Union County, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
 The Union County Courthouse in New Albany | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMississippi | |
| Coordinates:34°29′N89°00′W / 34.49°N 89°W /34.49; -89 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | July 7, 1870 |
| Seat | New Albany |
| Largest city | New Albany |
| Area | |
• Total | 417 sq mi (1,080 km2) |
| • Land | 416 sq mi (1,080 km2) |
| • Water | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 27,777 |
• Estimate (2024) | 28,363 |
| • Density | 66.8/sq mi (25.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | unioncoms |
Union County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofMississippi. It was formed in 1870 from Tippah and Pontotoc counties, and in 1874 a portion of Lee County was added.[1][2][3] As of the2020 census, the population was 27,777.[4] Itscounty seat isNew Albany.[5] According to most sources, the county received its name by being a union of pieces of several large counties, like other Union counties in other states.[citation needed] However, other sources say that the name was meant to mark the re-union of Mississippi and the other Confederate states after theCivil War (at the time, the state had a Republican government underReconstruction).[3][citation needed]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 416 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6]
Interstate 22
U.S. Route 78
Mississippi Highway 9
Mississippi Highway 15
Mississippi Highway 30
Mississippi Highway 178
Mississippi Highway 348
Mississippi Highway 349
Mississippi Highway 355| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 13,030 | — | |
| 1890 | 15,606 | 19.8% | |
| 1900 | 16,522 | 5.9% | |
| 1910 | 18,997 | 15.0% | |
| 1920 | 20,044 | 5.5% | |
| 1930 | 21,268 | 6.1% | |
| 1940 | 21,867 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 20,262 | −7.3% | |
| 1960 | 18,904 | −6.7% | |
| 1970 | 19,096 | 1.0% | |
| 1980 | 21,741 | 13.9% | |
| 1990 | 22,085 | 1.6% | |
| 2000 | 25,362 | 14.8% | |
| 2010 | 27,134 | 7.0% | |
| 2020 | 27,777 | 2.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 28,363 | [7] | 2.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[12] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 27,777. The median age was 40.2 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.1 males age 18 and over.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 78.3%White, 14.3%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 3.2% from some other race, and 3.5% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.[14]
24.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.7% lived in rural areas.[15]
There were 10,809 households in the county, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.8% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 12,119 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.5% were owner-occupied and 26.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.9%.[13]
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 25,362 people, 9,786 households, and 7,241 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 61 people per square mile (24 people/km2). There were 10,693 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.42%White, 14.95%Black orAfrican American, 0.13%Native American, 0.20%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.67% fromother races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 1.63% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 9,786 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% weremarried couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,682, and the median income for a family was $39,777. Males had a median income of $29,087 versus $21,418 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,700. About 9.60% of families and 12.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.
There are two school districts:New Albany Public Schools andUnion County School District.[17]
Northeast Mississippi Community College is the community college for Union County.[18]
A solidly Democratic county through 1960, Union County has since trended powerfully Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county, and indeed to win over 40% of its vote, wasJimmy Carter in 1980.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 23 | 2.13% | 962 | 89.24% | 93 | 8.63% |
| 1916 | 89 | 5.05% | 1,666 | 94.50% | 8 | 0.45% |
| 1920 | 429 | 25.77% | 1,224 | 73.51% | 12 | 0.72% |
| 1924 | 135 | 6.85% | 1,750 | 88.79% | 86 | 4.36% |
| 1928 | 324 | 14.85% | 1,858 | 85.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 74 | 3.15% | 2,264 | 96.50% | 8 | 0.34% |
| 1936 | 63 | 2.72% | 2,249 | 97.11% | 4 | 0.17% |
| 1940 | 108 | 3.96% | 2,609 | 95.71% | 9 | 0.33% |
| 1944 | 183 | 7.88% | 2,140 | 92.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 63 | 3.21% | 478 | 24.34% | 1,423 | 72.45% |
| 1952 | 917 | 25.01% | 2,749 | 74.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 427 | 12.22% | 2,882 | 82.48% | 185 | 5.29% |
| 1960 | 605 | 18.36% | 2,001 | 60.73% | 689 | 20.91% |
| 1964 | 2,939 | 70.38% | 1,237 | 29.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 948 | 14.00% | 624 | 9.22% | 5,198 | 76.78% |
| 1972 | 5,477 | 87.91% | 658 | 10.56% | 95 | 1.52% |
| 1976 | 2,507 | 32.73% | 5,021 | 65.56% | 131 | 1.71% |
| 1980 | 3,545 | 40.68% | 5,001 | 57.38% | 169 | 1.94% |
| 1984 | 5,837 | 67.74% | 2,766 | 32.10% | 14 | 0.16% |
| 1988 | 5,511 | 64.15% | 3,044 | 35.43% | 36 | 0.42% |
| 1992 | 5,173 | 53.10% | 3,714 | 38.12% | 855 | 8.78% |
| 1996 | 4,375 | 51.14% | 3,316 | 38.76% | 864 | 10.10% |
| 2000 | 6,087 | 65.37% | 3,094 | 33.23% | 130 | 1.40% |
| 2004 | 7,906 | 73.08% | 2,839 | 26.24% | 74 | 0.68% |
| 2008 | 9,072 | 74.39% | 2,985 | 24.48% | 138 | 1.13% |
| 2012 | 8,498 | 74.77% | 2,742 | 24.13% | 125 | 1.10% |
| 2016 | 9,235 | 80.33% | 2,012 | 17.50% | 249 | 2.17% |
| 2020 | 10,373 | 81.79% | 2,160 | 17.03% | 150 | 1.18% |
| 2024 | 10,559 | 84.62% | 1,807 | 14.48% | 112 | 0.90% |
Places adjacent to Union County, Mississippi | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofUnion County, Mississippi,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Village | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
34°29′N89°00′W / 34.49°N 89.00°W /34.49; -89.00
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