Union County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Union County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
| Coordinates:37°40′N87°57′W / 37.66°N 87.95°W /37.66; -87.95 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | January 15, 1811 |
| Seat | Morganfield |
| Largest city | Morganfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 363.38 sq mi (941.1 km2) |
| • Land | 342.85 sq mi (888.0 km2) |
| • Water | 20.53 sq mi (53.2 km2) 5.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,668 |
• Estimate (2024) | 13,178 |
| • Density | 39.866/sq mi (15.392/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Union County is acounty in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 13,668.[1] Itscounty seat isMorganfield.[2] The county was created effective January 15, 1811.
The county is located on the east bank of theOhio River opposite its confluence with theWabash River. Union County, along with neighboringPosey County, Indiana, andGallatin County, Illinois, form the tri-point of theIllinois–Indiana–Kentucky tri-state area.
Union County lies on the northern border of Kentucky; its northwestern border is formed by the meanders of theOhio River, abutting the states ofIllinois andIndiana. The county terrain consists of frequent low wooded hills among the level areas, which are devoted to agriculture.[3] Its highest point (673 feet/205 meters ASL) is a rise in the Chalybeate Hills, in the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area.[4]
TheJohn T. Myers Locks and Dam, authorized and constructed as Uniontown Locks and Dam, is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) downstream fromUniontown, on the Ohio River, linking Union County andPosey CountyIndiana. Construction of the dam was begun in 1965 by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1977. It was renamed on October 12, 1996, to honor retired Indiana congressmanJohn T. Myers.[5]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363.38 square miles (941.1 km2), of which 342.85 square miles (888.0 km2) is land and 20.53 square miles (53.2 km2) (5.6%) is water.[6] Union County is part of theWestern Coal Fields region ofKentucky.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3,470 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,764 | 37.3% | |
| 1840 | 6,673 | 40.1% | |
| 1850 | 9,012 | 35.1% | |
| 1860 | 12,791 | 41.9% | |
| 1870 | 13,640 | 6.6% | |
| 1880 | 17,809 | 30.6% | |
| 1890 | 18,229 | 2.4% | |
| 1900 | 21,326 | 17.0% | |
| 1910 | 19,886 | −6.8% | |
| 1920 | 18,040 | −9.3% | |
| 1930 | 17,053 | −5.5% | |
| 1940 | 17,411 | 2.1% | |
| 1950 | 14,893 | −14.5% | |
| 1960 | 14,537 | −2.4% | |
| 1970 | 15,882 | 9.3% | |
| 1980 | 17,821 | 12.2% | |
| 1990 | 16,557 | −7.1% | |
| 2000 | 15,637 | −5.6% | |
| 2010 | 15,007 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 13,668 | −8.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 13,178 | [17] | −3.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] 1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20] 1990-2000[21] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 13,668. The median age was 39.9 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males age 18 and over.[22][23]
The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White, 7.6%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 4.3% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[23]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[24]
There were 5,293 households in the county, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]
There were 5,863 housing units, of which 9.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.1% were owner-occupied and 27.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%.[22]
As of thecensus of 2010, the population was 15,007. Of this, 85.45% were White, 12.05% were Black or African American, 1.49% were two or more races, 0.44% were some other race, 0.34% were Asian, 0.19% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.05% were Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino (of any race) were 1.62% of the population.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 15,637 people, 5,710 households, and 4,082 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 45 per square mile (17/km2). There were 6,234 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.04%White, 12.89%Black orAfrican American, 0.17%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.39% fromother races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 5,710 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% weremarried couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.
25.30% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,018, and the median income for a family was $43,103. Males had a median income of $30,244 versus $20,817 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,465. About 9.30% of families and 17.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.
Public schools are managed byUnion County Public Schools. The three public elementary schools in the county are located in Morganfield, Sturgis, and Uniontown. The county has one public middle school and one public high school,Union County High School. Located nearMorganfield, Kentucky, it is known for its wrestling program. John Paul II Catholic School, the county's only private school, in Morganfield, holds preschool, elementary, and middle school classes.
