Union County, Oregon facts for kids

Union County
	Union County, Oregon
	Map
	; Location in the state of Oregon
	; Oregon's location in the U.S.
	Statistics
Founded	October 14, 1864
Seat	La Grande
Largest City	La Grande
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 2,039 sq mi (5,281 km²); 2,037 sq mi (5,276 km²); 1.9 sq mi (5 km²), 0.1%
PopulationEst.; - (2015); - Density	; 25,790; 13/sq mi (5/km²)
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
	Website: www.union-county.org

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,748. Its county seat is La Grande.

Union County comprises the La Grande, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the eight counties of eastern Oregon.

History

See also: History of Oregon, National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Oregon, and Oregon pioneer history

According to Oregon Geographic Names, the county is named for the town of Union. Union County was originally part of Wasco County. The northern end of the Grande Ronde Valley was the first part to be settled. During the 1860s, population growth in eastern Oregon prompted the State Legislature to split Umatilla and Baker Counties from Wasco County in 1862. Further settlement in the Grande Ronde Valley led to the division of Baker County to create Union County on October 14, 1864. The county doubled in population between 1880 and 1890.

The choice of a county seat resulted in competition, based on geography and on economic and population growth, between La Grande and the city of Union. The county seat alternated between Union and La Grande until it permanently came to rest at La Grande in 1905. Between 1875 and 1913, adjustments were made between Union County's borders and the borders of Baker, Umatilla, and Wallowa counties.

Geography

Union County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,039 square miles (5,280 km²), of which 2,037 square miles (5,280 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (0.1%) is water. The Forest Service owns 47% of the land in the county.

Adjacent counties

Umatilla County (west)
Wallowa County (east)
Baker County (south)
Grant County (southwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	2,552	—
1880	6,550	156.7%
1890	12,044	83.9%
1900	16,070	33.4%
1910	16,191	0.8%
1920	16,636	2.7%
1930	17,492	5.1%
1940	17,399	−0.5%
1950	17,962	3.2%
1960	18,180	1.2%
1970	19,377	6.6%
1980	23,921	23.5%
1990	23,598	−1.4%
2000	24,530	3.9%
2010	25,748	5.0%
Est. 2015	25,790	0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 24,530 people, 9,740 households, and 6,516 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 10,603 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.29% White, 0.85% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.62% Pacific Islander, 0.51% Black/African American, 1.22% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race constitute 2.45% of the population. 20.2% were of German, 15.5% American, 12.2% English and 10.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 9,740 households out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 12.10% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,738, and the median income for a family was $40,520. Males had a median income of $33,028 versus $21,740 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,907. About 8.50% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,748 people, 10,501 households, and 6,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 12.6 inhabitants per square mile (4.9/km²). There were 11,489 housing units at an average density of 5.6 per square mile (2.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.1% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.9% Pacific islander, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% black or African American, 1.3% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.2% were German, 17.8% were Irish, 17.3% were English, and 6.9% were American.

Of the 10,501 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 40.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,162 and the median income for a family was $52,558. Males had a median income of $40,720 versus $30,373 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,947. About 10.5% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Union County, Oregon facts for kids

Contents

History

Geography

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2000 census

2010 census

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Images for kids