Union Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States, on the Arkansas border in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 21,107 at the 2020 census and covers 877 square miles (2,270 km2) of land centred near 32°50′N 92°23′W, plus 28 square miles (73 km2) of water — mostly Lake D’Arbonne.
Farmerville is the parish seat, and its postal code is 71241. The parish has three incorporated towns, five incorporated villages, and a long list of unincorporated communities and landings along the Ouachita and D’Arbonne waterways. Union Parish sits in the Central time zone and is part of the Monroe metropolitan statistical area.
Towns & Villages in Union Parish
Union Parish counts eight incorporated municipalities — three towns and five villages — alongside dozens of unincorporated communities, river landings, and rural crossroads. The table below marks incorporated places by type; everything else is listed as Unincorp.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmerville | Town · seat | 3,366 | 71241 |
| Bernice | Town | — | 71222 |
| Marion | Town | — | 71260 |
| Conway | Village | — | 71241 |
| Downsville | Village | — | 71234 |
| Junction City | Village | — | — |
| Lillie | Village | — | 71256 |
| Spearsville | Village | — | 71277 |
| Alabama Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bemis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brantley Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cecil | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Copley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cox Ferry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Culbertson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| D’Arbonne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| De Loutre | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dean | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Evergreen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gravel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Haile | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holmesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hooker Hole | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hunt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laran | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Linville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Litroe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Loch Lomond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lockhart | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Loco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moselys Bluff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Union | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ouachita City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pisgah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Quigley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Randolph | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rocky Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rum Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sadie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shiloh | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Smurney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spencer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Taylortown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Terrills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thirteen Points Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Truxno | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tugwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Upco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Sterlington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilhite | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two names from the old list are dropped here: “Monroe” (that is the seat of neighboring Ouachita Parish, not a Union Parish place) and “Canbeal” (no independently verifiable trace under that spelling).
ZIP Codes
- 71241 — Farmerville (also serves Conway and the lake communities)
- 71222 — Bernice
- 71260 — Marion
- 71234 — Downsville
- 71256 — Lillie
- 71277 — Spearsville
Junction City straddles the Louisiana–Arkansas line and is served by a ZIP code (71749) assigned to the Arkansas side; most of the parish’s small landings and crossroads use their nearest post-office town above rather than a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Union Parish lies in the rolling, pine-covered hill country of north-central Louisiana, drained by Bayou D’Arbonne and the Ouachita River, which forms part of the parish’s eastern edge. Lake D’Arbonne, a reservoir built by damming the bayou near Farmerville, is the parish’s dominant water feature and a regional fishing destination. The parish borders Union County, Arkansas to the north and Ashley County, Arkansas to the northeast, with no linked page for either. Within Louisiana it borders Morehouse Parish to the east, Ouachita Parish to the southeast, Lincoln Parish to the southwest, and Claiborne Parish to the west.
Demographics
Union Parish had 21,107 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 24 people per square mile of land. Farmerville is by far the largest community; Bernice is the second-largest incorporated town. Median household income in the parish trails the Louisiana median of $58,229, consistent with the rural, agricultural and timber-based economy across much of north Louisiana.
Economy & Local Life
Timber, poultry farming, and oil and gas services anchor the parish economy, alongside retail and services centred on Farmerville. Lake D’Arbonne State Park draws anglers and campers and supports a seasonal tourism trade. The Union Parish School District operates the parish’s public schools, and Farmerville hosts the annual Sweet Potato Festival, a longstanding North Louisiana harvest tradition.
History
Union Parish was created on March 13, 1839, from a portion of Ouachita Parish. Its name commemorates the union of American states rather than any local figure. The parish’s boundaries were adjusted four times in the 19th century, in 1845, 1846, 1867, and 1873, as neighboring parishes were organized. Farmerville, platted on the shore of Bayou D’Arbonne, became the seat of government at the parish’s founding and remains so today.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 167 runs north–south through Farmerville and Marion, connecting the parish to Monroe to the south and El Dorado, Arkansas to the north; Louisiana Highway 15 crosses the parish east–west.
- Monroe, Louisiana — 30 miles southeast
- El Dorado, Arkansas — 20 miles north
- Ruston, Louisiana — 25 miles southwest
- Bastrop, Louisiana — 25 miles east
Monroe Regional Airport, about 30 miles southeast of Farmerville, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union Parish?
It is in north-central Louisiana, on the Arkansas border, part of the Monroe metropolitan area.
What is the population of Union Parish?
21,107 at the 2020 census.
How big is Union Parish?
877 square miles (2,270 km2) of land plus 28 square miles (73 km2) of water, 905 square miles total.
What is the county seat of Union Parish?
Farmerville is the parish seat.
How many towns are in Union Parish?
Three incorporated towns (Farmerville, Bernice, Marion) and five incorporated villages, plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Union Parish?
71241 (Farmerville), 71222 (Bernice), 71260 (Marion), 71234 (Downsville), 71256 (Lillie), and 71277 (Spearsville).
What is Union Parish known for?
Lake D’Arbonne, its state park and fishing, and the annual Farmerville Sweet Potato Festival.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Louisiana.