Local pronunciation differs from that of the 15th president's surname; here the county is pronounced as "Búh-can-nin".

[2] Its population has decreased by double digits in each census over the last forty years.

As of 2012, Buchanan was the fifth-poorest county in Virginia, when ranked by median household income; it has consistently been in the bottom 5% over the past decade.

Helen Timmons Henderson (1877–1925) participated in the work of the Buchanan Mission School at Council, Virginia.

She and Sarah Lee Fain (1888–1962) of Norfolk were the first two women to be elected to the Virginia General Assembly.

When Henderson was in office, delegates approved construction of 6.2 miles (10.0 km) of improved road to be built from Russell County, across Big "A" Mountain, to Council.

Of all households, 22.50% were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.