Union County, North Carolina

Union County, North Carolina
County
Union County Courthouse in Monroe
Flag
Seal
Logo
Motto: 
"Plant your future."
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 34°59′N 80°32′W / 34.99°N 80.53°W / 34.99; -80.53
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1842
Named afterCompromise name that both local Democrats and Whigs agreed on[1]
SeatMonroe
Largest communityIndian Trail
Area
 • Total
639.65 sq mi (1,656.7 km2)
 • Land632.74 sq mi (1,638.8 km2)
 • Water6.91 sq mi (17.9 km2)  1.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
238,267
 • Estimate 
(2024)
263,386
 • Density376.56/sq mi (145.39/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts8th
Websitewww.unioncountync.gov

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 238,267.[2] Its county seat is Monroe.[3] 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 were prominent in the town as well as Monroe and Charlotte. 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 9-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 7, was also convicted and sentenced to live in a juvenile reformatory until he was 21 for simply witnessing the act. After three months in a detention center, Governor Luther H. Hodges pardoned the boys.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639.65 square miles (1,656.7 km2), of which 632.74 square miles (1,638.8 km2) is land and 6.91 square miles (17.9 km2) (1.08%) is water.[4]

State and local protected areas

  • Mineral Springs Greenway[5]
  • Rocky River Blueway[6]

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

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%
2020238,26718.4%
2024 (est.)263,386[10] 10.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 238,267 and 62,932 families residing in the county. The median age was 38.9 years, with 27.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males age 18 and over.[15]

There were 80,167 households in the county, of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 63.6% were married-couple households, 12.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 83,788 housing units, of which 4.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.4% were owner-occupied and 18.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.[15]

The racial makeup of the county was 69.5% White, 11.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.9% from some other race, and 7.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.6% of the population.[16]

72.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.6% lived in rural areas.[17]

ce

Racial and ethnic composition

Union County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[18] Pop 1990[19] Pop 2000[20] Pop 2010[21] Pop 2020[22] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 57,822 69,624 98,612 150,098 161,113 82.16% 82.68% 79.73% 74.57% 67.62%
Black or African American alone (NH) 11,612 13,358 15,312 23,134 26,500 16.50% 15.86% 12.38% 11.49% 11.12%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 177 290 415 605 641 0.25% 0.34% 0.34% 0.30% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 160 252 705 3,243 9,516 0.23% 0.30% 0.57% 1.61% 3.99%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [23] x [24] 26 58 90 x x 0.02% 0.03% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 48 12 85 415 1,199 0.07% 0.01% 0.07% 0.21% 0.50%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [25] x [26] 885 2,772 9,098 x x 0.72% 1.38% 3.82%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 561 675 7,637 20,967 30,110 0.80% 0.80% 6.17% 10.42% 12.64%
Total 70,380 84,211 123,677 201,292 238,267 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

At the 2010 census,[27] 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 people/km2). There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 31.4 units per square mile (12.1 units/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. Northern Union County has the southern foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains

Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Union County, North Carolina[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1880 824 35.21% 1,516 64.79% 0 0.00%
1884 627 25.35% 1,846 74.65% 0 0.00%
1888 879 29.68% 2,067 69.78% 16 0.54%
1892 572 17.88% 1,798 56.19% 830 25.94%
1896 1,009 26.70% 2,747 72.69% 23 0.61%
1900 864 32.29% 1,790 66.89% 22 0.82%
1904 379 23.99% 1,181 74.75% 20 1.27%
1908 834 29.13% 2,029 70.87% 0 0.00%
1912 92 3.91% 1,786 75.87% 476 20.22%
1916 702 20.84% 2,662 79.04% 4 0.12%
1920 1,404 25.20% 4,168 74.80% 0 0.00%
1924 672 19.62% 2,721 79.45% 32 0.93%
1928 2,448 46.29% 2,840 53.71% 0 0.00%
1932 710 10.33% 6,103 88.84% 57 0.83%
1936 601 7.44% 7,480 92.56% 0 0.00%
1940 634 8.11% 7,179 91.89% 0 0.00%
1944 1,114 16.28% 5,729 83.72% 0 0.00%
1948 738 14.35% 3,407 66.23% 999 19.42%
1952 3,790 33.82% 7,416 66.18% 0 0.00%
1956 3,362 34.50% 6,383 65.50% 0 0.00%
1960 4,030 35.28% 7,393 64.72% 0 0.00%
1964 4,229 36.98% 7,208 63.02% 0 0.00%
1968 5,290 38.67% 3,630 26.53% 4,761 34.80%
1972 10,264 71.60% 3,886 27.11% 186 1.30%
1976 6,184 36.72% 10,578 62.81% 78 0.46%
1980 9,012 45.77% 10,073 51.16% 603 3.06%
1984 16,885 70.45% 7,048 29.41% 35 0.15%
1988 17,015 65.71% 8,820 34.06% 61 0.24%
1992 16,542 51.71% 10,789 33.72% 4,661 14.57%
1996 18,802 57.03% 11,525 34.96% 2,643 8.02%
2000 31,876 67.59% 14,890 31.57% 395 0.84%
2004 42,820 70.20% 17,974 29.47% 207 0.34%
2008 54,123 62.87% 31,189 36.23% 777 0.90%
2012 61,107 64.51% 32,473 34.28% 1,148 1.21%
2016 66,707 63.10% 34,337 32.48% 4,666 4.41%
2020 80,382 61.36% 48,725 37.19% 1,904 1.45%
2024 86,271 61.91% 51,168 36.72% 1,916 1.37%

In the early through mid-20th century, Union County was a firm "Solid South" Democratic county. Union County remained traditionally "Solid South" until after the civil rights movement. The first Republican to win the county was Richard Nixon[29] with less than 40 percent of the vote in a three-way race in 1968. Union County has followed much of the South in turning towards the Republican Party following Nixon's election. Native Southerner Jimmy Carter carried Union County twice, but he remains the last Democrat to carry the county, and no Democrat since 1980 has reached 40 percent of the county's vote.

Union County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.[30]

Education

Events

Two major annual events occur in the county:

  • Brooklandwood in 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 typically attend the event.
  • The Union County town of Marshville is the site of the Randy Travis Festival, an annual street fair and carnival that takes place every fall.

Communities

City

Towns

Villages

Townships

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

References

  1. ^ Powell, William S.; NC Government & Heritage Library (2006). "Union County". NCpedia. University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "QuickFacts: Union County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mineral Springs Greenway". Carolina Thread Trail Map. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Rocky River Blueway". Carolina Thread Trail Map. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "City of Monroe, NC > Departments > Water & Sewer > Lakes & Vegetative Buffers". www.monroenc.org. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "FAA Information about Goose Creek Airport (28A)". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "AirNav: N52 - JAARS-Townsend Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  18. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - North Carolina - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 14-25.
  19. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - North Carolina: Table 3 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-64.
  20. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Union County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Union County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Union County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  24. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  25. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  26. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  27. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  28. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  29. ^ Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 95-96 ISBN 0786422173
  30. ^ "Centralina Council of Governments". Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
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