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Union County, North Carolina

Coordinates: 34°59′N 80°32′W / 34.99°N 80.53°W / 34.99; -80.53
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Union County
County
Old Union County Courthouse
Old Union County Courthouse
Official seal of Union County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Union County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°59′N 80°32′W / 34.99°N 80.53°W / 34.99; -80.53
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1842
SeatMonroe
Largest townMonroe
Area
 • Total
640 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land632 sq mi (1,640 km2)
 • Water8.0 sq mi (21 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
201,292
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts8th, 9th
Websitewww.co.union.nc.us

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 201,292.[1] Its county seat is Monroe.[2]

Union County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1842 from parts of Anson County and Mecklenburg County. Its name was a compromise between Whigs, who wanted to name the new county for Henry Clay, and Democrats, who wanted to name it for Andrew Jackson. The Helms, Starnes, McRorie, and Belk families took a major part in the Monroe and Charlotte, North Carolina. Most of these families came from Goose Creek Township.

Monroe, the county seat of Union County, also became a focal point during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1958, local NAACP Chapter President Robert F. Williams defended a nine-year-old African-American boy who had been kissed by a white girl in an incident known as the Kissing Case. A second African-American boy, aged seven, was also convicted and sentenced to live in a juvenile reformatory until he was 21 for simply witnessing the act. In 1961, Williams was accused of kidnapping an elderly white couple, when he sheltered them in his house during a very explosive situation of high racial tensions. Williams fled and went into exile in Cuba and in the People's Republic of China before returning to the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (1.3%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
185010,051—
186011,20211.5%
187012,2179.1%
188018,05647.8%
189021,25917.7%
190027,15627.7%
191033,27722.5%
192036,0298.3%
193040,97913.7%
194039,097−4.6%
195042,0347.5%
196044,6706.3%
197054,71422.5%
198070,38028.6%
199084,21119.7%
2000123,67746.9%
2010201,29262.8%
2015 (est.)222,742[4]10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 201,292 people, 67,864 households, and 54,019 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile (75/km²). There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 314 per square mile (28/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.0% White, 11.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 10.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 67,864 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.60% were married couples living together, and 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present. 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.3.

In the county the population was spread out with 32.90% under the age of 20, 4.7% from 20 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. The population was 49.4% male.

Law and government

Union County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.

Education

Events

Entering Union County on North Carolina Highway 200
  • Brooklandwood in the Union County town of Mineral Springs is the site of the Queens Cup Steeplechase, one of steeplechase horse racing's major annual events. The program consists of several races, and is held the last Saturday of April. The schedule of events also features a Jack Russell Terrier judging contest. Over 10,000 people descend on Mineral Springs from all parts of the country to take part in this day-long event of races and other activities.
  • The Union County town of Marshville is the site of the Boll Weevil Festival, an annual street fair and carnival that takes place every fall.

Communities

Map of Union County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

Towns

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

  • Goose Creek
  • Jackson
  • Marshville
  • Monroe
  • New Salem
  • Vance
  • Buford
  • Lanes Creek
  • Sandy Ridge

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  9. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

34°59′N 80°32′W / 34.99°N 80.53°W / 34.99; -80.53

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