West Union, South Carolina

Geography

West Union is located at 34°45′29″N 83°2′30″W (34.758141, -83.041740).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 297 people, 134 households, and 79 families residing in the town. The population density was 386.2 people per square mile (148.9/km²). There were 145 housing units at an average density of 188.6 per square mile (72.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.54% White, 0.67% African American, 3.03% Native American, 7.74% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.82% of the population.

There were 134 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,250, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,753. About 18.9% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 2.9% of those sixty five or over.

Climate

West Union, S.C. lies at the upper reaches of the Sub-Tropical zone, since there are at least 8 months of the year with mean temperature >= 50 degrees F. The USDA hardiness zone classification is zone 7B although it lies just (a matter of miles) north of the 8A border; therefore it is common to say that it is borderline 7B/8A. Mean monthly temperatures are as follows:

Although not typically associated with the area, due to the sub-tropical nature of the area, several varieties of palm trees including but not limited to Pindo, Windmill, Sabal Minor, Needle, and European Fan are successfully grown here. It is not uncommon, however, for the foliage on some to die partially or completely each winter (only to regenerate the following season).