Union County, Illinois

History

Union County was formed out of Johnson County, nearly a year before the Illinois Territory gained statehood. It was named for a joint revival meeting of the Baptists and Dunkards, called a "union meeting". The county seal depicts the leaders of these two groups shaking hands. File:Union County Illinois 1818.png|For its first year of existence, Union County included an area of unorganized territory temporarily attached to it. File:Union County Illinois 1819.png|In 1819, the additional territory became Alexander County, reducing Union to its current borders.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 422 sqmi, of which 413 sqmi is land and 8.7 sqmi (2.1%) is water.

Climate and weather

|Jonesboro, Illinois |22|42|3.59 |27|49|3.42 |35|60|4.73 |44|70|4.70 |53|78|5.22 |62|86|4.23 |66|90|3.26 |64|89|3.58 |56|82|3.13 |45|72|3.38 |36|58|4.76 |27|46|4.30 In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Jonesboro have ranged from a low of 22 °F in January to a high of 90 °F in July, although a record low of -20 °F was recorded in January 1918 and a record high of 112 °F was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.13 in in September to 5.22 in in May.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-57.svg|20px]] Interstate 57
• [[Image:US 51.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 51
• [[Image:Illinois 3.svg|20px]] Illinois Route 3
• [[Image:Illinois 127.svg|20px]] Illinois Route 127
• [[Image:Illinois 146.svg|20px]] Illinois Route 146

Adjacent counties

• Jackson County – north
• Williamson County – northeast
• Johnson County – east
• Pulaski County – southeast
• Alexander County – south
• Cape Girardeau County, Missouri – west
• Perry County, Missouri – northwest

Protected areas

• Brown Barrens Nature Preserve
• Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (partial)
• Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (partial)
• Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds
• Giant City State Park (partial)
• McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve
• Trail of Tears State Forest
• Shawnee National Forest (partial)
• Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,244. The median age was 44.9 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 90.0% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.0% of the population.

35.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 64.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,983 households in the county, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.7% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,841 housing units, of which 10.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 17,808 people, 7,167 households, and 4,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 43.1 PD/sqmi. There were 7,924 housing units at an average density of 19.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population.

Of the 7,167 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 42.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,760 and the median income for a family was $48,465. Males had a median income of $36,831 versus $31,272 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,512. About 12.7% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Anna
• Jonesboro (seat)

Villages

• Alto Pass
• Cobden
• Dongola
• Mill Creek

Unincorporated communities

• Balcom
• La Rue
• Reynoldsville
• Ware
• Wolf Lake

Politics

Like much of Southern Illinois, Union County has shifted toward the Republican Party over the past couple decades, with the Republican candidate for president winning the county since 2000.

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

• Cobden School Unit District 17
• Dongola School Unit District 66
• Goreville Community Unit School District 1
• Shawnee Community Unit School District 84

Secondary:

• Anna Jonesboro Community High School District 81
• Vienna High School District 133

Elementary:

• Anna Community Consolidated School District 37
• Buncombe Consolidated School District 43
• Cypress School District 64
• Jonesboro Community Consolidated School District 43
• Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16

References

Bibliography

References

1. (March 2025). "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". U.S. Department of Commerce.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. Callary, Edward. (2009). "Place Names of Illinois". University of Illinois Press.
5. White, Jesse. (March 2010). "Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties". State of Illinois.
6. "Monthly Averages for Jonesboro IL". The Weather Channel.
7. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brown+Barrens+Nature+Preserve,+Jonesboro,+IL+62952/@37.4718173,-89.3932627,12.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x88777a86460d649b:0x221d32ada41be0b5!2sUnion+County,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d37.5086525!4d-89.2847251!3m4!1s0x88777a120607c569:0x32018f2fe72fd7f6!8m2!3d37.4527849!4d-89.3060589 ''Brown Barrens Nature Preserve, Union County IL'' Google Maps (accessed 29 December 2018)]
8. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lincoln+Memorial+Picnic+Grounds/@37.4585615,-89.2720773,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88777a997454a9df:0x8a67d7d6429c70c6!8m2!3d37.4585573!4d-89.2698833 ''Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds, Union County IL'' Google Maps (accessed 29 December 2018)]
9. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/McClure+Shale+Glade+Nature+Preserve,+Jonesboro,+IL+62952/@37.4254154,-89.2798662,13.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x88777a86460d649b:0x221d32ada41be0b5!2sUnion+County,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d37.5086525!4d-89.2847251!3m4!1s0x88777a5903de5e01:0xa584158cc0dd86cf!8m2!3d37.4366347!4d-89.2870903 ''McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve, Union County IL'' Google Maps (accessed 29 December 2018)]
10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
15. "Explore Census Data".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
18. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
19. "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)".
20. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin".
21. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Union County, Illinois".
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Union County, Illinois".
23. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Union County, Illinois".
24. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
25. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
26. not an option in the 1980 Census
27. not an option in the 1990 Census
28. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau.
29. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau.
30. "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau.
31. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau.
32. Service, CHUCK RAASCH Herald & Review News. "Political scale tips toward GOP in southern Illinois, northeast Missouri".
33. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
34. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, IL". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].