Union County is a county in Florida, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 16,147 at the 2020 census and covers 250 square miles (650 km2) centred near 30°02′N 82°22′W.
Lake Butler is the county seat, and its postal code is 32054. The county has one city, two towns, and a scatter of small unincorporated communities and mobile-home parks. It sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Union County
Union County has three incorporated municipalities and about a dozen smaller unincorporated places. It is the smallest county in Florida by land area, so its settlement list is short. Type legend: CDP = census-designated place, Unincorp. = unincorporated community or mobile-home park with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Butler | City · seat | 1,813 | 32054 |
| Raiford | Town | 242 | 32083 |
| Worthington Springs | Town | 390 | 32697 |
| Brown | Unincorp. | — | 32054 |
| Cliftonville | Unincorp. | — | 32054 |
| Dana | Unincorp. | — | 32054 |
| Guilford | Unincorp. | — | 32697 |
| Johnstown | Unincorp. | — | 32054 |
| Providence | Unincorp. | — | 32054 |
The old list carried several entries that are private mobile-home parks rather than communities — Cypress Pointe MH Park, Goldies MH Park, Macs MH Park, Maines Devoe MH Park and Virginias Trailer Park — along with a handful of place names (Browns Still, Danville, Dukes, Ellerbee, Miller) with no independent record beyond old postal or map listings. Those are omitted here for lack of a verifiable source; see notes.md.
ZIP Codes
- 32054 — Lake Butler (also serves most of the county’s rural east side)
- 32083 — Raiford
- 32697 — Worthington Springs (PO Box delivery only)
Roughly 82% of county residents use the Lake Butler ZIP; the other two towns each have a much smaller carrier route.
Geography
Union County lies on the Northern Highlands of north-central Florida, a rolling, pine- and farmland landscape well above sea level for the region. The New River forms part of the county’s eastern boundary, and small lakes dot the landscape, though the county has little open water overall — just 6.2 of its 250 square miles. It is Florida’s smallest county by land area.
Union County borders Baker County to the north, Columbia County to the west, Bradford County to the east, and Alachua County to the south.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 16,147 residents. Lake Butler, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 1,813 people; Worthington Springs (390) and Raiford (242) are much smaller. Median household income in the county runs well below the Florida median of $73,311 — Union has repeatedly ranked among the poorest counties in the state by that measure. Population density works out to roughly 66 people per square mile, one of the lowest rates in Florida. A notable factor behind both the income and population figures: the Union Correctional Institution, a major state prison complex near Raiford, houses a large incarcerated population that the Census Bureau counts as county residents under federal rules.
Economy & Local Life
Corrections and other state government work make up the county’s largest employer by far, centered on Union Correctional Institution near Raiford. Agriculture remains important outside the prison economy: timber, hay, cattle and row crops on the county’s flatter farmland. Lake Butler holds an annual Pork Festival, a long-running community event built around its rural, agricultural identity.
History
Union County was created on October 1, 1921, from the southern part of Bradford County. The name was chosen to honor the concept of unity among the communities that formed it. Lake Butler, already an established rail and farm town on the Atlantic Coast Line, became the new county’s seat. The state built its major prison complex near Raiford in the following decades, permanently shaping the county’s economy and its census-counted population.
Getting There
U.S. Route 301 runs north–south through the county past Raiford, and State Road 121 links Lake Butler to Gainesville. Nearby anchors:
- Gainesville — 30 miles south
- Lake City — 20 miles west
- Starke — 15 miles east
- Jacksonville — 55 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Gainesville Regional Airport; Jacksonville International Airport offers a wider range of flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union County, Florida?
It is in the north-central part of the state, between Lake City and Starke, bordering Georgia-facing Baker County to the north.
What is the population of Union County?
16,147 at the 2020 census.
How big is Union County?
250 square miles (650 km2) total, of which 244 square miles is land — the smallest land area of any Florida county.
What is the county seat of Union County?
Lake Butler.
How many towns are in Union County?
One city (Lake Butler) and two towns (Raiford and Worthington Springs), plus a few small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Union County?
32054 (Lake Butler), 32083 (Raiford) and 32697 (Worthington Springs).
Why does Union County have such a low reported income?
The county’s population figures include a large number of people incarcerated at Union Correctional Institution near Raiford, which the Census Bureau counts as county residents.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.