Union County, North Carolina

Union County Education, Geography, and History

Union County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 201,292. Its county seat is Monroe.

Union County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Union County Name

At the time the county was formed there was a dispute between local Whigs and Democrats as to whether it should be named Clay or Jackson. The name Union was suggested and adopted as a compromise because the new county was created from parts of two others.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Union County History

Union was formed in 1842 from Anson and Mecklenburg. At the time the county was formed there was a dispute between local Whigs and Democrats as to whether it should be named Clay or Jackson. The name Union was suggested and adopted as a compromise because the new county was created from parts of two others. It is in the south central section of the State and is bounded by the state of South Carolina and Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly and Anson counties. The present land area is 637.37 square miles and the 2000 population was 123,772. Commissioners were named in the act to select a site, lay out a town by the name of Monroe, and erect a courthouse. Monroe is the county seat.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km²) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km²) (1.3%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Cabarrus County - north
• Stanly County - northeast
• Anson County - east
• Chesterfield County, South Carolina - southeast
• Lancaster County, South Carolina - southwest
• Mecklenburg County - northwest

Education

South Piedmont Community College

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