Union County, Mississippi

Union County
Union County
County
	The Union County courthouse in New Albany
	Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
	Mississippi's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 34°29′N 89°00′W / 34.49°N 89°W
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 km2) 0.3%
Population (2020)
• Total	27,777
• Density	67/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	unioncoms.com

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It was formed in 1870 from Tippah and Pontotoc counties, and in 1874 a portion of Lee County was added.^[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,777.^[2] Its county seat is New Albany.^[3] 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 the Civil War (at the time, the state had a Republican government under Reconstruction).^{[citation needed]}

Geography

According to the U.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.^[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Benton County (north)
Tippah County (north)
Prentiss County (east)
Lee County (southeast)
Pontotoc County (south)
Lafayette County (southwest)
Marshall County (northwest)

National protected area

Holly Springs National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
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%
2023 (est.)	28,284	^[5]	1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1790-1960^[7] 1900-1990^[8] 1990-2000^[9] 2010-2013^[10]

2020 census

Union County Racial Composition^[11]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White	21,560	77.62%
Black or African American	3,950	14.22%
Native American	27	0.1%
Asian	109	0.39%
Other/Mixed	830	2.99%
Hispanic or Latino	1,301	4.68%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 27,777 people, 9,808 households, and 6,922 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 25,362 people, 9,786 households, and 7,241 families residing in the county. The population 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 or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 1.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 9,786 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married 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 $39,666. Males had a median income of $29,087 versus $21,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,700. About 9.60% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

New Albany (county seat and largest municipality)

Towns

Myrtle
Sherman (partly in Pontotoc County and Lee County)

Village

Blue Springs

Unincorporated communities

Education

There are two school districts: New Albany Public Schools and Union County School District.^[13]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Union County, Mississippi^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	10,373	81.79%	2,160	17.03%	150	1.18%
2016	9,235	80.33%	2,012	17.50%	249	2.17%
2012	8,498	74.77%	2,742	24.13%	125	1.10%
2008	9,072	74.39%	2,985	24.48%	138	1.13%
2004	7,906	73.08%	2,839	26.24%	74	0.68%
2000	6,087	65.37%	3,094	33.23%	130	1.40%
1996	4,375	51.14%	3,316	38.76%	864	10.10%
1992	5,173	53.10%	3,714	38.12%	855	8.78%
1988	5,511	64.15%	3,044	35.43%	36	0.42%
1984	5,837	67.74%	2,766	32.10%	14	0.16%
1980	3,545	40.68%	5,001	57.38%	169	1.94%
1976	2,507	32.73%	5,021	65.56%	131	1.71%
1972	5,477	87.91%	658	10.56%	95	1.52%
1968	948	14.00%	624	9.22%	5,198	76.78%
1964	2,939	70.38%	1,237	29.62%	0	0.00%
1960	605	18.36%	2,001	60.73%	689	20.91%
1956	427	12.22%	2,882	82.48%	185	5.29%
1952	917	25.01%	2,749	74.99%	0	0.00%
1948	63	3.21%	478	24.34%	1,423	72.45%
1944	183	7.88%	2,140	92.12%	0	0.00%
1940	108	3.96%	2,609	95.71%	9	0.33%
1936	63	2.72%	2,249	97.11%	4	0.17%
1932	74	3.15%	2,264	96.50%	8	0.34%
1928	324	14.85%	1,858	85.15%	0	0.00%
1924	135	6.85%	1,750	88.79%	86	4.36%
1920	429	25.77%	1,224	73.51%	12	0.72%
1916	89	5.05%	1,666	94.50%	8	0.45%
1912	23	2.13%	962	89.24%	93	8.63%