Editing Union County, Tennessee

{{short description|County in Tennessee, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Union County
 | state                = Tennessee
 | logo                 = UnionCoTNLogo.png
 | flag                 = Flag of Union County, Tennessee.svg
 | founded              = January 23, 1856
 | named for            = Either its creation from parts of five other counties or its support for the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] during the Civil War<ref name=tehc>Bonnie Heiskell Peters, "[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1416 Union County]," ''Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture''. Retrieved: April 19, 2013.</ref>
 | seat wl              = Maynardville
 | largest city wl      = Maynardville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 247
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 224
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 24
 | area percentage      = 9.5%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 19802 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 85
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.unioncountytn.com
 | ex image             = Union-County-Courthouse-tn2.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Union County Courthouse in [[Maynardville, Tennessee|Maynardville]]
 | district             = 3rd
 | leader_title         = Mayor
 | leader_name          = Jason Bailey
 | area codes           = [[865 area code|865]]
 | ZIP codes            = 37721, 37779, 37807, 37866, 37705 
}}

'''Union County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Tennessee]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 19,802.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Union County, Tennessee|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Union_County,_Tennessee?g=0500000US47173|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Maynardville, Tennessee|Maynardville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Union County is included in the [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] [[Knoxville metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
[[File:Union County Creation.svg|left|thumb|120x120px|Union County was created from the union of parts of five adjacent counties.|alt=]]
Union County was formed in 1850 from portions of [[Grainger County, Tennessee|Grainger]], [[Claiborne County, Tennessee|Claiborne]], [[Campbell County, Tennessee|Campbell]], [[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson]], and [[Knox County, Tennessee|Knox]] Counties. At least two theories are given on the source of its name. The name may commemorate the "union" of sections of five counties, or it may reflect [[East Tennessee]]'s support for the preservation of the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] in the years before and during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>[http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/05-06/44-counties.pdf Origins Of Tennessee County Names], ''[[Tennessee Blue Book]]'', 2005-2006, page 513</ref> The enabling legislation was initially passed January 3, 1850, but due to legal challenges and complications, the county was not formally created until January 23, 1856. The county seat was originally named "Liberty", but renamed "Maynardville" in honor of attorney and congressman [[Horace Maynard]], who had defended the county in a court case that sought to block its formation.<ref name=tehc />

In the 1930s, the damming of the [[Clinch River]] by the construction of [[Norris Dam]] by the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] (TVA) to form Norris Lake inundated a large part of the county,<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.comeherecomehome.com/about.php |website=Union County Chamber of Commerce |accessdate=December 5, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424060626/http://www.comeherecomehome.com/about.php |archivedate=April 24, 2010}}</ref> including the community of [[Loyston, Tennessee|Loyston]], and displaced many residents. "The Move," what many displaced families called the forced relocation by TVA, would encounter criticism, as the promise of electrification of Union County would not come after the completion of Norris Dam, but two decades later in the mid-1950s.<ref name="stephens">{{cite web |last1=Stephens |first1=Joseph |title=Forced Relocations Presented More of an Ordeal than an Opportunity for Norris Reservoir Families |url=https://www.historicunioncounty.com/article/forced-relocations-presented-more-ordeal-opportunity-norris-reservoir-families |website=Historic Union County |access-date=June 15, 2021}}</ref> With assistance from the [[National Park Service]] and the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], the TVA developed [[Big Ridge State Park]] as a demonstration park on the shore of Norris Lake in Union County. The park's recreational facilities opened in May 1934.<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/fsaall:@FILREQ(@field(SUBJ+@od1(Tennessee--Hamilton+County--Big+Ridge+Lake+))+@FIELD(COLLID+fsa)) America from the Great Depression to World War II: Black-and-White Photographs from the FSA-OWI, 1935-1945, LC-USW33- 015718-C]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|247|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|224|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|24|sqmi|abbr=on}} (9.5%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_47.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 14, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The county is situated in the [[Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians]], a range characterized by long, narrow ridges alternating with similarly shaped valleys. Prominent ridges in Union County include Copper Ridge, Hinds Ridge, and Lone Mountain. The southern end of [[Clinch Mountain]] forms part of the county's border with Grainger County to the east.

[[File:Norris-lake-big-ridge-tn1.jpg|right|thumb|210px|Norris Lake, near Big Ridge State Park]]

The Clinch River, Union County's primary stream, flows through the northern part of the county. This section of the river is part of Norris Lake. Big Ridge Dam, a small, nongenerating dam, impounds an inlet of Norris Lake, creating Big Ridge Lake at Big Ridge State Park. The "Loyston Sea", one of the widest sections of Norris Lake, is located in Union County just north of the state park.<ref>Michelle Gibson, "[http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/16/waterside-norris-lake/?print=1 Waterside at Norris Lake]," ''Knoxnews.com'', May 16, 2008. Retrieved: November 7, 2013.</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Claiborne County, Tennessee|Claiborne County]] (north)
*[[Grainger County, Tennessee|Grainger County]] (east)
*[[Knox County, Tennessee|Knox County]] (south)
*[[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson County]] (southwest)
*[[Campbell County, Tennessee|Campbell County]] (northwest)

