That was the origin of Buckland, a thickly inhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest, a sort of colony from the Shire. Its chief village was Bucklebury, clustering in the banks and slopes behind Brandy Hall
– The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1), Chapter 5
Buckland is a small region inhabited by Hobbits, situated between the east bank of the Brandywine River and the western eaves of the Old Forest. As Buckland is outside of the borders of the Shire, it is technically an entity of its own, though it is largely indistinct from the Shire. The Brandybuck family holds a great deal of influence in the region, as their family home, Brandy Hall, is within Buckland.
History
In the early Third Age, the land that would become Buckland was a part of the Old Forest, first within Arnor and then its successor state of Arthedain. In T.A. 2340, 740 years after the founding of the Shire, Buckland was first settled by Hobbits. Gorhendad Oldbuck crossed the Brandywine and began building Brandy Hall on Buck Hill. Gorhendad changed his last name to ‘Brandybuck’, and as his family expanded, so did the hall and the other settlements in Buckland. The Bucklanders found themselves to be threatened by the queerness of the Old Forest, and erected a twenty mile long hedge to protect themselves- they furthermore deforested a strip of land between the ‘High Hay’, as it is known, and the forest. Buckland is invaded by wolves in the Fell Winter of T.A. 2911. Early in his life, Frodo Baggins lived in Buckland, with his relatives at Brandy Hall, before moving to live with his uncle Bilbo at Bag End.
Geography
Whilst Buckland is small, it is densely populated, with various settlements. The chief village is Bucklebury, close to Brandy Hall, but other settlements include Newbury, Standelf, Breredon and Haysend; this density means that Buckland is almost entirely farmland. Buckland is commonly entered via either the gate on the northern border or the Bucklebury Ferry across the Brandywine. However, there is also a little-used gate leading into the Old Forest, as well as various boats with which to cross the river.
Climate
The climate of Buckland is generally temperate, with some areas being a little marshy. The region is prone to the occasional cold snap, as well as fog coming from the Old Forest and Barrow-downs.
Culture
Bucklanders are generally regarded as queer by Hobbits from the Shire, and there are certainly ways in which this is true. Most Bucklanders are proficient on the water, a trait uncommon in most hobbits and a result of the marshy nature of their land and their Stoorish blood, making them better equipped to swim and boat. Buckland has a system of alarm, used in times of dire emergency- a horn would be blown in times of peril, and other hobbits would come to their aid; most Bucklanders also keep their doors locked at night, a practice rare within the Shire. Bucklanders have more of a tendency to be adventurous, with many making forays into the Old Forest, or as far as Bree.
Governance
The Master of the Hall (the head of the Brandybuck family) is considered to have strong influence in Buckland, as well as some parts of the Marish, over the Brandywine in the Shire. There is no formal structure of government in Buckland to speak of, though hobbits tend to give each other aid as a rule.
Economy
Most inhabitants of Buckland are either farmers or fishers, though there are some more specialty trades within settlements, such as innkeepers or bakers. Market stalls can be found in some villages.
