Buckner is a city in Jackson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,945 at the 2020 census. For decades it was best known for TV and radio commercials promoting local automobile dealership Lasater Ford, run by the Lasater brothers, Wilson and Milton and later Halverson Ford. It is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

The city of Buckner is split into three wards and is located in northeastern Jackson County along US 24.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Buckner city, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)2,5942,8802,55395.19%93.63%86.69%Black or African American alone (NH)311160.11%0.36%0.54%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1211130.44%0.36%0.44%Asian alone (NH)0340.00%0.10%0.14%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)6600.22%0.20%0.00%Other race alone (NH)2330.07%0.10%0.10%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)54582411.98%1.89%8.18%Hispanic or Latino (any race)541041151.98%3.38%3.90%Total2,7253,0762,945 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Buckner had a population of 2,945. The median age was 36.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,129 households in Buckner, of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.0% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,205 housing units, of which 6.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,597 88.2% Black or African American 16 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 15 0.5% Asian 6 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 22 0.7% Two or more races 289 9.8%

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 3,076 people, 1,141 households, and 808 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,243 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 1,141 households, of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

The median age in the city was 33.6 years. 29.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 2,725 people, 1,019 households, and 747 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,065 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.93% White, 0.11% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.

There were 1,019 households, out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,577, and the median income for a family was $45,313. Males had a median income of $36,010 versus $22,372 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,748. About 7.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

History Buckner was established in 1875. In its inception Buckner was a railroad depot town for the newly built Wyandotte, Kansas City and Northwestern Railroad. In 1879, the line was purchased by the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Where Buckner derives its name from is a point of contention. It was likely named for Walker Buckner, who was a board member of the WKCNW Railroad that founded the town. Others suggest it was named after former US Senator Alexander Buckner (1830-1833) who served on the States Constitutional Convention in 1820, or named after Real Estate operator Simon Buckner. Yet another claim as namesake is Thomas W. Buckner, an original owner of the site.

The WGN America series Outlaw Country was set in Buckner.

Education Buckner is part of the Fort Osage R-1 School District. - Text list The only school within the city limits is Buckner Elementary, for middle school children attend Fire Prairie Middle School, and move onto Fort Osage High School to complete their secondary education.

Metropolitan Community College has the Fort Osage school district in its taxation area.

Buckner has a public library, a branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library.

Media

Newspapers The Gazette Weekly serves Buckner, Levasy, Sibley, and Eastern Independence on a weekly basis.

References

External links Historic maps of Buckner in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri Article in The History of Jackson county, Missouri (1881)