===State protected areas===

*[[Big Ridge State Park]]
*Chuck Swan State Forest (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 6117
|1870= 7605
|1880= 10260
|1890= 11459
|1900= 12894
|1910= 11414
|1920= 11615
|1930= 11371
|1940= 9030
|1950= 8670
|1960= 8498
|1970= 9072
|1980= 11707
|1990= 13694
|2000= 17808
|2010= 19109
|2020= 19802
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=April 14, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47/47173.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Union County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Union County<ref>Based on 2000 [[census]] data</ref>]]}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Union County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US47173&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 18,642
| 94.14%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 53
| 0.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 33
| 0.17%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 36
| 0.18%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 5
| 0.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 629
| 3.18%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 404
| 2.04%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 19,802 people, 7,405 households, and 5,471 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> 17,808 people, 6,742 households and 5,191 families were residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|80|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 7,916 housing units averaged {{convert|35|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 98.46% White, 0.10% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. About 0.79% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 6,742 households, 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.00% were not families. About 19.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62, and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.70% under 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.

The [[median household income]] was $27,335 and the median family income was $31,843. Males had a median income of $26,436 versus $18,665 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,375. About 16.80% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.10% of those under age 18 and 27.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
===Top employers===
According to a data profile produced by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in 2018,<ref name="tnecd">{{cite web |title=Union County: County Profile Tool |url=https://tnecd.com/counties/union/ |website=Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development |publisher=[[Tennessee|State of Tennessee]] |access-date=September 27, 2020 |date=2018 }}</ref> the top employers in the county are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  
! Employer
! Employees
|-
|1
|Union County School District
|350
|-
|2
|[[Clayton Homes]] (Maynardville)
|350
|-
|3
|Union County
|150
|-
|4
|[[Food City (K-VA-T)|Food City]]
|100
|-
|5
|O-N Minerals Company
|100
|}

==Education==

* Big Ridge Elementary School
* Horace Maynard Middle School (previously Horace Maynard High School until 1997)
* Luttrell Elementary School
* Maynardville Elementary School
* Paulette Elementary School 
* Sharps Chapel Elementary School
*[[Tennessee Virtual Academy]]
* Union County Alternative Center, grades 6-12
* Union County High School
* In 2023 the Union County High School Baseball team won the first ever team sports State Championship in county history.

==Attractions==

* Roy Acuff Museum 
* [[Big Ridge State Park]]

==Communities==
[[File:The old Hamilton-Lay store.jpg|right|210px|thumb|The old Hamilton-Lay store at Hamilton Crossroads, east of Maynardville]]

===Cities===
* [[Luttrell, Tennessee|Luttrell]]
* [[Maynardville, Tennessee|Maynardville]] (county seat)
* [[Plainview, Tennessee|Plainview]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Alder Springs, Union County, Tennessee|Alder Springs]]
* [[Braden, Union County, Tennessee|Braden]]
* [[Sharps Chapel, Tennessee|Sharps Chapel]]

===Ghost town===
* [[Loyston, Tennessee|Loyston]]

==Notable people==
* [[Roy Acuff]], entertainer
* [[Chet Atkins]], entertainer
* [[Jake Butcher]], former banker and politician, convicted of fraud
* [[Kenny Chesney]], entertainer
* [[John Rice Irwin]], historian and founder of [[Museum of Appalachia]]
* [[Florence Reece]], who wrote the song "[[Which Side Are You On?]]", was born in Sharps Chapel in 1900.
* [[Carl Smith (country musician)|Carl Smith]], entertainer

==Government and politics==
{{PresHead|place=Union County, Tennessee|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,384|1,216|86|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,803|1,249|71|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,053|1,012|182|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,282|1,478|78|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,467|1,829|103|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,145|2,524|41|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,199|2,564|58|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,253|2,421|437|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,274|2,478|602|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,110|1,431|23|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,447|1,495|36|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,453|1,435|63|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,801|1,631|25|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,927|570|30|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,956|527|449|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,770|1,091|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,082|652|19|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,154|535|14|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,087|667|0|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,603|513|40|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,768|627|3|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,143|673|8|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,785|963|11|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|1,169|802|12|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,826|360|6|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,540|368|57|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,607|423|2|Tennessee}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,490|389|5|Tennessee}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|307|404|1,202|Tennessee}}

Union County's current mayor is Jason Bailey. The county has 17 commissioners, with two-to-three from each of its seven districts.

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tennessee#Union County]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.unioncountytn.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.comeherecomehome.com Union County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.ucps.org Union County Public Schools]
* [http://tngenweb.org/union/ TNGenWeb]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Union County, Tennessee
|North     = [[Claiborne County, Tennessee|Claiborne County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Grainger County, Tennessee|Grainger County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Knox County, Tennessee|Knox County]]
|Southwest = [[Anderson County, Tennessee|Anderson County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Campbell County, Tennessee|Campbell County]]
}}

{{Union County, Tennessee}}
{{Knoxville Metro}}
{{Tennessee}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|36.28|-83.84|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Union County, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:Knoxville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1850 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]
[[Category:East Tennessee]]