County in Illinois
Union County | |
---|---|
County | |
Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro | |
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois | |
Illinois's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 37°28′N 89°16′W / 37.47°N 89.26°W / 37.47; -89.26 | |
Country | United States |
State | Illinois |
Founded | January 2, 1818 |
Seat | Jonesboro |
Largest city | Anna |
Area | |
• Total | 422 sq mi (1,090 km) |
• Land | 413 sq mi (1,070 km) |
• Water | 8.7 sq mi (23 km) 2.1% |
Population | |
• Total | 17,244 |
• Density | 41/sq mi (16/km) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 12th |
Website | www |
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it had a population of 17,244. Its county seat is Jonesboro. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".
History
Union County was formed out of Johnson County, nearly a year before the Illinois Territory gained statehood. It was named for a joint revival meeting of the Baptists and Dunkards, called a "union meeting". The county seal depicts the leaders of these two groups shaking hands.
- For its first year of existence, Union County included an area of unorganized territory temporarily attached to it.
- In 1819, the additional territory became Alexander County, reducing Union to its current borders.
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 422 square miles (1,090 km), of which 413 square miles (1,070 km) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km) (2.1%) is water.
Climate and weather
Jonesboro, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Jonesboro have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 90 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −20 °F (−29 °C) was recorded in January 1918 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.13 inches (80 mm) in September to 5.22 inches (133 mm) in May.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Jackson County – north
- Williamson County – northeast
- Johnson County – east
- Pulaski County – southeast
- Alexander County – south
- Cape Girardeau County, Missouri – west
- Perry County, Missouri – northwest
Protected areas
- Brown Barrens Nature Preserve
- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (partial)
- Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (partial)
- Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds
- Giant City State Park (partial)
- McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve
- Trail of Tears State Forest
- Shawnee National Forest (partial)
- Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 2,362 | — | |
1830 | 3,239 | 37.1% | |
1840 | 5,524 | 70.5% | |
1850 | 7,615 | 37.9% | |
1860 | 11,181 | 46.8% | |
1870 | 16,518 | 47.7% | |
1880 | 18,102 | 9.6% | |
1890 | 21,549 | 19.0% | |
1900 | 22,610 | 4.9% | |
1910 | 21,856 | −3.3% | |
1920 | 20,249 | −7.4% | |
1930 | 19,883 | −1.8% | |
1940 | 21,528 | 8.3% | |
1950 | 20,500 | −4.8% | |
1960 | 17,645 | −13.9% | |
1970 | 16,071 | −8.9% | |
1980 | 17,765 | 10.5% | |
1990 | 17,619 | −0.8% | |
2000 | 18,293 | 3.8% | |
2010 | 17,808 | −2.7% | |
2020 | 17,244 | −3.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 16,667 | −3.3% | |
US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 2020 |
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 17,808 people, 7,167 households, and 4,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 43.1 inhabitants per square mile (16.6/km). There were 7,924 housing units at an average density of 19.2 per square mile (7.4/km). The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 9.4% were English, and 8.1% were American.
