COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Union County: higher-rate fatality band
Union County (IL) is in the higher per-capita third: 36.0/100k (#248 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 35
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 6
- Latest Year Deaths
- Low count
- 36.0
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Union County ranks #248 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (36.0/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Union County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Union County sits in the higher-rate third at 36.0 per 100k (#248 of 2,328), #10 of 81 in IL.
- #248 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,837 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #10 of 81
- in IL by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA FARS milepost
Milepost UNION-181 · Union 36.0/100k · #248 of 2,328
Union County · 36.0/100k · increasing
- VS-ST 36.0/100k
- CRASH #248 of 2,328
- FARS 35 book
- NHTSA Increasing
- MILE 26 crash
- POST +89.3% vs IL
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Illinois state profile →
How does Union County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Union County is 89% deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Illinois, Union County ranks 10 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 19.0 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Union County's rate and the state average is 17.0 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Bond County, at 36.5 per 100,000 (a difference of 0.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Mason County (55.9), Pike County (55.8), Cumberland County (48.7), Montgomery County (47.0), Lawrence County (40.5), Saline County (39.3), Richland County (38.7), Iroquois County (38.3), Bond County (36.5), Ogle County (31.2), Jefferson County (30.3), Ford County (30.2), Stephenson County (30.2), Jo Daviess County (27.6).
Union County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
36 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 11% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Union County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Union County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Illinois statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for IL
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with ULetter index including IL counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Union County, Illinois?
Union County recorded 35 total traffic fatalities across 26 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 6 fatalities. The county averages approximately 3.9 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Union County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Union County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Illinois may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Union County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Union County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Union County?
Union County has a fatality rate of 36.0 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Union County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Union County ranks #248 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #10 of 81 rated counties in IL, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Union County compare to the rest of Illinois?
Union County's per-capita rate of 36.0 per 100,000 residents is above the Illinois county average of 19.0. Visit the Illinois state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Union County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.