Union County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Union County
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Union County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
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 Kentucky's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | January 15, 1811 |
| Seat | Morganfield |
| Largest city | Morganfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 363.38 sq mi (941.1 km2) |
| • Land | 342.85 sq mi (888.0 km2) |
| • Water | 20.53 sq mi (53.2 km2) 5.6% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,668 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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13,106  |
| • Density | 37.6135/sq mi (14.5227/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Union County is a county in the state of Kentucky. In 2020, about 13,668 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Morganfield. The county was officially started on January 15, 1811.
Union County is located on the east side of the Ohio River. It is across from where the Wabash River joins the Ohio. Union County, along with Posey County, Indiana and Gallatin County, Illinois, meet at a special spot. This spot is where the three states of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky come together.
Contents
Exploring Union County's Geography
Union County is in the northern part of Kentucky. Its northwestern edge follows the winding Ohio River. This river forms the border with the states of Illinois and Indiana.
The county has many small, wooded hills mixed with flat areas. These flat areas are used for farming. The highest point in the county is 673 feet (205 meters) above sea level. This spot is in the Chalybeate Hills, within the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area.
The John T. Myers Locks and Dam is on the Ohio River. It is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) downstream from Uniontown. This dam connects Union County with Posey County in Indiana. The dam was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction started in 1965 and finished in 1977. It was renamed in 1996 to honor John T. Myers, a retired congressman from Indiana.
Union County covers a total area of about 363.38 square miles (941.1 km²). Most of this, 342.85 square miles (888.0 km²), is land. The rest, 20.53 square miles (53.2 km²), is water. This means about 5.6% of the county is water. Union County is part of the Western Coal Fields region of Kentucky.
Neighboring Counties
- Posey County, Indiana − to the north
- Henderson County − to the northeast
- Webster County − to the southeast
- Crittenden County − to the south
- Hardin County, Illinois − to the west
- Gallatin County, Illinois − to the northwest
Special Natural Areas
- Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area (a state-protected area)
- Moffit Lake Recreation Area (a county-protected area)
Main Roads in Union County
U.S. Route 60
KY 56
KY 109
Towns and Communities
Cities
Census-Designated Places
Smaller Communities
Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 3,470 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,764 | 37.3% | |
| 1840 | 6,673 | 40.1% | |
| 1850 | 9,012 | 35.1% | |
| 1860 | 12,791 | 41.9% | |
| 1870 | 13,640 | 6.6% | |
| 1880 | 17,809 | 30.6% | |
| 1890 | 18,229 | 2.4% | |
| 1900 | 21,326 | 17.0% | |
| 1910 | 19,886 | −6.8% | |
| 1920 | 18,040 | −9.3% | |
| 1930 | 17,053 | −5.5% | |
| 1940 | 17,411 | 2.1% | |
| 1950 | 14,893 | −14.5% | |
| 1960 | 14,537 | −2.4% | |
| 1970 | 15,882 | 9.3% | |
| 1980 | 17,821 | 12.2% | |
| 1990 | 16,557 | −7.1% | |
| 2000 | 15,637 | −5.6% | |
| 2010 | 15,007 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 13,668 | −8.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,106 | −12.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2010, the county's population was 15,007 people. Most residents, about 85.45%, were White. About 12.05% were Black or African American. A small number, 1.62%, were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
Schools in Union County
Public schools in Union County are managed by Union County Public Schools. There are three public elementary schools. They are located in Morganfield, Sturgis, and Uniontown.
The county has one public middle school and one public high school. The high school is Union County High School, located near Morganfield, Kentucky. This school is well-known for its wrestling team.
John Paul II Catholic School is the only private school in the county. It is in Morganfield and offers classes for preschool, elementary, and middle school students.
Libraries and Learning Resources
Union County has three libraries. The main library is in Morganfield. There are also branches in Sturgis and Uniontown. These libraries offer many educational resources. They provide computers with internet access for everyone.
The libraries also have special programs for children:
- Time for Tots includes music, dancing, crafts, and stories. This program is for children aged 6 months to 5 years.
- Blox’ N Bots is a fun, hands-on program where kids in grades K-5 can learn about robotics.
- Between You and Me is for middle and high school students. They can join with an adult family member for crafts, games, and other activities.
The libraries also give access to the KY Virtual Library. This online resource offers:
- Britannica Digital Learning
- Databases for research
- EBSCO
- Kentucky Virtual Library
- LearningExpress Library
- NoveList
- ProQuest
- Scholastic GO!
- TeenBookCloud (a trial program)
- WorldCat (OCLC)
The Union County Public Library District also helps students with test-proctoring services. This is available at the Morganfield location.
For kids, there are many online educational resources available through the library:
- ABCya
- Bob the builder
- CoolMath4Kids
- Dr. Seuss
- Fun with Spot
- KidzPage
- Little Critter
- Littlest Pet Shop
- Neopets
- Nick Jr.
- Nickelodeon
- PBS Kids
- Ramo Math games
- Star Wars
- Turtle Diary
- Typing games
The library also provides quick links to helpful information. These include facts, health information, job resources, and links for Kentucky driver's tests. There are also links for legal help, news, and resources for seniors and teens.
Famous People from Union County
- Ben M. Bogard: He lived in Union County as a child. He became a Baptist minister and was part of the Landmarkism Movement.
- Dwane Casey: A well-known NBA basketball coach. He is currently the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.
- Ormsby M. Mitchel: An astronomer and a major general during the American Civil War.
- Isaiah L. Potts: He was a tavern keeper known for his tavern. Some stories say he led a group of highwaymen and murderers.
- William L. O'Daniel: A farmer from Union County. He served in the Illinois General Assembly.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Union (Kentucky) para niños
