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Union County, Arkansas
Union County Courthouse, El Dorado, AR IMG 2597
Union County Courthouse in El Dorado
Map of Arkansas highlighting Union County
Location in the state of Arkansas
Map of the U.S
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded November 2, 1829
Seat El Dorado
Largest city El Dorado
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,055 sq mi (2,732 km²)
1,039 sq mi (2,691 km²)
16 sq mi (41 km²), 1.5%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

39,054
40/sq mi (15/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.unioncountyar.com
Confederate soldier monument, Union County, AR IMG 2583

Confederate monument at Union County Courthouse

Union County is a county located on the central southern border of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,054.[1] The county seat is El Dorado. The county was formed on November 2, 1829, and named in recognition of the citizens' petition for a new county, which said that they were petitioning "in the spirit of Union and Unity." The county is directly adjacent to the south to Union Parish in the state of Louisiana.

The El Dorado, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Union County.

Called by boosters the "Queen City of South Arkansas", El Dorado was at the heart of the 1920s oil boom in South Arkansas. More recently, the city has been called "Arkansas's Original Boomtown," as it emphasizes its historic assets for heritage tourism.[2] The chemical and timber industries became important during and after World War II, and still have a place in the economy.

History[]

Union County was formed on November 2, 1829, from portions of Clark and Hempstead counties. Areas along the waterways were originally developed for cotton plantations in the antebellum years, and planters depended on large groups of enslaved African-American workers to generate their profits.

On January 10, 1921, Dr. Samuel T. Busey hit oil with a well about a mile south of El Dorado, leading to an oil boom that attracted thousands of workers and speculators. His first well produced for fewer than two months, but by 1923, "El Dorado boasted fifty-nine oil contracting companies, thirteen oil distributors and refiners, and twenty-two oil production companies. The city was flooded with so many people that no bed space was available for them, leading to whole neighborhoods of tents and hastily constructed shacks to be erected throughout the city. The city's population reached a high of nearly 30,000 in 1925 during the boom before dropping to 16,241 by 1930 and rising to 25,000 by 1960."[3] Oil production fell markedly in the early 1930s, in part due to companies' financial difficulties during the Great Depression. It recovered later in the decade.

During World War II, chemical plants were established in the county, but their production declined after the war. Exploitation of Arkansas forests led to growth in the timber industry in the county. Oil, chemical and timber industries are still important to the economy, although in lesser proportion.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,055 square miles (2,730 km2), of which 1,039 square miles (2,690 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.5%) is water.[4] It is the largest county by area in Arkansas. Union County, along with Columbia County, has the largest bromine reserve in the United States. The lowest point in the state of Arkansas is located on the Ouachita River in Union County and Ashley County, where it flows out of Arkansas and into Louisiana.

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

  • Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 640
1840 2,889 351.4%
1850 10,298 256.5%
1860 12,288 19.3%
1870 10,571 −14.0%
1880 13,419 26.9%
1890 14,977 11.6%
1900 22,495 50.2%
1910 30,723 36.6%
1920 29,691 −3.4%
1930 55,800 87.9%
1940 50,461 −9.6%
1950 49,686 −1.5%
1960 49,518 −0.3%
1970 45,428 −8.3%
1980 48,573 6.9%
1990 46,719 −3.8%
2000 45,629 −2.3%
2010 41,639 −8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1]
USA Union County, Arkansas age pyramid

Age pyramid Union County[9]

2020 census[]

Union County racial composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 22,904 58.65%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 12,670 32.44%
Native American 108 0.28%
Asian 273 0.7%
Pacific Islander 16 0.04%
Other/Mixed 1,329 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 1,754 4.49%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 39,054 people, 15,726 households, and 10,562 families residing in the county.

