Union County, Arkansas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Union County
U.S. county
Union County Courthouse in El Dorado
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	November 2, 1829
Seat	El Dorado
Largest city	El Dorado
Area
• Total	1,055 sq mi (2,730 km²)
• Land	1,039 sq mi (2,690 km²)
• Water	16 sq mi (40 km²) 1.5%%
Population (2020)
• Total	39,054
• Density	40/sq mi (20/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th

A monument to Confederate soldiers at the Union County Courthouse.

Union County is a place in southern Arkansas, right on the border with Louisiana. In 2020, about 39,054 people lived there. Its main city, or county seat, is El Dorado.

The county was created on November 2, 1829. People wanted a new county and asked for it "in the spirit of Union and Unity." That's how it got its name! Union County is right next to Union Parish in Louisiana.

El Dorado is sometimes called the "Queen City of South Arkansas." It was very important during the 1920s oil boom. Today, it's known as "Arkansas's Original Boomtown." The city focuses on its history to attract visitors. After World War II, chemical and timber industries became very important. They still play a role in the local economy.

History of Union County
- The Oil Boom Era
- Industries After World War II
Geography and Nature
- Neighboring Counties and Parishes
- Protected Natural Areas
Population Changes
- Who Lives in Union County?
Getting Around Union County
- Main Roads
- Airport
Towns and Communities
See also

History of Union County

Union County was officially formed on November 2, 1829. It was made from parts of Clark and Hempstead counties. In the early days, areas near rivers were used for cotton farms. These farms relied on enslaved African-American workers.

The Oil Boom Era

On January 10, 1921, Dr. Samuel T. Busey found oil near El Dorado. This discovery started a huge "oil boom." Thousands of workers and people hoping to get rich came to the area.

By 1923, El Dorado had many oil companies. There were fifty-nine companies that helped drill for oil. There were also thirteen companies that sold and cleaned oil. Plus, twenty-two companies produced oil. So many people arrived that there weren't enough beds. Many lived in tents or quickly built shacks.

The city's population grew to almost 30,000 by 1925. After the boom, it dropped to 16,241 by 1930. It then rose to 25,000 by 1960. Oil production slowed down in the early 1930s. This was partly because companies had money problems during the Great Depression. But it got better later in the 1930s.

Industries After World War II

During World War II, chemical factories were built in the county. Their production went down after the war ended. The timber industry also grew as people used Arkansas forests. Today, oil, chemical, and timber industries are still important. However, they are not as big as they once were.

Geography and Nature

Union County covers about 1055 square miles (2,732 square kilometers). Most of this is land, about 1039 square miles (2,691 square kilometers). Only 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) is water. It is the largest county by area in Arkansas.

Union County has the largest amount of bromine in the United States. Bromine is a special chemical element. The lowest point in Arkansas is also in Union County. This spot is on the Ouachita River. It is where the river flows out of Arkansas into Louisiana.

Neighboring Counties and Parishes

Union County shares its borders with several other counties and parishes:

Ouachita County (to the northwest)
Calhoun County (to the north)
Bradley County (to the northeast)
Ashley County (to the east)
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana (to the southeast)
Union Parish, Louisiana (to the south)
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (to the southwest)
Columbia County (to the west)

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is located in Union County. This refuge helps protect wildlife and their homes.

Population Changes

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	640	—
1840	2,889	351.4%
1850	10,298	256.5%
1860	12,288	19.3%
1870	10,571	−14.0%
1880	13,419	26.9%
1890	14,977	11.6%
1900	22,495	50.2%
1910	30,723	36.6%
1920	29,691	−3.4%
1930	55,800	87.9%
1940	50,461	−9.6%
1950	49,686	−1.5%
1960	49,518	−0.3%
1970	45,428	−8.3%
1980	48,573	6.9%
1990	46,719	−3.8%
2000	45,629	−2.3%
2010	41,639	−8.7%
2020	39,054	−6.2%
2023 (est.)	37,397	−10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

This chart shows the age groups of people in Union County.

Who Lives in Union County?

In 2020, there were 39,054 people living in Union County. These people lived in 15,726 homes. About 10,562 of these were families.

Here's a look at the different groups of people in Union County in 2020:

Union County racial composition
Group	Number	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	22,904	58.65%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	12,670	32.44%
Native American	108	0.28%
Asian	273	0.7%
Pacific Islander	16	0.04%
Other/Mixed Race	1,329	3.4%
Hispanic or Latino	1,754	4.49%