 The area, already having been populated by Native Americans in places such as the Moccasin Bluff Site, 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.In 1941, as part of the Works Progress Administration arts projects, Gertrude Goodrich painted a mural, "Production", in the Buchanan post office.