Union County, Florida

Last updated

Union County
County
Union Cnty Crths Lake Butler.jpg
Union County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Union County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida in United States.svg
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°02′N82°22′W / 30.04°N 82.37°W / 30.04; -82.37
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Florida.svg Florida
FoundedMay 20, 1921
Named after Concept of Unity
Seat Lake Butler
Largest cityLake Butler
Area
 • Total
250 sq mi (600 km2)
 • Land244 sq mi (630 km2)
 • Water6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  2.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
16,147
 • Estimate 
(2023)
15,532 Decrease2.svg
 • Density65/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 3rd
Website www.unioncounty-fl.gov

Union County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Florida, the smallest in the state by area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,147. [1] The county seat is Lake Butler. [2]

Contents

History

Union County was created on October 1, 1921, from part of Bradford County. It was named to honor the concept of unity.[ citation needed ] [3] Union County is the location of Union Correctional Institution and the Reception and Medical Center (RMC). [4] Union CI is a maximum security prison and is home to part of Florida's Death Row. The death chamber is located at nearby Florida State Prison (FSP) in Bradford County. Florida State Prison also houses some death-row inmates.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 250 square miles (650 km2), of which 244 square miles (630 km2) is land and 6.2 square miles (16 km2) (2.5%) is water. [5] It is the smallest county by area in Florida.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930 7,428—
1940 7,094−4.5%
1950 8,90625.5%
1960 6,043−32.1%
1970 8,11234.2%
1980 10,16625.3%
1990 10,2520.8%
2000 13,44231.1%
2010 15,53515.6%
2020 16,1473.9%
2023 (est.)15,532 [6] −3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9]
1990-2000 [10] 2010-2019 [1]
Union County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic) [a]
RacePop 2010 [13] Pop 2020 [14] % 2010% 2020
White (NH)11,12311,58571.6%71.75%
Black or African American (NH)3,3913,19721.83%19.8%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)52420.33%0.26%
Asian (NH)32350.21%0.22%
Pacific Islander (NH)200.01%0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)4620.03%0.38%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)1884621.21%2.86%
Hispanic or Latino 7437644.78%4.73%
Total15,53516,147

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,147 people, 4,008 households, and 2,873 families residing in the county.

At the 2000 census, [15] there were 13,442 people, 3,367 households and 2,606 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 per square mile (22/km2). There were 3,736 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.62% White, 22.84% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 3.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,367 households, 41.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 15.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.60% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 21.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 39.80% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 183.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 215.20 males. This extremely skewed gender distribution is the result of the county's male prison population.

The median household income was $34,563, and the median family income was $37,516. Males had a median income of $28,571 versus $22,083 for females. The county's per capita income was $12,333. About 10.50% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 16.20% of those age 65 or over.

The county suffers a death rate of about 1600 per 100,000 residents, the highest in the nation. [16]

Cause of Death (2017) [17] Union County (Adjusted Rate)Florida (Adjusted Rate)
Overall1,516681
Cancer470153
Heart Disease298152
Respiratory Infection12139
Stroke5936
Hepatitis542

Government and infrastructure

Union Correctional Institution UnionCIRaifordFL.jpg
Union Correctional Institution

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) operates Region II Correctional Facility Office in an unincorporated area in Union County. [18] FDOC also maintains the Union Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in the county. [19] Union Correctional Institution houses one of two death rows for men in Florida. [20] About a third of the county's population is imprisoned, compared to a statewide figure of one-half percent. [17]

The Union Juvenile Residential Facility of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is in an unincorporated area in Union County. [21] [22]

United States presidential election results for Union County, Florida [23] [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 5,22483.64%97115.55%510.82%
2020 5,13382.11%1,05316.85%651.04%
2016 4,56879.83%1,01417.72%1402.45%
2012 3,98073.59%1,33924.76%891.65%
2008 3,94074.20%1,30024.48%701.32%
2004 3,39672.64%1,25126.76%280.60%
2000 2,33260.95%1,40736.77%872.27%
1996 1,63647.26%1,38840.09%43812.65%
1992 1,54643.29%1,24834.95%77721.76%
1988 1,64469.99%69129.42%140.60%
1984 1,80470.28%76129.65%20.08%
1980 1,12346.35%1,23751.05%632.60%
1976 54426.67%1,48072.55%160.78%
1972 1,31483.85%25316.15%00.00%
1968 17910.78%29017.46%1,19271.76%
1964 71048.97%74051.03%00.00%
1960 31124.84%94175.16%00.00%
1956 21818.54%95881.46%00.00%
1952 26821.68%96878.32%00.00%
1948 556.29%59467.96%22525.74%
1944 10210.13%90589.87%00.00%
1940 958.49%1,02491.51%00.00%
1936 897.56%1,08992.44%00.00%
1932 606.27%89793.73%00.00%
1928 17725.69%50373.00%91.31%
1924 164.60%32292.53%102.87%

Education

Union County School District serves the county. [25]

Libraries

In 1986, local county volunteers ran a make shift library in the local Community Center which consisted of donated books and other items. Soon the County was able to fund their own public library from tax money. An old bank building was renovated and used for the new public library. In 1990, the library was open to the public. In 1996, the Union County Public Library became a part of the New River Public Library Cooperative to enhance and support library services for patrons throughout the county. [26]

The Union County Public Library serves the county. The branch is at 250 SE 5th Avenue, Lake Butler, Florida 32054. Its director is Mary C. Brown. The branch is open Monday, Wednesday–Friday 9 am–6 pm, Tuesday 9 am–8 pm, and Saturday 9 am–3 pm.

Transportation

Major roads

Railroads

Union County has had three railroad lines in the past, all of which are abandoned. The primary one is the former Georgia Southern and Florida Railway, which ran along SR 100 from Columbia County through Bradford County. The other line is the Jacksonville and Southwestern Railroad which ran along SR 121 from Columbia County into Baker County. The J&SW also had a junction to the Bradford Farms Railroad, a spur north of Florida State Road 16 leading to what is today the Wildwood Subdivision in Lawtey in Bradford County.

Communities

#Incorporated CommunityDesignationPopulation
1 Lake Butler City1,813
2 Worthington Springs Town390
3 Raiford Town242

See also

References

  1. ↑ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. [11] [12]
  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey (February 10, 1937). "History of Union County". Florida Memory.
  4. ↑ "Reception and Medical Center (RMC)". Florida Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on July 28, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ https://www.census.gov/ [ not specific enough to verify ]
  12. ↑ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ Koeze, Ella (April 20, 2017). "35 Years Of American Death". Five Thirty-eight. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Union County Data". Wellflorida. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Region II Correctional Facility Office Archived October 10, 1999, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Union Correctional Facility Archived July 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Death Row Fact Sheet Archived April 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Union Juvenile Residential Facility". Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  22. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Union County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 7 (PDF p. 8/13). Retrieved December 11, 2024. Union Juvenile Residential Facility
  23. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Our Campaigns" . Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 11, 2024. - Text list
  26. ↑ Bird, Virginia (January 1, 1998). "Union County Public Library". Florida Library History Project.

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

30°02′N82°22′W / 30.04°N 82.37°W / 30.04; -82.37

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