Union Springs is a city in and the county seat of Bullock County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census, Union Springs had a population of 3,358.

History The area that became Union Springs was first settled by white men after the Creek Indian removal 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. Voters selected Union Springs as the county seat when Bullock County was formed in 1866.

Geography

Union Springs is located in southeastern Alabama near the center of Bullock County. The source of the Conecuh River is within the city limits.

The city is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 82 and U.S. Route 29. Route 82 leads east to Eufaula and northwest to Montgomery, the state capital. Route 29 leads north to Tuskegee and southwest to Troy.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Union Springs has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.93%, is water.

Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Union Springs has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Union Springs, Alabama

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Union Springs had a population of 3,358. The median age was 35.1 years. 28.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 73.4 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,486 households in Union Springs, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 20.7% were married-couple households, 21.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 53.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 856 families.

There were 1,719 housing units, of which 13.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 357 10.6% Black or African American 2,550 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native 57 1.7% Asian 5 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1% Some other race 229 6.8% Two or more races 156 4.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 412 12.3%

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 3,980 people, 1,461 households, and 915 families residing in the city.The population density was . There were 1,664 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 71.8% Black or African American, 12.9% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, 12.8% from other races, and .8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.0% of the population.

There were 1,461 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.4% were married couples living together, 32.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.5% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,476, and the median income for a family was $26,167. Males had a median income of $37,689 versus $21,372 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,485. About 39.0% of families and 44.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 73.9% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over. Government and politics From 1845 to 1872, the leader of the town was the intendant. A new charter, which created a six-member council and mayor, for the town was approved on March 1, 1870. Henry Clay Tompkins was elected as the town's first mayor in January 1872. William Owen Baldwin was elected mayor in 1881, but died in 1883. James Blackmon Powell was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy and served until 1885.

Mayors of Union Springs:

#PartyMayorTerm startTerm endNoteReference1William Hill Waugh18451848First intendant 2Micajah Norfleet Eley184818503John B. Coleman185018514Francis A. Rutherford185118525Thomas Hill Mabson185218536James W. Hunter185318547William H. Todd185418558Henry H. Smith185518569Thomas H. Ellis1856185810Richard Holmes Powell1858186711Thomas Pullman1867187012Isiah A. Wilson18481850Last intendant13Henry Clay Tompkins18721874First mayor14Isiah A. Wilson1874187515Noah B. Feagin1875187616Robert G. Wright1876187717Fleming Law1877187918Shep W. King1879188119William Owen Baldwin1881October 1883Died in office20James Blackmon PowellNovember 18831885Appointed by governor21James Bennett Hunter18851886Son of James Hunter22James A. Paulk1886188723James Dean Norman1887189024David Shaw Bethune1890189425Donald Frederick Sessions1894189826Alonzo D. Fielder1898190027Alexander Edward Singleton Jr.1900190228Bennett Tilman Eley1902190429R.E.L. Cope1904190630L.M. Mosely1906191031J.D. Norman1910191232W.C. Thompson1912191633C.B. Feagin1916192034G.M. Edwards1920192635R.C. Keller1926193236Chester A. May1932194037R.W. Lawrence1940194438James William Chappell Jr.1948195139K.M. Varner1951195240D.G. Gwin1952196041Frank Hunter Anderson1960197642Sam Rainer1976198043Tony Gibson1980198444John G. McGowan1984198845Wayne Chancey1988199246William Durden Dean1992?

Education Union Springs is served by the Bullock County School District. There are two high 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.

Media Newspaper Union Springs Herald

Radio WQSI 93.9 FM (Modern Rock)

Infrastructure The United States Postal Service operates the Union Springs Post Office."Post Office™ Location - UNION SPRINGS ." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 4, 2011. The Alabama Department of Corrections operates the Bullock Correctional Facility in an Unincorporated community in Bullock County, east of Union Springs."Bullock Correctional Facility ." Alabama Department of Corrections. Retrieved on July 1, 2011."Union Springs city, Alabama ." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on July 4, 2011.

Economy A cotton growing region, the arrival of the railroad spurred new economic growth after the Civil War. By the early 1900s, many of the old cotton plantations had become hunting preserves, attracting tourists. The city remains the economic hub of the surrounding agricultural counties.

A major employer in the city is Bonnie Plants, Inc., a plant wholesaler founded in 1918 with revenue exceeding over $250 million by 2020."Bonnie Plants, Inc. Company"

Recreation and culture Union Springs hosts annual field trials for hunting dogs. These trials take place between October and March and attract participants from around the country.

Notable people Elizabeth B. Andrews, former U.S. Congresswoman for the 3rd District of Alabama and the first woman elected to represent Alabama in the U.S. Congress George W. Andrews, former U.S. Congressman for the 3rd District of Alabama Henry Babers, Christian evangelist, Bible teacher, and scholar Winton M. Blount, United States Postmaster General (1969–1972) John Warren Branscomb, bishop of the United Methodist Church Edith Burroughs, first African American to win a professional bowling tournament in the United States Helen Claire, Broadway actress John Henrik Clarke, Pan-Africanist Fate Echols, NFL player Lucy Feagin, first woman to operate a drama school in New York City Virginia Powell Goodwin, soprano and choir director. Pioneer singer in early recordings with Berliner Gramophone. Seal Harris, former heavyweight boxer Jimmy Hitchcock, first All-American football player at Auburn University Eddie Kendricks, co-founder of The Temptations Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources Tim Stowers, college football coach Mary Hardway Walker, one of the last surviving enslaved people

Gallery

References

External links

Union Springs tourism website Bullock County School District