, Virginia, for 1860, ... and from tax lists, from other census records, marriage records, and from the library and files of the compiler."--T.p.]
- Sutherland, Elihu Jasper. Some Sandy Basin Characters. 1962; reprint, Clintwood, Va.: Hettie Sutherland, 1985. FS Catalog Collection
- Early Southwest Virginia Families: Families of Kelly, Smyth, Buchanan, Clark and Related Families of Edmondson, Keys, Beattie, Ryburn, McDonald. 1960. By Elizabeth Kelly Allison. Ann Arbor, MI : Edwards Brothers, Inc. Online at: Hathitrust.
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
For land indexes, records, and databases, see Virginia Land and Property, including Colonial and State Land Grants.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- Looking Back One Hundred Years, a Brief Story of Buchanan County and Its People. 1979. By Hannibal Albert Compton. Knightstown, Indiana : Bookmark. At various libraries (WorldCat).
- The Forests of Buchanan County, Virginia. 1918. By W. G. Schwab. Charlottesville, Virginia : Office of State Forester, University of Virginia. Online at: Hathitrust, Google Books.
Maps and Gazetteers
County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For map collections, online and in libraries, see Virginia Maps.
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
War of 1812
- List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... 1883. Washington, D.C : Government Printing Office. Online at: Internet Archive, Google Books. See Vol. 5, Virginia, Buchanan County, p. 65.
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1861-1865 Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
Civil War service men in Buchanan County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
- - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (State Line) (Confederate)
- - 2nd Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry) (Confederate). Company D, likely Company I.
- - 4th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (State Line) (Confederate)
- - 7th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate)
- - 10th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate)
- - 14th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate). Companies C, F, G, H, and I
- - 21st Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate)
- - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Bowen's Virginia Mounted Riflemen) (Confederate). Company B.
- - 29th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F.[7]
- - 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Battalion, Virginia Mounted Rifles) (Confederate). Company C and Company E.[8]
- - 50th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)
- - 51st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)
- - 64th Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Company F2.[9]
- - French's Battalion, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)
World War II
- 1940-1945 Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1906-1929 Virginia Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
For online newspaper resources, see the Virginia Newspapers page.
- 1800s-Current Virginia, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
For statewide probate records, indexes, and databases, see Virginia Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
For additional online collections and the value and use of Virginia's tax lists in your research, see Virginia Taxation.
Vital Records
For additional indexes, databases, and details, see Virginia Vital Records.
Birth
- 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-1866 Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-1896 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Records, 1853-1896 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images, coverage may vary
- 1912-1913 Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1584-1917 Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Marriage
- 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($).
- 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1771-1989 Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index ; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- 1936-1988 Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death
- Deaths are online in the Library of Virginia's Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, sponsored by The Virginia Genealogical Society.
- 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1853-1912 Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1912-1987 Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Early Deaths, Buchanan County, Virginia, 1858-1896. 1990. By Jesse Stewart. Grundy, Virginia : J. Stewart. Available at FS Library.
Divorce
- 1918-1988 Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Buchanan County. For state-wide facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Bristol Virginia FamilySearch Center
- Pembroke Virginia FamilySearch Center
- Smyth County Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Washington County Public Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Buchanan County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Buchanan County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.
Websites
- Buchanan Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
- Cyndi's List
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
- A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Buchanan County. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1962):81-82. CD available at: American Ancestors ($).
References
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchanan_County,_Virginia
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Burned Record Counties (VA-NOTES). (n.d.). Library of Virginia. Retrieved 4 May 2012, from http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/va22_burnedco.htm.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Buchanan County, Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchanan_County,_Virginia, accessed 29 December 2021.
- ↑ John Perry Alderman, 29th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1989). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 53.
- ↑ Scott C. Cole, 34th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1993). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 94.
- ↑ Jeffrey C. Weaver, 64th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1992). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 89.