United States › Illinois › Union County COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS
Union County Illinois · 18,293 residents · 413 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Union County is home to 18,293 people in Illinois. At a median age of 40.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 33% less than in Illinois as a whole. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $60,400. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 75% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 40.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 17K 18K 18K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Union County Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $30,994
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $20,173 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $10,180 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 18.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$60,400
+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$341
+3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $251 in 1990
US average: $602
from 72.2% in 1990
24.6% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 98.3%(17,324)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(105)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.2%(17,407)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(481)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 10.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 64.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 4.0% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 24.7%(1,758)
Women 15+
Never married 15.8%(1,215)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 53.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 26.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 62.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 7.6%(77)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.4%(147)
Share of the 1,018 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Union County Head to head
Compare Union County to nearby counties UNION COUNTY VS
Pulaski County
Income $42,463 +37%
Home value $85,100 +41%
Population 4,820 −71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income $62,528 +102%
Home value $160,500 +166%
Population 13,363 −20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income $47,043 +52%
Home value $59,800 −1%
Population 4,570 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income $48,763 +57%
Home value $137,300 +127%
Population 52,501 +215%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Union County, Illinois? Union County, Illinois has about 18,293 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Union County, Illinois? The typical household in Union County, Illinois earns about $30,994 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Union County, Illinois expensive? In Union County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $60,400, and the typical rent is about $341 a month.
How educated are people in Union County, Illinois? About 15.8% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Union County, Illinois? About 16.5% of people in Union County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Union County, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Union County, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 674 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.
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