Union County, Arkansas

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File:Confederate soldier monument, Union County, AR IMG 2583.JPG
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 Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (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, also the lowest point in all landlocked U.S. states, 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

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
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191030,723Script error: No such module "String".%
192029,691Script error: No such module "String".%
193055,800Script error: No such module "String".%
194050,461Script error: No such module "String".%
195049,686Script error: No such module "String".%
196049,518Script error: No such module "String".%
197045,428Script error: No such module "String".%
198048,573Script error: No such module "String".%
199046,719Script error: No such module "String".%
200045,629Script error: No such module "String".%
201041,639Script error: No such module "String".%
202039,054Script error: No such module "String".%
2024 (est.)37,008[5]Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 39,054. The median age was 41.4 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.4 males age 18 and over.[11][12]

The racial makeup of the county was 59.4% White, 32.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.[12]

47.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 52.1% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 16,182 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.5% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 18,599 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.4% were owner-occupied and 29.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.5%.[11]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 45,629 people, 17,989 households, and 12,646 families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 20,676 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. 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

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Union County Quorum Court has eleven members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.[15][16]

Union County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[17][18][19]
Position Officeholder Party
County Judge Mike Loftin Republican
County Clerk Mandi Fudge Republican
Circuit Clerk Cheryl Cochran-Wilson Democratic
Sheriff Ricky Roberts Republican
Treasurer Jody Cunningham Republican
Collector Karen Scott Republican
Assessor Michelle Barksdale (Unknown)
Coroner Stormey Primm Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[18][20]

  • District 1: Mike Dumas (D)
  • District 2: Greg Harrison (R)
  • District 3: David Taylor (R)
  • District 4: Steven Ward (R)
  • District 5: Carolyn Jones (D)
  • District 6: Thad Mason (I)
  • District 7: Casey Wooten (R)
  • District 8: Royce DeWayne Worth (R)
  • District 9: Benny Vestal (R)
  • District 10: Ross Burton (R)
  • District 11: Phillip Hamaker (R)

Additionally, the townships of Columbia County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.[21] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[20]

  • Garner: Jordan Neal Braswell (R)
  • Jackson: Robert H. Pepper (R)

Politics

Over the past few election cycles, Union County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton (a native Arkansan) in 1996. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

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

Townships

File:Union County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg
Townships in Union County as of 2010

Template:Arkansas Townships About [22][23]

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See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Kenneth Bridges, "El Dorado (Union County)", 2017, Encyclopedia of Arkansas Culture and History; accessed April 28, 2018
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External links

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