According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.9 km2), all land.
History
In February 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman crossed Newton County, burning the county seat at Decatur and was nearly captured during the Meridian Campaign. Sherman stopped during the return trip from Meridian and slept at Boler's Inn in Union.[5] Sherman reportedly ordered the town not to be burned because the Union was what his men were fighting to save, and instead made the town a temporary headquarters.[6]
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 2,042 people, 838 households, and 569 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 2,021 people, 780 households, and 509 families residing in the town. The population density was 589.0 inhabitants per square mile (227.4/km2). There were 884 housing units at an average density of 257.6 per square mile (99.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 62.84% White, 35.53% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 780 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,696, and the median income for a family was $28,542. Males had a median income of $26,667 versus $17,328 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,176. About 28.4% of families and 35.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.7% of those under age 18 and 37.4% of those age 65 or over.
