Union County came to be in 1813, carved out of Northumberland County. One of America’s first senators, William Maclay, assisted with much of the survey work defining the county. Lewisburg is its largest borough and county seat. Like the communities of adjacent Snyder County, Lewisburg grew with the Pennsylvania Canal system and railroads to flourish in the lumber and iron ore trade. As these industries lessened, farming for dairy products, field grains, and poultry took their place, along with manufacturing furniture, cabinets, yarn, and apparel.
Union County is populated by folks with deep German roots amidst beautiful rolling, wooded hills and valleys, with the Susquehanna River running through it. Visit Mifflinburg’s Christkindl Market for a taste of life here.
Get out and about in Union County and read about the wonderful possibilities from the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau.
As of 2026 the population of Union County is 42,381. The population is expected to shrink to 42,240 by 2031 - a growth rate of -0.07%.
The median age of Union County residents is 40.
The diversity index of Union County is 31.9, meaning that there is a 32% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Union County is $101,989 and projected to be $117,207 in 2031. Per capita income is $35,652, projected to be $40,950 in 2031. 3.13% of households – 1,326 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $1,072,635 and the average disposable income is $77,899.
There are 16,241 housing units in Union County; 10,519 are owner-occupied, 4,044 are rented, and 1,678 are vacant. The average home value is $328,213, with 892 homes built in 2010 or later, and 3,817 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 1,799 businesses in Union County, employing 18,382 workers and pulling from a labor force of 17,086 age 16 and above. 5,556 workers commute into Union County from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
11,492 residents both live and work in/around Union County. The average travel time is 17.9 minutes. 4.83% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 1.29% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 11,890 drive alone, 1,199 carpool, and 28 take public transportation. 2,433 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 1,536 residents work from home.
11,726 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 2,311 have associates degrees, 4,270 have bachelor’s degrees, and 3,650 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
