Union County, North Carolina facts for kids

Union County
	Union County, North Carolina
	Map
	; Location in the state of North Carolina
	; North Carolina's location in the U.S.
	Statistics
Founded	1842
Seat	Monroe
Largest town	Indian Trail
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 640 sq mi (1,658 km²); 632 sq mi (1,637 km²); 8.0 sq mi (21 km²), 1.3%
Population; - (2010); - Density	; 201,292;
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
	Website: www.co.union.nc.us

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 201,292. Its county seat is Monroe.

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 took a major part in the Monroe and Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 nine-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 seven, was also convicted and sentenced to live in a juvenile reformatory until he was 21 for simply witnessing the act. In 1961, Williams was accused of kidnapping an elderly white couple, when he sheltered them in his house during a very explosive situation of high racial tensions. Williams fled and went into exile in Cuba and in the People's Republic of China before returning to the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km²) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km²) (1.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Cabarrus County - north
Stanly County - northeast
Anson County - east
Chesterfield County, South Carolina - southeast
Lancaster County, South Carolina - southwest
Mecklenburg County - northwest

Major highways

US 74
US 601
NC 16
NC 75
NC 84
NC 200
NC 205
NC 207
NC 218
NC 522
NC 742
NC 51

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	10,051	—
1860	11,202	11.5%
1870	12,217	9.1%
1880	18,056	47.8%
1890	21,259	17.7%
1900	27,156	27.7%
1910	33,277	22.5%
1920	36,029	8.3%
1930	40,979	13.7%
1940	39,097	−4.6%
1950	42,034	7.5%
1960	44,670	6.3%
1970	54,714	22.5%
1980	70,380	28.6%
1990	84,211	19.7%
2000	123,677	46.9%
2010	201,292	62.8%
Est. 2015	222,742	10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

As of the census of 2010, 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/km²). There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 314 per square mile (28/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.

Events

Entering Union County on North Carolina Highway 200

Brooklandwood in the Union County town of 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 descend on Mineral Springs from all parts of the country to take part in this day-long event of races and other activities.
The Union County town of Marshville is the site of the Boll Weevil Festival, an annual street fair and carnival that takes place every fall.

Communities

Map of Union County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

Monroe (county seat)

Towns

Villages

Lake Park
Marvin
Wesley Chapel

Census-designated place

JAARS

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Gibraltar

Townships

Goose Creek
Jackson
Marshville
Monroe
New Salem
Vance
Buford
Lanes Creek
Sandy Ridge