Union Springs, Alabama

Union Springs
City
Union Springs at sundown
Flag
Nickname(s):  Bird Dog Field Trial Capital of the World; The Serendipity Center of the South
Location of Union Springs in Bullock County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 32°8′24″N85°42′46″W / 32.14000°N 85.71278°W / 32.14000; -85.71278
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Bullock
Settled	1835
Incorporated	1844
Government
• Type	Mayor/Council
• Mayor	Saint T. Thomas, Jr.
Area [1]
• Total	6.69 sq mi (17.33 km2)
• Land	6.63 sq mi (17.17 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation	522 ft (159 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,358
• Density	506.49/sq mi (195.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	36089
Area code	334
FIPS code	01-77880
GNIS feature ID	0128349

Union Springs is a city in and county seat of Bullock County, Alabama, United States. ^[2] The population was 3,980 at the 2010 census. ^[3]

History

The area that became Union Springs was first settled by white men after the Creek Indian removal of the 1830s. Twenty-seven springs watered the land, giving rise to the name of Union Springs. The city was incorporated on January 13, 1844. Voters selected Union Springs as the county seat when Bullock County was formed in 1866. ^[4]

Geography

Union Springs is located in southeastern Alabama near the center of Bullock County at 32°8'24.407" North, 85°42'46.094" West (32.140113, -85.712804). ^[5] The source of the Conecuh River is within the city limits.

Aerial view of Union Springs

The city is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 82 and U.S. Route 29. Route 82 leads east 40 miles (64 km) to Eufaula and northwest 46 miles (74 km) to Montgomery, the state capital. Route 29 leads north 23 miles (37 km) to Tuskegee and southwest 40 miles (64 km) to Troy.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Union Springs has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.3 km²), of which 6.6 square miles (17.2 km²) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km²), or 0.93%, is water. ^[3]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Union Springs has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[6]

Climate data for Union Springs, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–2016
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	82 (28)	84 (29)	92 (33)	96 (36)	102 (39)	106 (41)	107 (42)	104 (40)	106 (41)	98 (37)	89 (32)	83 (28)	107 (42)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	74.1 (23.4)	77.2 (25.1)	83.1 (28.4)	86.3 (30.2)	90.3 (32.4)	94.7 (34.8)	96.0 (35.6)	96.0 (35.6)	92.6 (33.7)	87.6 (30.9)	81.3 (27.4)	76.4 (24.7)	97.6 (36.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	58.0 (14.4)	61.9 (16.6)	69.2 (20.7)	75.3 (24.1)	81.9 (27.7)	87.1 (30.6)	89.4 (31.9)	88.5 (31.4)	85.1 (29.5)	76.7 (24.8)	67.2 (19.6)	59.7 (15.4)	75.0 (23.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	46.3 (7.9)	49.7 (9.8)	56.1 (13.4)	62.0 (16.7)	69.9 (21.1)	76.7 (24.8)	79.7 (26.5)	78.9 (26.1)	74.6 (23.7)	64.2 (17.9)	53.8 (12.1)	48.4 (9.1)	63.4 (17.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	34.5 (1.4)	37.5 (3.1)	43.0 (6.1)	48.8 (9.3)	57.9 (14.4)	66.3 (19.1)	70.0 (21.1)	69.3 (20.7)	64.1 (17.8)	51.8 (11.0)	40.5 (4.7)	37.0 (2.8)	51.7 (11.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	17.3 (−8.2)	20.9 (−6.2)	26.6 (−3.0)	33.3 (0.7)	44.9 (7.2)	56.3 (13.5)	63.6 (17.6)	62.0 (16.7)	49.6 (9.8)	34.7 (1.5)	26.5 (−3.1)	19.4 (−7.0)	13.5 (−10.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−2 (−19)	−7 (−22)	14 (−10)	28 (−2)	36 (2)	44 (7)	55 (13)	51 (11)	39 (4)	26 (−3)	15 (−9)	3 (−16)	−7 (−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.02 (128)	4.72 (120)	5.47 (139)	4.57 (116)	4.34 (110)	4.91 (125)	5.90 (150)	5.00 (127)	3.79 (96)	3.41 (87)	4.83 (123)	5.23 (133)	57.19 (1,454)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.0 (0.0)	0.2 (0.51)	0.2 (0.51)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.2 (0.51)	0.6 (1.53)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	8.5	7.8	7.5	6.7	5.9	8.7	9.9	8.9	5.8	4.6	6.0	7.6	87.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.0	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.4
Source 1: NOAA [7]
Source 2: XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010) [8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	1,455		—
1880	1,862		28.0%
1890	2,049		10.0%
1900	2,634		28.6%
1910	4,055		53.9%
1920	4,125		1.7%
1930	2,875		−30.3%
1940	3,107		8.1%
1950	3,232		4.0%
1960	3,704		14.6%
1970	4,324		16.7%
1980	4,431		2.5%
1990	3,975		−10.3%
2000	3,670		−7.7%
2010	3,980		8.4%
2020	3,358		−15.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

