Union County, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Union County
U.S. county
Union County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	May 20, 1921
Named for	Concept of Unity
Seat	Lake Butler
Largest city	Lake Butler
Area
• Total	250 sq mi (600 km²)
• Land	244 sq mi (630 km²)
• Water	6.2 sq mi (16 km²) 2.5%
Population
• Estimate (2019)	15,237
• Density	64/sq mi (25/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Union County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Florida, the smallest in the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,535. The county seat is Lake Butler. With a personal per capita income of $20,396 (as of 2017), it is the fourth-poorest county in the United States.

History
Geography
Demographics
Government and infrastructure
Education
- Libraries
Communities
See also

History

Union County was created in 1921 from part of Bradford County. It was named to honor the concept of unity. Union County is the location of Union Correctional Institution and the Reception and Medical Center (RMC). Union CI is a maximum security prison and is home to part of Florida's Death Row. The death chamber is located at nearby Florida State Prison (FSP) in Bradford County. Florida State Prison also houses some death-row inmates.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 250 square miles (650 km²), of which 244 square miles (630 km²) is land and 6.2 square miles (16 km²) (2.5%) is water. It is the smallest county by area in Florida.

Bradford County, Florida is southeast Alachua County, Florida is south Columbia County, Florida is west Baker County is north

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	7,428	—
1940	7,094	−4.5%
1950	8,906	25.5%
1960	6,043	−32.1%
1970	8,112	34.2%
1980	10,166	25.3%
1990	10,252	0.8%
2000	13,442	31.1%
2010	15,535	15.6%
2019 (est.)	15,237	−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019

At the 2000 census, there were 13,442 people, 3,367 households and 2,606 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 per square mile (22/km²). There were 3,736 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.62% White, 22.84% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 3.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,367 households, 41.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 15.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.60% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 21.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 39.80% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 183.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 215.20 males. This extremely skewed gender distribution is the result of the county's male prison population.

The median household income was $34,563, and the median family income was $37,516. Males had a median income of $28,571 versus $22,083 for females. The county's per capita income was $12,333. About 10.50% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 16.20% of those age 65 or over.

The county suffers a death rate of about 1600 per 100,000 residents, the highest in the nation.

Cause of Death (2017)	Union County (Adjusted Rate)	Florida (Adjusted Rate)
Overall	1,516	681
Cancer	470	153
Heart Disease	298	152
Respiratory Infection	121	39
Stroke	59	36
Hepatitis	54	2

Government and infrastructure

Union Correctional Institution

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) operates Region II Correctional Facility Office in an unincorporated area in Union County. FDOC also maintains the Union Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in the county. Union Correctional Institution houses one of two death rows for men in Florida. About a third of the county's population is imprisoned, compared to a statewide figure of one-half percent.

The Union Juvenile Residential Facility of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is in an unincorporated area in Union County.

Presidential elections results

Union County vote
by party in presidential elections
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	82.11% 5,133	16.85% 1,053	1.04% 65
2016	80.22% 4,568	17.32% 1,014	1.97% 112
2012	73.59% 3,980	24.76% 1,339	1.65% 89
2008	74.20% 3,940	24.48% 1,300	1.32% 70
2004	72.64% 3,396	26.76% 1,251	0.60% 28
2000	60.95% 2,332	36.77% 1,407	2.27% 87
1996	47.26% 1,636	40.09% 1,388	12.66% 438
1992	43.29% 1,546	34.95% 1,248	21.76% 777
1988	69.99% 1,644	29.42% 691	0.60% 14
1984	70.28% 1,804	29.65% 761	0.08% 2
1980	46.35% 1,123	51.05% 1,237	2.60% 63
1976	26.67% 544	72.55% 1,480	0.78% 16
1972	83.85% 1,314	16.15% 253
1968	10.78% 179	17.46% 290	71.76% 1,192
1964	48.97% 710	51.03% 740
1960	24.84% 311	75.16% 941
1956	18.54% 218	81.46% 958
1952	21.68% 268	78.32% 968
1948	6.29% 55	67.96% 594	25.74% 225
1944	10.13% 102	89.87% 905
1940	8.49% 95	91.51% 1,024
1936	7.56% 89	92.44% 1,089
1932	6.27% 60	93.73% 897
1928	25.69% 177	73.00% 503	1.31% 9
1924	4.60% 16	92.53% 322	2.87% 10

Education

Union County School District serves the county.

Libraries

The Union County Public Library serves the county. The branch is at 250 SE 5th Avenue, Lake Butler, Florida 32054. Its director is Mary C. Brown. The branch is open Monday, Wednesday–Friday 9 am–6 pm, Tuesday 9 am–8 pm, and Saturday 9 am–3 pm.

Communities

#	Incorporated Community	Designation	Population
1	Lake Butler	City	1,813
2	Worthington Springs	Town	390
3	Raiford	Town	242

Union County, Florida facts for kids

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