Union County, North Carolina

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 238,267. Its county seat is Monroe. Union County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The county was formed in 1842 from parts of Anson County and Mecklenburg County. Its name was a compromise between Whigs, who wanted to name the new county for Henry Clay, and Democrats, who wanted to name it for Andrew Jackson. The Helms, Starnes, McRorie, and Belk families were prominent in the town as well as Monroe and Charlotte. Most of these families came from Goose Creek Township. Eventually, the state would come to acquire a Clay County and a Jackson County, too. Monroe, the county seat of Union County, also became a focal point during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1958, local NAACP Chapter President Robert F. Williams defended a 9-year-old African American boy who had been kissed by a white girl in an incident known as the Kissing Case. A second African-American boy, aged 7, was also convicted and sentenced to live in a juvenile reformatory until he was 21 for simply witnessing the act. After three months in a detention center, Governor Luther H. Hodges pardoned the boys. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639.65 square miles (1,656.7 km2), of which 632.74 square miles (1,638.8 km2) is land and 6.91 square miles (17.9 km2) (1.08%) is water. State and local protected areas Mineral Springs Greenway Rocky River Blueway Major water bodies Beaverdam Creek Crooked Creek Lake Lee Lake Monroe Lake Twitty Lanes Creek Lynches River Rocky River Adjacent counties Cabarrus County – north Stanly County – northeast Anson County – east Chesterfield County, South Carolina – southeast Lancaster County, South Carolina – southwest Mecklenburg County – northwest Major highways US 74 US 74 Byp. (Toll) US 601 NC 16 NC 75 NC 84 NC 200 NC 205 NC 207 NC 218 NC 522 NC 742 Major infrastructure Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport Goose Creek Airport Jaars-Townsend Airport Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 238,267 and 62,932 families residing in the county. The median age was 38.9 years, with 27.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males age 18 and over. There were 80,167 households in the county, of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 63.6% were married-couple households, 12.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 83,788 housing units, of which 4.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.4% were owner-occupied and 18.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. The racial makeup of the county was 69.5% White, 11.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.9% from some other race, and 7.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.6% of the population. 72.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.6% lived in rural areas. ce Racial and ethnic composition 2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 201,292 people, 67,864 households, and 54,019 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile (75 people/km2). There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 31.4 units per square mile (12.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.0% White, 11.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 10.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 67,864 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.60% were married couples living together, and 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present. 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.3. In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.90% under the age of 20, 4.7% from 20 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. The population was 49.4% male. Northern Union County has the southern foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains Government and politics In the early through mid-20th century, Union County was a firm "Solid South" Democratic county. Union County remained traditionally "Solid South" until after the civil rights movement. The first Republican to win the county was Richard Nixon with less than 40 percent of the vote in a three-way race in 1968. Union County has followed much of the South in turning towards the Republican Party following Nixon's election. Native Southerner Jimmy Carter carried Union County twice, but he remains the last Democrat to carry the county, and no Democrat since 1980 has reached 40 percent of the county's vote. Union County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments. Education South Piedmont Community College Central Academy of Technology and Arts Cuthbertson High School Forest Hills High School Marvin Ridge High School Metrolina Christian Academy Monroe Charter Academy Monroe High School Parkwood High School Piedmont High School Porter Ridge High School Sun Valley High School Arborbrook Christian Academy Tabernacle Christian School Union County Early College Union Academy Weddington High School Wingate University Shiloh Elementary Events Two major annual events occur in the county: Brooklandwood in Mineral Springs is the site of the Queens Cup Steeplechase, one of steeplechase horse racing's major annual events. The program consists of several races, and is held the last Saturday of April. The schedule of events also features a Jack Russell Terrier judging contest. Over 10,000 people typically attend the event. The Union County town of Marshville is the site of the Randy Travis Festival, an annual street fair and carnival that takes place every fall. Communities City Monroe (county seat) Towns Villages Lake Park Marvin Wesley Chapel Townships Census-designated place JAARS Unincorporated communities Brief Jackson New Salem Olive Branch Roughedge Ghost town See also List of counties in North Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, North Carolina Brandon Oaks, North Carolina References External links Geographic data related to Union County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap Official website Monroe–Union County Economic Development