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 45,629 people, 17,989 households, and 12,646 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km2). There were 20,676 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.15% White, 31.97% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,989 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,809, and the median income for a family was $36,805. Males had a median income of $31,868 versus $19,740 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,063. About 14.70% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.80% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Over the past few election cycles, Union County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Bill Clinton (a native Arkansan) in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Union County, Arkansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,478 63.09% 5,584 33.62% 545 3.28%
2016 10,456 61.89% 5,855 34.66% 583 3.45%
2012 10,699 62.29% 6,196 36.07% 282 1.64%
2008 10,677 62.15% 6,190 36.03% 312 1.82%
2004 10,502 58.89% 7,071 39.65% 259 1.45%
2000 8,647 55.40% 6,261 40.11% 701 4.49%
1996 6,053 37.97% 8,373 52.53% 1,514 9.50%
1992 7,305 39.32% 8,786 47.29% 2,489 13.40%
1988 10,581 61.32% 5,931 34.37% 744 4.31%
1984 12,333 65.74% 6,208 33.09% 218 1.16%
1980 9,401 55.10% 6,852 40.16% 810 4.75%
1976 7,918 48.93% 8,257 51.03% 7 0.04%
1972 11,925 76.72% 3,531 22.72% 87 0.56%
1968 4,919 28.60% 4,426 25.74% 7,853 45.66%
1964 8,472 54.38% 6,948 44.60% 160 1.03%
1960 5,631 41.51% 6,500 47.92% 1,434 10.57%
1956 5,059 39.75% 7,055 55.44% 612 4.81%
1952 5,266 41.11% 7,515 58.67% 29 0.23%
1948 1,039 12.46% 5,588 67.01% 1,712 20.53%
1944 833 15.26% 4,624 84.70% 2 0.04%
1940 489 9.15% 4,842 90.59% 14 0.26%
1936 254 5.76% 4,141 93.94% 13 0.29%
1932 245 4.27% 5,429 94.61% 64 1.12%
1928 1,612 33.95% 3,128 65.88% 8 0.17%
1924 450 16.84% 1,967 73.59% 256 9.58%
1920 493 21.29% 1,763 76.12% 60 2.59%
1916 273 13.90% 1,691 86.10% 0 0.00%
1912 152 10.25% 1,090 73.50% 241 16.25%
1908 535 27.23% 1,407 71.60% 23 1.17%
1904 297 23.57% 955 75.79% 8 0.63%
1900 336 21.05% 1,238 77.57% 22 1.38%
1896 148 7.56% 1,749 89.37% 60 3.07%
1892 106 6.26% 1,431 84.47% 157 9.27%



Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • I-69 (Future) Future Interstate 69
  • US 63 U.S. Highway 63
  • US 82 U.S. Highway 82
  • US 167 U.S. Highway 167
  • Arkansas 7 Highway 7
  • Arkansas 15 Highway 15
  • Arkansas 129 Highway 129

Airport[]

  • South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • El Dorado (county seat)
  • Strong
  • Huttig
  • Junction City
  • Norphlet
  • Smackover

Towns[]

  • Felsenthal
  • Calion

Census-designated places[]

  • Lawson
  • Mount Holly
  • Urbana

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Lapile
  • Moro Bay
  • Old Union
  • New London
  • Parkers Chapel

Townships[]

Union County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large

Townships in Union County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas and some may have incorporated towns or cities within part of their space. Townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the US Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (often referred to as "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps. The townships of Union County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses.


[13][14]

  • Boone
  • Cornie
  • El Dorado (El Dorado)
  • Franklin (Calion)
  • Garner
  • Harrison
  • Henderson (Junction City)
  • Jackson
  • Johnson
  • Lapile (Felsenthal, Huttig, Strong)
  • Norphlet (Norphlet)
  • Smackover (Smackover)
  • Tubal
  • Van Buren
  • Wesson
  • Wilmington

See also[]

  • List of lakes in Union County, Arkansas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Arkansas

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05139.html. 
  2. ^ Bridges, Kenneth. "El Dorado (Union County)". http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=999. 
  3. ^ Kenneth Bridges, "El Dorado (Union County)", 2017, Encyclopedia of Arkansas Culture and History; accessed 28 April 2018
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt. 
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt. 
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  9. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05139&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 
  13. ^ U. S. Census Bureau. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Union County, AR (Map). http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05139_union/BAS11C20513900000_000.pdf. 
  14. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#U. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 33°11′14″N 92°35′29″W / 33.18722, -92.59139


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Union County, Arkansas. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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