Union County, Illinois

Union County, Illinois
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it had a population of 17,244. Its county seat is Jonesboro. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".
History
Union County was formed out of Johnson County, nearly a year before the Illinois Territory gained statehood. It was named for a joint revival meeting of the Baptists and Dunkards, called a "union meeting". The county seal depicts the leaders of these two groups shaking hands.
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Jonesboro have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1918 and a record high of was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in September to in May.
Major highways
Interstate 57
U.S. Highway 51
Illinois Route 3
Illinois Route 127
Illinois Route 146
Adjacent counties
Jackson County – north
Williamson County – northeast
Johnson County – east
Pulaski County – southeast
Alexander County – south
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri – west
Perry County, Missouri – northwest
Protected areas
Brown Barrens Nature Preserve
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (partial)
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (partial)
Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds
Giant City State Park (partial)
McClure Shale Glade Nature Preserve
Trail of Tears State Forest
Shawnee National Forest (partial)
Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area
Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 17,808 people, 7,167 households, and 4,837 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 7,924 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 9.4% were English, and 8.1% were American.
Of the 7,167 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 42.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,760 and the median income for a family was $48,465. Males had a median income of $36,831 versus $31,272 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,512. About 12.7% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Anna
Jonesboro (seat)
Villages
Alto Pass
Cobden
Dongola
Mill Creek
Unincorporated communities
Balcom
La Rue
Reynoldsville
Ware
Wolf Lake
Politics
Like much of Southern Illinois, Union County has shifted toward the Republican Party over the past couple decades, with the Republican candidate for president winning the county since 2000.
Education
School districts include:
K-12:
Cobden School Unit District 17
Dongola School Unit District 66
Goreville Community Unit School District 1
Shawnee Community Unit School District 84
Secondary:
Anna Jonesboro Community High School District 81
Vienna High School District 133
Elementary:
Anna Community Consolidated School District 37
Buncombe Consolidated School District 43
Cypress School District 64
Jonesboro Community Consolidated School District 43
Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Illinois
Ku Klux Klan in Southern Illinois
References
Bibliography
External links
Union County Official Website
Union County State's Attorney
Union County Treasurer
Union County Chamber of Commerce
1818 establishments in Illinois
Illinois counties
Illinois counties on the Mississippi River
Southern Illinois
Pre-statehood history of Illinois
Populated places established in 1818