Our Town Buchanan

Buchanan, Michigan, also known as "Redbud City," is located in southwestern Michigan. It is a traditional Midwestern small town with a thriving downtown and tree lined streets. WNIT returns with its popular Our Town series in a look at Buchanan, where "Life is Better Here." Our Town Buchanan will showcase the special aspects of this community told through people who live and work in Buchanan.

Original Airdate: July 17th, 2017 @ 8pm and 9:30pm
Re-air Airdates: Thursday, April 26th, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Meet The Videographers

  • Wade Amiel Project: School Farm
  • Mark Nixon Project: School Farm
  • Kelly Carlin Project: Tin Shop Theatre
  • Alice Kring Project: Tin Shop Theatre
  • Dylan Catalano Project: The Herd
  • Jessica Cornelius Project: The Herd
  • Darlene Clevenger Project: Buchanan Art Center
  • Mary Lister Project: Buchanan Art Center
  • Jennifer Dickson Project: Buchanan Floor Hockey
  • Mary Kay Fisher Project: Scarecrow Charities
  • Anne Marie Widmer Project: Scarecrow Charities
  • Greg Frazier Project: \'76 & \'78 State Championships
  • Rob Habicht Project: Buchanan Promise
  • Jeanne Harris Project: Clark Equipment
  • Eddie Miller Project: Clark Equipment
  • Jan Jacobs Project: Clark Guard House
  • Donna Lace Project: Buckteen Reunion
  • Kathy Swem Project: Buckteen Reunion
  • Bill Loux Project: Orchard Hills Golf Course
  • Karen Lukkarila Project: R. C. Egan Stables
  • Justin Marutz Project: Farmers\' Market
  • Jill McDonald Project: Bear Cave
  • Tommy Melton Project: Buchanan Lodge 68
  • Spencer Miller Project: Buchanan Lodge 68
  • Lloyd Miller Project: McCoy\'s Creek Trail
  • Debra Patzer Project: Downtown Festivals & Events
  • Miguel Perez Project: Electro-Voice
  • Phillip Place Project: MegaHurtz Robotics
  • Taylor Sobolewski Project: MegaHurtz Robotics
  • Amy Ritchie Project: Redbud Motorcross
  • Lisa Wagner Project: Redbud Motorcross
  • Alan Robandt Project: Buchanan Architecture
  • Don Ryman Project: Pears Mill
  • Marcia Smoke Project: Kayaking
  • Molly Thornton Project: Union Coffee House
  • Mathew Thornton Project: Union Coffee House

Gallery

A Little About Buchanan

The Location

Buchanan is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,456 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the southeast corner of Buchanan Township, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Niles.

The History

The community was named after James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States. Popularly known as "Redbud City" because of the many redbud trees that have historically lined city streets and the major approaches to the city, Buchanan has long been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The St. Joseph River was once a major transportation route for Native American tribes in the area, especially the Potawatomi, and a historical marker to that effect has been placed on Moccasin Trail north of Buchanan near Batchelors Island.

The area was first settled in 1833 at the spot where McCoy Creek meets the St. Joseph River. The village of Buchanan was platted in 1842 and incorporated in 1858.

On April 12, 1979, farms, houses and mobile homes just north of the city were damaged by an F2 tornado. No lives were lost but several residences sustained significant damage.