Union County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 318 sqmi, of which 316 sqmi is land and 1.8 sqmi (0.6%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Union has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average temperatures in Lewisburg range from 27.2 °F in January to 72.7 °F in July, while in Hartleton they range from 26.4 °F in January to 72.1 °F in July. Union County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

Adjacent counties

• Lycoming County (north)
• Northumberland County (east)
• Snyder County (south)
• Mifflin County (southwest)
• Centre County (west)
• Clinton County (northwest)

State protected areas

• R. B. Winter State Park
• Sand Bridge State Park
• Shikellamy State Park's overlook is in Union County. The marina is across the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County.

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2017 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,681. The median age was 39.5 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 112.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 114.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian,

36.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,523 households in the county, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.1% were married-couple households, 15.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 16,082 housing units, of which 9.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.7% were owner-occupied and 28.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 /mi2. There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.08% White, 6.91% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 3.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 13.9% American, 6.5% Irish, 5.9% English and 5.3% Italian ancestry. 90.4% spoke English, 3.7% Spanish, 2.0% Pennsylvania Dutch and 1.2% German as their first language.

There were 13,178 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.10% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.50 males.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

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The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Union County as the Lewisburg, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census the micropolitan area ranked 12th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 263rd most populous in the United States with a population of 44,947. Union County is also a part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Union County, as well as Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder Counties in Pennsylvania. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and 115th most populous in the United States with a population of 264,739.

Government

County commissioners

• Preston Boop (R)
• Jeff Reber (R)
• Stacy Richards (D)

State government

• Stephanie Borowicz – State Representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 76
• Jamie Flick - State Representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 83
• David H. Rowe – State Representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 85
• Gene Yaw – State Senator, Pennsylvania Senate, District 23

Federal level

• Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District in 2023 after redistricting.
• Dave McCormick, US Senator
• John Fetterman, US Senator

Politics

|} Andrew Jackson was the last Democratic Party candidate to win the county, in 1832. The county has been solidly Republican in Presidential elections since John C. Frémont's win against James Buchanan in 1856. The only exception was William Howard Taft's loss to Theodore Roosevelt of the Bull Moose (Progressive) Party – which had splintered from the Republican Party – in 1912. The county has also voted for Republican Senators, State Treasurers, and State Auditors for decades. Robert P. Casey is the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win the county in the last fifty years. The county seat of Lewisburg is heavily Democratic, having given Joe Biden over 70% of its vote in 2020. However, the rest of the county is overwhelmingly Republican.

Education

Public school districts

School districts with portions of the county include:

• Lewisburg Area School District
  • Lewisburg Area High School
• Mifflinburg Area School District
  • Mifflinburg Area High School
• Milton Area School District (also in Northumberland County)
  • Milton Area High School
• Warrior Run School District (also in Montour and Northumberland Counties)
  • Warrior Run High School

Vocational school

• SUN Area Technical Institute - New Berlin

Higher education

• Bucknell University - Lewisburg

Private schools

• Beaver Run School - Lewisburg
• Bridgeville Parochial School - Mifflinburg
• Buffalo Creek Parochial School - Mifflinburg
• Calvary Holiness Academy - Millmont
• Camp Mount Luther - Mifflinburg
• County Line Amish School - Winfield
• East End Parochial School - Lewisburg
• Green Grove School - Mifflinburg
• Hartleton Mennonite School - Millmont
• Kumon Math and Learning of Lewisburg
• Limestone Valley Parochial School - Mifflinburg
• Morningstar Mennonite School - Mifflinburg
• Mountain Laurel School
• Mountain View Parochial School
• Norbrld Area Head Start Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16
• Ridge View Parochial School
• Shady Grove Christian School
• Snyder Union Mifflin Child Development - Mifflinburg
• Sunnyside School - Millmont
• Union Co ARC Child Development Center - Lewisburg
• Union Co CC and Learning Center - Lewisburg
• White Springs School - Mifflinburg

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in most cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Union County:

Boroughs

• Hartleton
• Lewisburg (county seat)
• Mifflinburg
• New Berlin

Townships

• Buffalo
• East Buffalo
• Gregg
• Hartley
• Kelly
• Lewis
• Limestone
• Union
• West Buffalo
• White Deer

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

• Allenwood
• Laurelton
• Linntown
• New Columbia
• Vicksburg
• West Milton
• Winfield

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Union County.

† county seat

References

• Snyder, Charles M. Union County, Pennsylvania: A Celebration of History, Penn State Press, 2001

References

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