Union Community Indicators
Introducing the inaugural report
Goal:
Identify and examine the key human service and social issues affecting Union County
Union Community Indicators
Union, SC
Consensus on the most pressing issues facing Union County began with informal discussions with community leaders.
The discussions yielded the 5 broad areas of emphasis: Education, Economics, Environment & Recreation, Family and Health
Committees were formed around each area, chaired by local leaders and included members from various walks of life
Each committee was given the task of identifying 5 or 6 indicators that give residents a picture of the community’s performance in the 5 selected areas
Each indicator must be:• an accurate measurement of the issue being discussed;• obtained from a reliable source;• scientifically defensible;• understood and accepted by the community;• readily available and easily obtainable; and• unambiguous in interpretation
Each committee developed a comprehensive list of potential statistics to illustrate Union’s successes and challenges
Committees then gathered public input• focus groups• live surveys at the Union Day festival• survey in Union Daily Times• electronic survey
Interpreting the data:Local, state, and national agencies accumulate and report the quantitative data necessary for benchmarking
Rates per population, US Census Bureau estimates were used
Source for each indicator is noted in the text
Reviewing the indicators:
•Designed to compare the community to itself over time, not to evaluate against progress of other communities
•Provide quantitative data from publicly-accessible sources
•Some important dimensions to issues are not included because data is not readily available
•Mere pieces of a much larger picture
1. EXIT EXAM PERFORMANCE
65
70
75
80
85
90
Union 82.8 81.7 81.9
South Carolina 85 86.2 84.9
2004 2005 2006
English/Language Arts Scores
South Carolina Dept. of Education
Mathematics Scores
65
70
75
80
85
90
Union 75.2 71.6 76.3
SouthCarolina
80.1 76.4 80.2
2004 2005 2006
2. DROP OUT RATE 3. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
0
10
20
30
40
1986 24.4 27.5
1990 25.4 30.5
2001 36.6 31.9
UnionSouth
Carolina
Drop Out Rate
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Kids Count Online
Educational Attainment
0
5
10
15
1990 13.6 11.7 11.2
2000 12 11.2 9.8
UnionSouth
CarolinaUnited States
3. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT (continued)
These percentages apply to the population in Union County who is 25 years old and over. According to the 2000 US Census, 20,222 individuals made up this group:
Less than 9th grade 13.5%
9th grade – 12th grade, no diploma 19.6%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 36.4%
Some college, no degree 15.1%
Associate degree 5.6%
Bachelor’s degree 6.7%
Graduate or professional degree 3.1%
4. FIRST GRADE READINESS ASSESSMENT
0
10
20
30
40
1980 35.9 36.3
1989 23.7 25.6
2001 4.8 13.6
UnionSouth
Carolina
Measures the percent of children testing not ready for first grade. Thanks to initiatives such as First Steps Union and other early-intervention programs through the schools and library, the number of children assessed as “not ready for first grade” has declined over the past 20 years.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Kids Count Online
5. TEACHERS WITH ADVANCED DEGREES
0
20
40
60
80
Union 54.5 56.6 58.2 59.9 60.2 60.7
South Carolina 44.1 43.6 44.4 47.2 51.7 51.3
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Following the trends in SC, the percentage of teachers with advanced degrees has risen in Union County.
South Carolina Dept. of Education
Successes in EDUCATION
USC Union
Union County Adult Education
1. PER CAPITA INCOME 2. MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$24,396
$28,285
$34,471
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
2005
Union
South Carolina
United States
SC Employment Security Commission
Per Capita Income Median Household Income
$44,334
$39,454
$32,128
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
$40,000
$45,000
2004
Union
South Carolina
United States
United States Census Bureau
3. UNEMPLOYMENT
9.8
6.2
4.5
0.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.08.09.0
10.0
Aug 06 - July 07
Union
South Carolina
United States
Shows the average percentage of unemployed residents as compared to SC and US averages. Statistics from August 2006 through July 2007 show that Union’s unemployment rate tops both SC and US percents.
SC Employment Security Commission
4. SKILLED / UNSKILLED WORKFORCE
19.6
23.7
33.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
2000
Union
South Carolina
United States
The percent of the population age 25 and older with no high school diploma is an indication of the skill of a community’s workforce. The percentages from 2000 show that 33 percent of Union County residents within this group lack a high school diploma or GED.
United States Census Bureau
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
66.2%
72.2%
76.7%
60.0%62.0%64.0%66.0%68.0%70.0%72.0%74.0%76.0%78.0%
2000
Homeownership Rates
Union
South Carolina
United States
The following graphs show the percentage of the population that owns the home in which they live and the median value (half of th e prices above and half of the prices below) of those owner-occupied homes. Statistics come from the 2000 Census.
United States Census Bureau
$119,600
$94,900
$61,900
$0
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
$100,000
$120,000
2000
Median home values
Union
South Carolina
United States
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
Successes in ECONOMICS
Dollar General Stores Distribution Center
LSP Automotive Systems LLC
USC Union/Spartanburg Community College Robotics and Technology Center
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
125183
460
140
1000
0
200
400
600
800
1000
2007
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Soccer
Cheerleading
According to the Union County Recreation Department the following graph represents the following graph represents the number of youth who participated in an organized athletics program through the Union County Recreation Department or the Union YMCA during 2007.