Of the 7,167 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 42.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,760 and the median income for a family was $48,465. Males had a median income of $36,831 versus $31,272 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,512. About 12.7% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Villages
Unincorporated communities
Politics
Like much of Southern Illinois, Union County has shifted toward the Republican Party over the past couple decades, with the Republican candidate for president winning the county since 2000.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 5,837 | 70.60% | 2,285 | 27.64% | 146 | 1.77% |
2020 | 6,161 | 69.19% | 2,579 | 28.96% | 164 | 1.84% |
2016 | 5,790 | 67.20% | 2,402 | 27.88% | 424 | 4.92% |
2012 | 4,957 | 59.59% | 3,137 | 37.71% | 224 | 2.69% |
2008 | 5,003 | 54.65% | 3,918 | 42.80% | 233 | 2.55% |
2004 | 5,333 | 58.48% | 3,735 | 40.96% | 51 | 0.56% |
2000 | 4,397 | 50.77% | 3,982 | 45.98% | 281 | 3.24% |
1996 | 3,147 | 38.00% | 4,252 | 51.34% | 883 | 10.66% |
1992 | 3,003 | 33.06% | 4,681 | 51.54% | 1,399 | 15.40% |
1988 | 4,244 | 50.05% | 4,197 | 49.50% | 38 | 0.45% |
1984 | 4,721 | 55.13% | 3,815 | 44.55% | 28 | 0.33% |
1980 | 4,289 | 50.81% | 3,781 | 44.79% | 371 | 4.40% |
1976 | 3,531 | 41.16% | 5,003 | 58.32% | 44 | 0.51% |
1972 | 5,034 | 59.36% | 3,428 | 40.42% | 18 | 0.21% |
1968 | 3,889 | 46.45% | 3,603 | 43.04% | 880 | 10.51% |
1964 | 3,142 | 37.63% | 5,208 | 62.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 4,432 | 50.58% | 4,321 | 49.31% | 10 | 0.11% |
1956 | 4,204 | 49.06% | 4,359 | 50.87% | 6 | 0.07% |
1952 | 4,658 | 51.97% | 4,296 | 47.93% | 9 | 0.10% |
1948 | 3,864 | 46.01% | 4,479 | 53.33% | 55 | 0.65% |
1944 | 4,114 | 48.25% | 4,367 | 51.21% | 46 | 0.54% |
1940 | 4,915 | 45.51% | 5,804 | 53.74% | 81 | 0.75% |
1936 | 4,165 | 39.81% | 6,260 | 59.84% | 36 | 0.34% |
1932 | 2,859 | 31.47% | 6,157 | 67.77% | 69 | 0.76% |
1928 | 3,352 | 44.52% | 4,149 | 55.10% | 29 | 0.39% |
1924 | 2,579 | 39.16% | 3,783 | 57.44% | 224 | 3.40% |
1920 | 3,119 | 45.55% | 3,660 | 53.45% | 68 | 0.99% |
1916 | 3,135 | 37.11% | 5,171 | 61.22% | 141 | 1.67% |
1912 | 458 | 10.44% | 2,648 | 60.36% | 1,281 | 29.20% |
1908 | 1,695 | 37.43% | 2,690 | 59.40% | 144 | 3.18% |
1904 | 1,537 | 39.54% | 1,967 | 50.60% | 383 | 9.85% |
1900 | 1,695 | 36.49% | 2,900 | 62.43% | 50 | 1.08% |
1896 | 1,842 | 37.65% | 2,998 | 61.28% | 52 | 1.06% |
1892 | 1,427 | 33.96% | 2,663 | 63.37% | 112 | 2.67% |
Education
School districts include:
K-12:
- Cobden School Unit District 17
- Dongola School Unit District 66
- Goreville Community Unit School District 1
- Shawnee Community Unit School District 84
Secondary:
Elementary:
- Anna Community Consolidated School District 37
- Buncombe Consolidated School District 43
- Cypress School District 64
- Jonesboro Community Consolidated School District 43
- Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Illinois
- Ku Klux Klan in Southern Illinois
References
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- Perrin 1883, p. 285.
- Callary, Edward (2009). Place Names of Illinois. Urbana and Chicago, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. p. 354.
- White, Jesse (March 2010). "Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties" (PDF). State of Illinois. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Jonesboro IL". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- Brown Barrens Nature Preserve, Union County IL Google Maps (accessed 29 December 2018)
- Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds, Union County IL Google Maps (accessed 29 December 2018)
- McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve, Union County IL Google Maps (accessed 29 December 2018)
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- "Explore Census Data".
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- Service, CHUCK RAASCH Herald & Review News. "Political scale tips toward GOP in southern Illinois, northeast Missouri". Herald-Review.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, IL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
Bibliography
- Perrin, William Henry, ed. (1883). History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Chicago IL: O.L. Baskin & Co. OCLC 8695008. OL 13507970M.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Union County, Illinois
External links
- Union County Official Website
- Union County State's Attorney
- Union County Treasurer
- Union County Chamber of Commerce
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37°28′16″N 89°15′18″W / 37.47111°N 89.25500°W / 37.47111; -89.25500
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