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
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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%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Enoch Fenton House (c. 1850). Road HH, west of 66th Road. Bloomington. Razed.
2. Jarrett Boyd House (c. 1865). 4403 Boyd Road. Crawford. Italianate.
3. Thomas Brierly House (c. 1855). Hurlingen Road, northeast of 85th Road. Marion. Italianate. Razed.
4. George Hudspeth House (c. 1840/1855). 16395 Old Highway Road. Rush. Razed.
5. St. John the Baptist Chapel / Corby Chapel (1871). 5006 Amazonia Road. Washington. Gothic Revival.
6. Isaac Miller House (1859). 3003 Ashland Avenue. Washington. Italianate.
7. Nels Nelson Farm (c. 1885). 3404 Mansfield Road. Washington. Italianate. Razed.
8. Nicholas Ozenberger Farm (c. 1860). 3402 River Ridge Road. Washington. Greek Revival. Razed.
9. House (1873). 5322 Riverside Road. Washington. Italianate.
10. Michael Dittemore House (c. 1850). 10888 Lower DeKalb Road. Wayne. Razed.

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