2020 census

Union Springs racial composition ^[10]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	318	9.47%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,548	75.88%
Asian	5	0.15%
Pacific Islander	2	0.06%
Other/Mixed	73	2.17%
Hispanic or Latino	412	12.27%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,358 people, 1,353 households, and 856 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2010, there were 3,980 people, 1,461 households, and 915 families residing in the city.The population density was 601 inhabitants per square mile (232/km²). There were 1,664 housing units at an average density of 248.4 per square mile (95.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.8% Black or African American, 12.9% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, 12.8% from other races, and .8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.0% of the population.

There were 1,461 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.4% were married couples living together, 32.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.5% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,476, and the median income for a family was $26,167. Males had a median income of $37,689 versus $21,372 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,485. About 39.0% of families and 44.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 73.9% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Union Springs is served by the Bullock County School District. There are two high schools in the city: Bullock County High School and Bullock County Career Technical Center. There is one middle school, South Highlands Middle School, and one elementary school, Union Springs Elementary.

Conecuh Springs Christian School is a private school for grades K through 12.

Media

Newspaper

• Union Springs Herald

Radio

• WQSI 93.9 FM (Modern Rock)

Infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Union Springs Post Office. ^[12] The Alabama Department of Corrections operates the Bullock Correctional Facility in an Unincorporated community in Bullock County, east of Union Springs. ^{[13] [14]}

Economy

A cotton growing region, the arrival of the railroad spurred new economic growth after the Civil War. By the early 1900s, many of the old cotton plantations had become hunting preserves, attracting tourists. The city remains the economic hub of the surrounding agricultural counties. ^[4]

A major employer in the city is Bonnie Plants, Inc., a plant wholesaler founded in 1918 with revenue exceeding over $250 million by 2020. ^[15]

Recreation and culture

Union Springs hosts annual field trials for hunting dogs. These trials take place between October and March and attract participants from around the country. ^[16]

Notable people

• Henry Babers, Christian evangelist, Bible teacher, and scholar
• Winton M. Blount, United States Postmaster General (1969–1972)
• John Warren Branscomb, bishop of the United Methodist Church
• Edith Burroughs, first African American to win a professional bowling tournament in the United States
• Helen Claire, Broadway actress
• John Henrik Clarke, Pan-Africanist
• Fate Echols, NFL player
• Lucy Feagin, first woman to operate a drama school in New York City
• Seal Harris, former heavyweight boxer
• Jimmy Hitchcock, first All-American football player at Auburn University
• Eddie Kendricks, co-founder of The Temptations
• Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources
• Tim Stowers, college football coach
• Mary Hardway Walker, one of the last surviving enslaved people

Gallery

• 
  The Bullock County Courthouse in Union Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 
  Union Springs at sundown
• 
  Sardis Baptist Church, located just outside Union Springs, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 2001.
• 
  A historical marker near Union Springs shows the Indian Territory boundary line created by the Treaty of Fort Jackson.
• 
  Foster House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 
  Bird dog monument, Life-size bronze statue of an English pointer

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Union Springs city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
4. Schmidt, Greg. "Union Springs". Encyclopedia Alabama. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. Climate Summary for Union Springs, Alabama
7. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Union Springs 9 S, AL". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
8. "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 9, 2015.
12. "Post Office™ Location - UNION SPRINGS Archived August 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
13. "Bullock Correctional Facility Archived October 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved on July 1, 2011.
14. "Union Springs city, Alabama ^{[ permanent dead link ]}." U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved on July 4, 2011.
15. "Bonnie Plants, Inc. Company"
16. "Field Trials". City of Union Springs, Alabama. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.

External links

• United States portal

• Union Springs tourism website
• Bullock County School District