Buchanan County
Buchanan County,
Missouri extends across 409 square miles of rolling prairie
land, quiet valleys and wooded hillsides. The
Platte River, a tributary of the powerful
Mississippi, winds its way through Buchanan, as well as many creeks and
streams. Seven natural lakes grace the region, including
Sugar Lake, discovered on the
Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1803, and noted for its beauty.
Buchanan County,
MO recorded its population as 85,998 during the
Census 2000.
St. Joseph is the county seat and major community in Buchanan, with almost
74,000 citizens in 2000. St. Joseph is where the famed Pony Express began and the infamous
Jesse James met his end. Five other communities comprise Buchanan,
including
Agency, with a population just under 600, and
DeKalb,
Rushville,
Lewis and Clark Village and
Easton, with less than 300 residents each.
Located in Northwestern Missouri, Buchanan County borders
Andrew and
DeKalb Counties to the north,
Clinton County to the east and
Platte County to the south. Two
Kansas counties border the south and west,
Atchison and
Doniphan. These two counties, along with Buchanan, comprise the
St. Joseph Metropolitan Area, with a 2003 estimated population of almost
123,000. Two
Interstate Highways, four
US Highways and four
Missouri State Highways provide an excellent transportation infrastructure
to the region.
Buchanan County, MO's personal capita income was $25,103 in 2003, showing an
increase of 22% from 1997. Construction, manufacturing and the health care
industry are three of the leading occupations in Buchanan, mostly centering in
St. Joseph. Small family farms comprise the remainder of the region, where the
crime rate stays exceedingly low.
Buchanan County’s institute of higher education is
Missouri Western State College, located in St. Joseph, which enrolls 5,100
undergraduates annually. They now offer a Master’s Degree in Applied Science
with emphasis on Technology, Chemistry and Human Factors and Usability Testing.
Missouri Western is home to the
Griffons, who compete in ten major sports. In Buchanan County, 16.9% hold a
bachelor’s degree or higher.
Buchanan County celebrates its past with nine
historic districts, all found in St. Joseph. This vibrant city offers a walking tour showing the many fine mansions built in the ‘Golden Age’ when
Missouri was the ‘Gateway to the West’ during America’s
Westward Expansion. St. Joseph is the cultural heart of Buchanan County,
with a wealth of fine attractions, including ten museums, and
Terrible's St Jo's Frontier Casino.
Buchanan County,
Missouri offers tranquil rural farmland
surrounding one major metropolitan area. Shimmering lakes await the angler, and
miles of meandering streams and creeks beckon to boaters.
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