kids encyclopedia robot

Union County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Union County
Old Union County Courthouse in New Berlin
Old Union County Courthouse in New Berlin
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Union County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Pennsylvania
Founded March 22, 1813
Seat Lewisburg
Largest borough Lewisburg
Area
 • Total 318 sq mi (820 km2)
 • Land 316 sq mi (820 km2)
 • Water 1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 42,681 Decrease
 • Density 142/sq mi (55/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 15th

Union County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,681. Its county seat is Lewisburg. The county was created on March 22, 1813, from part of Northumberland County. Its name is an allusion to the federal Union. Mifflinburg was established by legislation as the first county seat until it was moved to New Berlin in 1815. Lewisburg became county seat in 1855 and has remained so since. Union County comprises the Lewisburg, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 318 square miles (820 km2), of which 316 square miles (820 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.6%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Union has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average temperatures in Lewisburg range from 27.2 °F in January to 72.7 °F in July, while in Hartleton they range from 26.4 °F in January to 72.1 °F in July. Union County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

Adjacent counties

State protected areas

Major highways

  • I-80
  • US 15
  • PA 44
  • PA 45
  • PA 104
  • PA 192
  • PA 235
  • PA 304

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 18,619
1830 20,795 11.7%
1840 22,787 9.6%
1850 26,083 14.5%
1860 14,145 −45.8%
1870 15,565 10.0%
1880 16,905 8.6%
1890 17,820 5.4%
1900 17,592 −1.3%
1910 16,249 −7.6%
1920 15,850 −2.5%
1930 17,468 10.2%
1940 20,247 15.9%
1950 23,150 14.3%
1960 25,646 10.8%
1970 28,603 11.5%
1980 32,870 14.9%
1990 36,176 10.1%
2000 41,624 15.1%
2010 44,947 8.0%
2020 42,681 −5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2017 2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile (51 people/km2). There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 units per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.08% White, 6.91% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 3.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 13.9% American, 6.5% Irish, 5.9% English and 5.3% Italian ancestry. 90.4% spoke English, 3.7% Spanish, 2.0% Pennsylvania Dutch and 1.2% German as their first language.

There were 13,178 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.10% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.50 males.

2020 census

Union County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 36,050 84.46%
Black or African American (NH) 2,459 5.76%
Native American (NH) 73 0.2%
Asian (NH) 814 2%
Pacific Islander (NH) 8 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,268 3%
Hispanic or Latino 2,000 4.7%

Micropolitan Statistical Area

BloomsburgBerwickSunburyCSA2014
Map of the Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:      Bloomsburg–Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)      Sunbury, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)      Lewisburg, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)      Selinsgrove, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Union County as the Lewisburg, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census the micropolitan area ranked 12th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 263rd most populous in the United States with a population of 44,947. Union County is also a part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Union County, as well as Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and 115th most populous in the United States with a population of 264,739.

Education

Map of Union County Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Union County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public school districts

  • Lewisburg Area School District
    • Lewisburg Area High School
  • Mifflinburg Area School District
    • Mifflinburg Area High School
  • Milton Area School District (also in Northumberland County)
    • Milton Area High School
  • Warrior Run School District (also in Montour and Northumberland Counties)
    • Warrior Run High School

Vocational school

  • SUN Area Technical Institute - New Berlin

Higher education

  • Bucknell University - Lewisburg

Private schools

  • Beaver Run School - Lewisburg
  • Bridgeville Parochial School - Mifflinburg
  • Buffalo Creek Parochial School - Mifflinburg
  • Calvary Holiness Academy - Millmont
  • Camp Mount Luther - Mifflinburg
  • County Line Amish School - Winfield
  • East End Parochial School - Lewisburg
  • Green Grove School - Mifflinburg
  • Hartleton Mennonite School - Millmont
  • Kumon Math and Learning of Lewisburg
  • Limestone Valley Parochial School - Mifflinburg
  • Morningstar Mennonite School - Mifflinburg
  • Mountain Laurel School
  • Mountain View Parochial School
  • Norbrld Area Head Start Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16
  • Ridge View Parochial School
  • Shady Grove Christian School
  • Snyder Union Mifflin Child Development - Mifflinburg
  • Sunnyside School - Millmont
  • Union Co ARC Child Development Center - Lewisburg
  • Union Co CC and Learning Center - Lewisburg
  • White Springs School - Mifflinburg

Communities

Map of Union County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Union County, Pennsylvania with municipal labels showing boroughs (red), townships (white), and census-designated places (blue)

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in most cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Union County:

Boroughs

Townships

  • Buffalo
  • East Buffalo
  • Gregg
  • Hartley
  • Kelly
  • Lewis
  • Limestone
  • Union
  • West Buffalo
  • White Deer

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Union County.

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Lewisburg Borough 5,792
2 Mifflinburg Borough 3,540
3 Linntown CDP 1,489
4 New Columbia CDP 1,013
T-5 West Milton CDP 900
T-5 Winfield CDP 900
6 New Berlin Borough 873
7 Allenwood CDP 321
8 Hartleton Borough 283
9 Vicksburg CDP 261
10 Laurelton CDP 221

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Union (Pensilvania) para niños

kids search engine
Union County, Pennsylvania Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.