[6] According to tradition, the first settlers in the Buckhannon River Valley were brothers John and Samuel Pringle.

John and Samuel were soldiers serving in the British army during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) who, in 1761, deserted their posts at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).

John and Samuel are said to have arrived in present-day Upshur County in 1764 and took up residence in the hollow stump of an American sycamore tree.

When they ran out of bullets in 1765, John made the journey to settlements along the South Branch Potomac River to purchase more and found out from the locals that the war was over and the brothers were no longer wanted men.

[7] The City of Buckhannon was established on January 15, 1816, possible named for Buckongahelas[8] (1720-1805), the legendary Lenape Chief.

[9] Other historians think it more likely that the community and river were both named for John Buchannon, a missionary to the area in the 1780s.

Because of its near-central geographic location, Buckhannon was long considered a prospective site for the state capital.

In 1866, the legislature approved a bill including Buckhannon among the choices for capital, but officials decided the river was not wide enough to accommodate desired commerce and ultimately settled with Charleston as the state capitol.

It served multiple functions, including as an opera house and town hall.

In its place, a Classical Revival style courthouse, designed by Charleston architect Harrison Albright, begun construction in 1899 and was completed in 1901.

In the cornerstone of the main building is a time capsule filled with turn of the 19th century artifacts.

National and international news crews were in the area for upwards of three days to cover rescue and recovery efforts.

[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.83 square miles (7.33 km2), all land.

[12] The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.

Upshur County and Buckhannon have maintained a Republican majority since the days of the American Civil War.

[citation needed] On May 23, 1861, the voters of Upshur County voted 7 to 3 against secession from the United States.

[20] In the 1864 presidential election, incumbent President Lincoln won the county handily against General McClellan.