1. YOUTH ATHLETICS PARTICIPATION
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
1.54
3.35
0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.50
Recycling Centers
Per 10,000 people
Union County
South Carolina
There are 3.35 recycling centers for every 10,000 people in Union County vs. 1.54 recycling centers for every 10,000 people in SC. Statistics are from the SC Dept. of Health and Environmental Control and the US Census Bureau.
2. RECYCLING CENTERS
0.075
0.076
0.0740.0750.0750.0750.0750.0750.0760.0760.076
Ground level ozone
Union
South Carolina
3. AIR QUALITY 4. WATER QUALITY
39.6%
36.4%
34.0%
35.0%
36.0%
37.0%
38.0%
39.0%
40.0%
Water Quality
Union
South Carolina
Successes in ENVIRONMENT/RECREATION
Timken Sports Complex
Rose Hill Plantation
Union County Museum
Cross Keys House
Union County Arts Council
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
1990
2000
1990 22.0% 21.0% 18.3%
2000 19.4% 18.8% 16.6%
Union South Carolina United States
Compares the percent of the population under the age of 18 living in poverty. From 1990 to 2000, the percent of youth in poverty has decreased across the board, but Union County still remains behind SC and the US in the percentage of children and youth living in poverty situations.
1. YOUTH IN POVERTY
Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
35.1%33.3%
52.7%54.8%
0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%
Union
Teen Pregnancy Rate per 1,000 (ages 10-19)
1994
2002
2003
2004
Between 1994 and 2004, Union County improved its incidence (rate) of pregnancy per 1,000 youth and teens between the ages of 10 and 19 by 33.4 percent.
2. TEEN PREGNANCY
SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 2006
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
Single Parent Families
1990
2000
1990 22.7% 21.8% 20.2%
2000 29.9% 27.1% 23.3%
Union South United States
Measures the percent of children living in single-parent households, comparing 1990 and 2000. For the purposes of these statistics, children are defined as people under the age of 18who are the son or daughter of the householder by birth, marriage (stepchild) or adoption.
3. CHILDREN IN SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES
Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
84.083.084.0
23.820.3
52.9
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Union South Carolina
Incidence of Domestic Violence
2003
2004
2005
Measures the reported incidences of domestic violence per 10,000 citizens. Union County’s reported incidences are far below the number reported in the state.
4. INCIDENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SAFE Homes/Rape Crisis Coalition and the SC Attorney General’s Office
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
2099
1330
16121420
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Union
Nights spent in Salvation Army shelter
2004
2005
2006
2007
The Salvation Army is the primary provider of shelter for homeless individuals and families in Union County. The indicator counts the number of nights of shelter provided (i.e. if a family of four was provided shelter for 7 days, that would represent 28 shelter nights provided.)
5. HOMELESSNESS
Union County Salvation Army
Successes in FAMILY
Union County Disabilities and Special Needs Board
Union County Children’s Museum Advisory Committee
5. HOMEOWNERSHIPInformation shows the total number of clients served in one of the Union County Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse’s programs and the number and corresponding percentage of people who were discharged after successful treatment. Clients in most of programs and services were included in these statistics.
1. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE & TREATMENT
Union County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
486465
448
277 270
220
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2004 2005 2006
# Served
# SuccessfullyTreated
57% 58% 49%
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
60.2%61.0%
68.0%
56.0%
58.0%
60.0%
62.0%
64.0%
66.0%
68.0%
Overweight/ Obesity
Union
South Carolina
United States
Measures the percentage of obese or overweight individuals as defined as people with Body Fat Mass Index (BFMI) equal to 25% or more.
2. OVERWEIGHT / OBESITY
South Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
and the National Center for Disease Control
5. HOMEOWNERSHIP
0.0
200.0
400.0
600.0
Union 269.8 70.1 52.6 406.5
South Carolina 202.5 57.6 27.8 219.2
Cancer Stroke DiabetesHeart
Disease
Includes Union County and South Carolina comparisons of the rate of death from specific chronic diseases per 100,000 residents. Statistics from 2005 indicate that Union County has a higher rate of death in all areas – cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart disease – than the state as a whole. Heart disease is the number one killer, followed by cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
3. INCIDENCE OF DEATH FROM CHRONIC DISEASES
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Successes in HEALTH
Wallace Thomson Hospital Obstetrics Nursery reopening
WTH Outpatient Education – Diabetes Self-Management and Education
Union County YMCA
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?Union Indicators provides information about the status of the community
and points to a range of strategic issues that, if addressed, could greatly improve the quality of life in the county.
By sharing this information, the Union Community Indicators committee hopes to provide common ground to engage the public in ways to work together to address these and other related issues.
The first step is to share this information and ask hard questions about what causes conditions in our county to get better or worse. This publication should inspire the further research and dialogue necessary for the community to come together as advocates for positive change.
Union Community Indicators
The inaugural Union Community Indicators report was made possible through the financial support of:
Milliken Foundation
Timken
The City of Union
The County of Union
United Way of the Piedmont
Upstate Workforce Investment Board
Union Community Indicators