County · Arkansas

Union County, Arkansas

Union County, Arkansas. Union County had 36,926 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.5% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. It holds 11 places (8 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 05139.

Union County is the county of the El Dorado, AR micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

36,926

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 39,054 · ACS 2020-2024: 37,900

Median household income

$55,259

±$4,567 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773

Median home value

$120,900

±$7,707 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000

Median gross rent

$847

±$37 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947

How many people live in Union County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 39,054 residents in Union County. The Census Bureau estimates 36,926 for July 1, 2025, down 5.5% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 37,900 over 1,039 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −630 (38,312)
2021→2022 −456 (37,856)
2022→2023 −443 (37,413)
2023→2024 −292 (37,121)
2024→2025 −195 (36,926)

Union County in Arkansas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Union County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	37,900	3,049,391	−1,549
Households	15,002±384	1,205,987	−724
Average household size	2.49±0.06	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	18,649±38	1,394,673	−1,382

Union County's population since 2000

From 45,629 in 2000 to 36,926 in 2025: down 19.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 45,629
2005 (estimate) 43,134
2010 Census 41,639
2015 (estimate) 40,112
2020 Census 39,054
2025 (estimate) 36,926

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Union County?

Union County holds 11 places: 8 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is El Dorado with 16,609 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Union County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

El Dorado	city	17,756	17,115±36	$49,244	$124,100	23.3%	100%
Smackover	city	1,630	2,419±342	$55,995	$118,600	26.6%	100%
NorphletGEOID 0550060	city	766	1,003±314	$51,705	$120,800	13.6%	100%
Junction CityGEOID 0536130	city	503	564±221	not published	$111,300	9.9%	100%
HuttigGEOID 0534090	city	448	401±206	$55,000	$46,200	15.0%	100%
Calion	city	429	355±124	$41,417	$89,400	15.5%	100%
StrongGEOID 0567370	city	410	434±136	$36,063	$66,600	35.9%	100%
Lawson	CDP	260	86±55	$91,389	not published	0.0%	100%
UrbanaGEOID 0571180	CDP	177	147±132	not published	not published	23.8%	100%
Mount HollyGEOID 0547660	CDP	123	18±34	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
FelsenthalGEOID 0523320	town	85	40±18	$33,750	$83,000	32.5%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Union County?

The median resident of Union County is 41.4 years old; 23.7% are under 18 and 19.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 59.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 32.1%. 3.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Union County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.4±0.6	38.5	+1.1
Under 18 years	23.7%±0.1 pts	23.1%	–
65 years and over	19.2%±0.3 pts	17.6%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.7%	9.0%	+0.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	59.4%±0.4 pts	67.4%	−1.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	32.1%±0.8 pts	14.6%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.1 pts	1.6%	+0.2 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.7%±1.0 pts	6.3%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	3.0%±0.7 pts	5.4%	+1.2 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.2%±1.0 pts	8.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.2%±1.0 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	17.4%±1.2 pts	18.0%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.6%±1.0 pts	9.0%	−1.9 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.5%±1.5 pts	88.7%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.1%±1.6 pts	25.7%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.8%±1.3 pts	9.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.0%±0.5 pts	2.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Union County earn?

Half of Union County's 15,002 households earn less than $55,259 a year (±$4,567), against $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 it was $54,966 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Union County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$55,259±$4,567	$60,773	no clear change
Mean household income	$74,348±$4,652	$84,759	–
Per capita income	$30,883±$1,883	$34,225	no clear change
People below the poverty line	19.5%±2.5 pts	16.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	24.5%±5.6 pts	21.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	9.4%±1.5 pts	10.2%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	84.6%±2.1 pts	86.7%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Union County?

Owners occupy 72.7% of Union County's occupied homes and renters 27.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $120,900 by its owner (±$7,707). The median renter pays $847 a month including utilities, and 36.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Union County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$120,900±$7,707	$188,000	+$14,445
Median gross rent	$847±$37	$947	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.1%±5.6 pts	35.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,194±$48	$1,345	–
Owner-occupied homes	72.7%±2.7 pts	66.4%	no clear change
Housing units	18,649±38	1,394,673	−1,382
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.3%±0.4 pts	1.1%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.2%±3.5 pts	6.4%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.5%±2.2 pts	70.0%	–
Mobile homes	20.2%±1.8 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.6 pts	2.1%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	3.8%±1.1 pts	4.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Union County building?

Builders took permits for 19 new housing units across Union County in 2025 (19 single-family), 0.5 per 1,000 residents.

2019 11 units
2020 14 units
2021 18 units
2022 17 units
2023 19 units
2024 20 units
2025 19 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Union County get to work?

84.6% of Union County's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Union County	Arkansas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	56.2%±1.9 pts	58.4%	–
Unemployment rate	5.5%±1.3 pts	4.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	84.6%±2.2 pts	78.9%	–
Carpooled	7.0%±1.5 pts	9.4%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Walked	1.4%±0.6 pts	1.4%	–
Worked from home	6.9%±1.9 pts	8.8%	+5.6 pts
Mean travel time to work	20.1 min±1.5	22.5 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Union County's census tracts?

Union County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,531 (Tract 9509) to $72,759 (Tract 9505.02).

Census tracts of Union County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 950105139950100	Strong (14%)	2,786	2,450±394	$38,710	$69,800	$675	20.0%
Tract 950205139950200	Calion (12%)	3,983	3,483±409	$50,714	$141,000	$635	21.4%
Tract 950305139950300	Smackover (60%)	2,190	2,914±361	$60,917	$122,700	$860	23.9%
Tract 9504.0105139950401	Mount Holly (4%)	2,312	1,807±385	$56,500	$162,500	$638	16.8%
Tract 9504.0205139950402	Junction City (15%)	3,423	3,737±532	$70,160	$211,500	$779	13.0%
Tract 9505.0105139950501	Junction City (2%)	3,386	3,189±319	$60,160	$120,700	$779	15.8%
Tract 9505.0205139950502	El Dorado (5%)	2,677	2,560±522	$72,759	$108,300	$1,052	7.2%
Tract 950605139950600	El Dorado (93%)	3,294	3,339±565	$55,544	$133,100	$924	31.7%
Tract 950705139950700	El Dorado (92%)	5,167	4,608±647	$58,116	$127,300	$885	8.3%
Tract 950805139950800	El Dorado (99%)	3,266	3,221±527	$70,104	$195,700	$1,038	19.5%
Tract 950905139950900	El Dorado (86%)	2,500	2,489±477	$35,531	$55,700	$832	32.1%
Tract 951005139951000	El Dorado (91%)	4,070	4,103±633	$36,107	$65,700	$810	28.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Union County compare with Arkansas's other counties?

Union County's rank among Arkansas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	21st of 75
Growth 2020-2025	61st of 75
Residents per square mile	25th of 75
Median household income	25th of 75
Median home value	46th of 75
Median gross rent	20th of 75
Poverty rate	33rd of 75
Bachelor's degree or higher	24th of 75
Median age	37th of 75

Every county in Arkansas

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Union County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.