There are three libraries in Union County, with the main branch in Morganfield and branches in Sturgis and Uniontown.tic experience for grades K-5. The library supplies the county with educational resources such as computers with internet access. There are several programs for children:
Access to KY Virtual Library provides:• Britannica Digital Learning• Databases• EBSCO• Kentucky Virtual Library• LearningExpress Library• NoveList• ProQuest• Scholastic GO!• TeenBookCloud (pilot)• WorldCat (OCLC)
The Union County Public Library District offers test-proctoring services at the Morganfield location.
Children's online educational resources include:•ABCya• Bob the builder• CoolMath4Kids• Dr. Seuss• Fun with Spot• KidzPage• Little Critter• Littlest Pet Shop•Neopets• Nick Jr.• Nickelodeon•PBS Kids• Ramo Math games• Star Wars• Turtle Diary• Typing games
Ready Reference Links include:Fast Facts, Health, Jobs, Kentucky Driver's Tests, Kentucky Legal Assistance Information, Kentucky Links, Kids, Language, Newspapers, People,Senior Links, Staff Resources, Tax Information, Teen Links, and Union County Links
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 642 | 19.22% | 2,168 | 64.91% | 530 | 15.87% |
| 1916 | 1,184 | 29.66% | 2,754 | 68.99% | 54 | 1.35% |
| 1920 | 1,943 | 27.97% | 4,919 | 70.81% | 85 | 1.22% |
| 1924 | 1,778 | 32.05% | 3,493 | 62.97% | 276 | 4.98% |
| 1928 | 2,350 | 37.64% | 3,884 | 62.21% | 9 | 0.14% |
| 1932 | 1,063 | 17.74% | 4,892 | 81.66% | 36 | 0.60% |
| 1936 | 965 | 16.68% | 4,713 | 81.47% | 107 | 1.85% |
| 1940 | 1,111 | 20.30% | 4,355 | 79.56% | 8 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 935 | 21.08% | 3,489 | 78.65% | 12 | 0.27% |
| 1948 | 744 | 16.68% | 3,607 | 80.86% | 110 | 2.47% |
| 1952 | 1,967 | 36.28% | 3,445 | 63.54% | 10 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 1,956 | 37.67% | 2,863 | 55.13% | 374 | 7.20% |
| 1960 | 1,789 | 34.10% | 3,457 | 65.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,220 | 23.55% | 3,934 | 75.93% | 27 | 0.52% |
| 1968 | 1,371 | 23.66% | 2,616 | 45.15% | 1,807 | 31.19% |
| 1972 | 2,701 | 58.67% | 1,855 | 40.29% | 48 | 1.04% |
| 1976 | 1,716 | 32.30% | 3,540 | 66.64% | 56 | 1.05% |
| 1980 | 1,847 | 33.97% | 3,479 | 63.99% | 111 | 2.04% |
| 1984 | 2,524 | 44.78% | 3,090 | 54.82% | 23 | 0.41% |
| 1988 | 2,292 | 40.72% | 3,316 | 58.92% | 20 | 0.36% |
| 1992 | 1,605 | 27.97% | 3,325 | 57.94% | 809 | 14.10% |
| 1996 | 1,554 | 30.57% | 2,913 | 57.30% | 617 | 12.14% |
| 2000 | 2,749 | 51.21% | 2,547 | 47.45% | 72 | 1.34% |
| 2004 | 3,534 | 59.13% | 2,398 | 40.12% | 45 | 0.75% |
| 2008 | 3,120 | 51.71% | 2,804 | 46.47% | 110 | 1.82% |
| 2012 | 3,955 | 66.15% | 1,942 | 32.48% | 82 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 4,701 | 75.69% | 1,331 | 21.43% | 179 | 2.88% |
| 2020 | 4,965 | 75.49% | 1,529 | 23.25% | 83 | 1.26% |
| 2024 | 4,758 | 78.54% | 1,225 | 20.22% | 75 | 1.24% |
Union County was a longtime Democratic stronghold in presidential elections. However, it gradually shifted to supporting Republican candidates. In 2016,Donald Trump won more than three fourths of the county's vote.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[26][27] | ||
| U.S. House | James Comer (R) | KY 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Robby Mills (R) | 4 |
| Ky. House | Jim Gooch Jr. (R) | 12 |
Places adjacent to Union County, Kentucky | |
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Municipalities and communities ofUnion County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Unincoporated communities | ||
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