Union Springs, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Union Springs is a town in Bullock County
, Alabama
, United States
. The population was 3,670 at the 2000 census.
of the 1830s. Twenty-seven springs watered the land, giving rise to the name of Union Springs. The city was incorporated on January 13, 1844. When Bullock County was formed in 1866, voters selected Union Springs as the county seat.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²).
of 2000, there were 3,670 people, 1,393 households, and 909 families residing in the city. The population density
was 535.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,617 housing units at an average density of 235.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 74.41% Black
or African American
, 22.81% White
, 0.33% Native American
, 0.49% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.90% from other races
, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 6.84% of the population.
There were 1,393 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.5% were married couples
living together, 32.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,520, and the median income for a family was $20,645. Males had a median income of $17,059 versus $15,966 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,666. About 38.7% of families and 40.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.8% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over. Please note the different between the median average and mean average.
Conecuh Springs Christian School is a private school for grades K through 12.
operates the Union Springs Post Office.
Alabama Department of Corrections
operates the Bullock Correctional Facility
in an unincorporated area
in Bullock County
, near Union Springs.
. By the early 1900s, many of the old cotton plantations became hunting preserves, attracting tourists. The city remains as the economic hub of the surrounding agricultural counties.
s for hunting dog
s. These trials take place between October and March and attract participants from around the country.
Bullock County, Alabama
Bullock County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Edward C. Bullock of Barbour County. Living descendants of Colonel Bullock include prominent American cinema film actress, Sandra Bullock. As of 2010 the population was 10,914. In 1867, Union Springs...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,670 at the 2000 census.
History
The area that became Union Springs was first settled by white men after the Creek Indian removalIndian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
of the 1830s. Twenty-seven springs watered the land, giving rise to the name of Union Springs. The city was incorporated on January 13, 1844. When Bullock County was formed in 1866, voters selected Union Springs as the county seat.
Geography
Union Springs is located at 32°8'24.407" North, 85°42'46.094" West (32.140113, -85.712804).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,670 people, 1,393 households, and 909 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 535.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,617 housing units at an average density of 235.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 74.41% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 22.81% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.33% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.49% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.90% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race were 6.84% of the population.
There were 1,393 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 32.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,520, and the median income for a family was $20,645. Males had a median income of $17,059 versus $15,966 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $9,666. About 38.7% of families and 40.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.8% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over. Please note the different between the median average and mean average.
Education
Union Springs is served by the Bullock County School District. There are two highs schools in the city: Bullock County High School and Bullock County Career Technical Center. There is one middle school, South Highlands Middle School, and one elementary school, Union Springs Elementary.Conecuh Springs Christian School is a private school for grades K through 12.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Union Springs Post Office.
Alabama Department of Corrections
Alabama Department of Corrections
The Alabama Department of Corrections, commonly referred to as , is the agency responsible for incarceration of convicted felons in the state of Alabama in the United States. It is headquartered in the Alabama Criminal Justice Center in Montgomery....
operates the Bullock Correctional Facility
Bullock Correctional Facility
Bullock Correctional Facility is a medium level security Alabama Department of Corrections prison located in unincorporated Bullock County, Alabama, near Union Springs....
in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Bullock County
Bullock County, Alabama
Bullock County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Edward C. Bullock of Barbour County. Living descendants of Colonel Bullock include prominent American cinema film actress, Sandra Bullock. As of 2010 the population was 10,914. In 1867, Union Springs...
, near Union Springs.
Economy
Originally the center of a cotton growing region, the arrival of the railroad spurred new economic growth after the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. By the early 1900s, many of the old cotton plantations became hunting preserves, attracting tourists. The city remains as the economic hub of the surrounding agricultural counties.
Recreation and culture
Union Springs hosts annual field trialField trial
A field trial is a competitive event at which hunting dogs compete against one another. There are field trials for retrievers, pointing dogs and flushing dogs. Field trials are usually organized by kennel clubs or other gun dog organizations...
s for hunting dog
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
s. These trials take place between October and March and attract participants from around the country.
Notable natives
- Winton M. BlountWinton M. BlountWinton Malcolm "Red" Blount, Jr. was the United States Postmaster General from 1969-1972. He is also known as the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the large construction company Blount International....
- United States Postmaster GeneralUnited States Postmaster GeneralThe United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
(1969–1972) - John Henrik ClarkeJohn Henrik ClarkeJohn Henrik Clarke , born John Henry Clark, was a Pan-Africanist American writer, historian, professor, and a pioneer in the creation of Africana studies and professional institutions in academia starting in the late 1960s.He was Professor of African World History and in 1969 founding chairman of...
- Pan-Africanist. - Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
- Co-founder of The TemptationsThe TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. - Tim Stowers - Football Coach
- Thom S. RainerThom S. RainerThom S. Rainer is an American author, researcher, speaker, and current president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tenn...
- President and CEO, LifeWay Christian ResourcesLifeWay Christian ResourcesLifeWay Christian Resources, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the largest providers of Christian resources in the world. LifeWay has been recognized as one of the "Best Employers in Tennessee" by BusinessTN magazine.-Background:...