Union County, Florida

Union County
County
Union County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°02′N82°22′W / 30.04°N 82.37°W / 30.04; -82.37
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	May 20, 1921
Named for	Concept of Unity
Seat	Lake Butler
Largest city	Lake Butler
Area
• Total	250 sq mi (600 km2)
• Land	244 sq mi (630 km2)
• Water	6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  2.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,147
• Density	64/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]

History

Union County was created in 1921 from part of Bradford County. It was named to honor the concept of unity.^{[ citation needed ]} Union County is the location of Union Correctional Institution and the Reception and Medical Center (RMC). ^[3] 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. ^[4] It is the smallest county by area in Florida.

Adjacent counties

• Baker County (north)
• Alachua County (south)
• Bradford County (east)
• Columbia County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	7,428		—
1940	7,094		−4.5%
1950	8,906		25.5%
1960	6,043		−32.1%
1970	8,112		34.2%
1980	10,166		25.3%
1990	10,252		0.8%
2000	13,442		31.1%
2010	15,535		15.6%
2020	16,147		3.9%
2023 (est.)	15,532	[5]	−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2019 [1]

Union County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^[a]

Race	Pop 2010 [12]	Pop 2020 [13]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	11,123	11,585	71.6%	71.75%
Black or African American (NH)	3,391	3,197	21.83%	19.8%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	52	42	0.33%	0.26%
Asian (NH)	32	35	0.21%	0.22%
Pacific Islander (NH)	2	0	0.01%	0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)	4	62	0.03%	0.38%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	188	462	1.21%	2.86%
Hispanic or Latino	743	764	4.78%	4.73%
Total	15,535	16,147

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, ^[14] 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. ^[15]

Cause of Death (2017) [16]	Union County (Adjusted Rate)	Florida (Adjusted Rate)
Overall	1,516	681
Cancer	470	153
Heart Disease	298	152
Respiratory Infection	121	39
Stroke	59	36
Hepatitis	54	2

Government and infrastructure

Union Correctional Institution

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) operates Region II Correctional Facility Office in an unincorporated area in Union County. ^[17] FDOC also maintains the Union Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in the county. ^[18] Union Correctional Institution houses one of two death rows for men in Florida. ^[19] About a third of the county's population is imprisoned, compared to a statewide figure of one-half percent. ^[16]

The Union Juvenile Residential Facility of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is in an unincorporated area in Union County. ^{[20] [21]}

United States presidential election results for Union County, Florida ^[22]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,224	83.64%	971	15.55%	51	0.82%
2020	5,133	82.11%	1,053	16.85%	65	1.04%
2016	4,568	79.83%	1,014	17.72%	140	2.45%
2012	3,980	73.59%	1,339	24.76%	89	1.65%
2008	3,940	74.20%	1,300	24.48%	70	1.32%
2004	3,396	72.64%	1,251	26.76%	28	0.60%
2000	2,332	60.95%	1,407	36.77%	87	2.27%
1996	1,636	47.26%	1,388	40.09%	438	12.65%
1992	1,546	43.29%	1,248	34.95%	777	21.76%
1988	1,644	69.99%	691	29.42%	14	0.60%
1984	1,804	70.28%	761	29.65%	2	0.08%
1980	1,123	46.35%	1,237	51.05%	63	2.60%
1976	544	26.67%	1,480	72.55%	16	0.78%
1972	1,314	83.85%	253	16.15%	0	0.00%
1968	179	10.78%	290	17.46%	1,192	71.76%
1964	710	48.97%	740	51.03%	0	0.00%
1960	311	24.84%	941	75.16%	0	0.00%
1956	218	18.54%	958	81.46%	0	0.00%
1952	268	21.68%	968	78.32%	0	0.00%
1948	55	6.29%	594	67.96%	225	25.74%
1944	102	10.13%	905	89.87%	0	0.00%
1940	95	8.49%	1,024	91.51%	0	0.00%
1936	89	7.56%	1,089	92.44%	0	0.00%
1932	60	6.27%	897	93.73%	0	0.00%
1928	177	25.69%	503	73.00%	9	1.31%
1924	16	4.60%	322	92.53%	10	2.87%

Education

Union County School District serves the county. ^[23]

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 apart of the New River Public Library Cooperative to enhance and support library services for patrons throughout the county. ^[24]

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

See also: List of county roads in Union County, Florida

• State Road 16
• State Road 18
• State Road 100
• State Road 121
• State Road 231
• State Road 238

Communities

#	Incorporated Community	Designation	Population
1	Lake Butler	City	1,813
2	Worthington Springs	Town	390
3	Raiford	Town	242

See also

• Florida portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Florida

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. ^{[10] [11]}

1. "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. "Reception and Medical Center (RMC)". Florida Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on July 28, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
10. https://www.census.gov/ ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
11. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
15. Koeze, Ella (April 20, 2017). "35 Years Of American Death". Five Thirty-eight. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
16. "Union County Data". Wellflorida. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
17. "Region II Correctional Facility Office Archived October 10, 1999, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.
18. "Union Correctional Facility Archived July 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
19. "Death Row Fact Sheet Archived April 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
20. "Union Juvenile Residential Facility". Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
21. "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 Faclty
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
23. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 11, 2024. - Text list
24. Bird, Virginia (January 1, 1998). "Union County Public Library". Florida Library History Project.

External links

• Union County Times newspaper that serves Union County, Florida available in full-text with images in Florida Digital Newspaper Library
• Union County Public Library - Website for Union County's library with links to government services and the tri-county area's library catalog.
• Lake Butler Community Page a non-official 'Community Page' created by a local resident to help share information about events and more occurring in the Union County/Lake Butler area.

Government links/Constitutional offices

• Union County Board of County Commissioners
• Union County Supervisor of Elections
• Union County Property Appraiser
• Union County Sheriff's Office
• Union County Tax Collector

Special districts

• Union County School Board
• Suwannee River Water Management District ^{[ permanent dead link ‍]} [Dead link August 26, 2016]

Judicial branch

• Union County Clerk of Courts
• Office of the State Attorney, 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida Archived December 15, 2004, at the Wayback Machine serving Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union Counties
• Circuit and County Court for the 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida

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