# Union County, Mississippi

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It was formed in 1870 from Tippah and Pontotoc counties, and in 1874 a portion of Lee County was added. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,777. Its county seat is New Albany. According to most sources, the county received its name by being a union of pieces of several large counties, like other Union counties in other states. However, other sources say that the name was meant to mark the re-union of Mississippi and the other Confederate states after the Civil War (at the time, the state had a Republican government under Reconstruction).

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080 km$^2$), of which 416 square miles (1,080 km$^2$) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km$^2$) (0.3%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 22
* U.S. Route 78
* Mississippi Highway 9
* Mississippi Highway 15
* Mississippi Highway 30
* Mississippi Highway 178
* Mississippi Highway 348
* Mississippi Highway 349
* Mississippi Highway 355

### Adjacent counties

* Benton County (north)
* Tippah County (north)
* Prentiss County (east)
* Lee County (southeast)
* Pontotoc County (south)
* Lafayette County (southwest)
* Marshall County (northwest)

### National protected area

* Holly Springs National Forest (part)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Union County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White | 21,560 | 77.62% |
| Black or African American | 3,950 | 14.22% |
| Native American | 27 | 0.1% |
| Asian | 109 | 0.39% |
| Other/Mixed | 830 | 2.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,301 | 4.68% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,777 people, 9,808 households, and 6,922 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,362 people, 9,786 households, and 7,241 families residing in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile (24 people/km$^2$). There were 10,693 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 83.42% White, 14.95% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 1.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,786 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,682, and the median income for a family was $39,666. Males had a median income of $29,087 versus $21,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,700. About 9.60% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### City

* New Albany (county seat and largest municipality)

### Towns

* Myrtle
* Sherman (partly in Pontotoc County and Lee County)

### Village

* Blue Springs

### Unincorporated communities

* Alpine
* Enterprise
* Etta
* Ingomar
* Jugfork
* Keownville
* New Harmony
* Wallerville

## Education

There are two school districts: New Albany Public Schools and Union County School District.
Northeast Mississippi Community College is the community college for Union County.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Union County, Mississippi :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 10,559 | 84.62% | 1,807 | 14.48% | 112 | 0.90% |
| 2020 | 10,373 | 81.79% | 2,160 | 17.03% | 150 | 1.18% |
| 2016 | 9,235 | 80.33% | 2,012 | 17.50% | 249 | 2.17% |
| 2012 | 8,498 | 74.77% | 2,742 | 24.13% | 125 | 1.10% |
| 2008 | 9,072 | 74.39% | 2,985 | 24.48% | 138 | 1.13% |
| 2004 | 7,906 | 73.08% | 2,839 | 26.24% | 74 | 0.68% |
| 2000 | 6,087 | 65.37% | 3,094 | 33.23% | 130 | 1.40% |
| 1996 | 4,375 | 51.14% | 3,316 | 38.76% | 864 | 10.10% |
| 1992 | 5,173 | 53.10% | 3,714 | 38.12% | 855 | 8.78% |
| 1988 | 5,511 | 64.15% | 3,044 | 35.43% | 36 | 0.42% |
| 1984 | 5,837 | 67.74% | 2,766 | 32.10% | 14 | 0.16% |
| 1980 | 3,545 | 40.68% | 5,001 | 57.38% | 169 | 1.94% |
| 1976 | 2,507 | 32.73% | 5,021 | 65.56% | 131 | 1.71% |
| 1972 | 5,477 | 87.91% | 658 | 10.56% | 95 | 1.52% |
| 1968 | 948 | 14.00% | 624 | 9.22% | 5,198 | 76.78% |
| 1964 | 2,939 | 70.38% | 1,237 | 29.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 605 | 18.36% | 2,001 | 60.73% | 689 | 20.91% |
| 1956 | 427 | 12.22% | 2,882 | 82.48% | 185 | 5.29% |
| 1952 | 917 | 25.01% | 2,749 | 74.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 63 | 3.21% | 478 | 24.34% | 1,423 | 72.45% |
| 1944 | 183 | 7.88% | 2,140 | 92.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 108 | 3.96% | 2,609 | 95.71% | 9 | 0.33% |
| 1936 | 63 | 2.72% | 2,249 | 97.11% | 4 | 0.17% |
| 1932 | 74 | 3.15% | 2,264 | 96.50% | 8 | 0.34% |
| 1928 | 324 | 14.85% | 1,858 | 85.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 135 | 6.85% | 1,750 | 88.79% | 86 | 4.36% |
| 1920 | 429 | 25.77% | 1,224 | 73.51% | 12 | 0.72% |
| 1916 | 89 | 5.05% | 1,666 | 94.50% | 8 | 0.45% |
| 1912 | 23 | 2.13% | 962 | 89.24% | 93 | 8.63% |