Buchanan County, Missouri

 

Founding: 1838
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: James Buchanan, U.S. president
Seat: Sparta (1838–1845); St. Joseph (1845–)

Land area: 408 square miles

Population (2020): 84,793

Population (historic): 6,237 (1840); 23,861 (1860); 49,792 (1880); 121,838 (1900); 98,633 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1900; 1910–1930; 1940s; 1970s; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: One city; six villages; 12 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 11,741 (30.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 42.5%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 7.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 11.2%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.6%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,735
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,149
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,627
Average farm size (1920): 71 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Kentucky, Ohio, Ireland, Illinois, New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
_________________________________________________________________________________

St. Joseph

Namesake: Perhaps Joseph Robidoux IV, founder of the city

Founding: 1843 (platting); 1843 (post office); 1851 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 72,473

Population (historic): 8,932 (1860); 32,431 (1880); 102,979 (1900); 80,935 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1900; 1910–1930; 1940–1960; 1970s; 1990–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 10,274 (30.4%)
_________________________________________________________________________________

View and filter the data. Or see a map.

_________________________________________________________________________________