Editing Union, Missouri

{{For|the community in Clark County|Union, Clark County, Missouri}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Union, Missouri
|official_name            = City of Union
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Treasuring Our Past, Building For Our Future.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4444077,-90.9956906,3a,15y,237.81h,93.27t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1seIXwHRcbcz0cvDnClsrvAA!2e0!5s20190601T000000!7i16384!8i8192 | title=Google Maps of 2019 when sign was present. This sign was rebuilt and still has the same motto.}}</ref>
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Union, MO.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Franklin_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Union_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Union, Missouri
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Franklin County, Missouri|Franklin]]
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.unionmissouri.org/government/boards_and_commissions/board_of_aldermen.php | title=Welcome to Union, MO }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.unionmissouri.org/government/departments/city_clerk/index.php | title=Welcome to Union, MO }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.unionmissouri.org/government/departments/city_administrator/index.php | title=Welcome to Union, MO }}</ref>
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|established_title        = Founded 
|established_date         = 1826
|established_title1       = Designated<br>(as the county seat)
|established_date1        = 1827
|named_for                = The [[Idealism|ideal]] of political unity.
|unit_pref                = [[Imperial units|Imperial]]
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 23.38
|area_land_km2            = 23.38
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 9.03
|area_land_sq_mi          = 9.03
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 12348
|population_density_km2   = 528.25
|population_density_sq_mi = 1368.20
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 528
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|26|59|N|91|01|04|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 63084
|area_code                = [[Area code 636|636]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 29-74626<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397086<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397086}}</ref>
|website                  = http://www.unionmissouri.gov/
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Union''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Franklin County, Missouri|Franklin County]], [[Missouri]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is located on the [[Bourbeuse River]], {{convert|50|mi|km}} southwest of [[St. Louis]]. The population was 12,348 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]].

==History==
Union was founded in 1826 and designated as the county seat in 1827.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n64 167]}}</ref> The city is named for the [[Idealism|ideal]] of political unity.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_franklin.html| title=Franklin County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)| publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date=1 October 2016| url-status=bot: unknown| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071257/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_franklin.html| archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Union, MO |url=https://www.unionmissouri.org/living_here/about_union/history.php |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=www.unionmissouri.org}}</ref> A post office called Union has been in operation since 1827.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_franklin.html| title=Franklin County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)| publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri| access-date=1 October 2016| url-status=bot: unknown| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071257/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_franklin.html| archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

Early German settlers established themselves in and around Franklin County, including what would later be known as Union. German architecture, culture, and especially surnames are still prevalent around Union and surrounding areas.<ref name=":1"/> Depending on the definition, the city is within or near a region known as the [[Missouri Rhineland]].

==Geography==
The city is located on the northwest side of the [[Bourbeuse River]]. [[U.S. Route 50 in Missouri|US Route 50]] passes through the city and [[Interstate 44 in Missouri|I-44]] is approximately five miles to the east. [[Washington, Missouri|Washington]], on the [[Missouri River]], is seven miles to the north on [[Missouri Route 47]].<ref>''Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 2007, Third edition, p. 40, {{ISBN|0-89933-353-2}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.16|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
| location    = Union, Missouri (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =43.0
| Feb high F  =48.3
| Mar high F  =59.1
| Apr high F  =70.4
| May high F  =78.1
| Jun high F  =86.2
| Jul high F  =90.6
| Aug high F  =89.4
| Sep high F  =81.7
| Oct high F  =70.2
| Nov high F  =57.3
| Dec high F  =46.1
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =33.0
| Feb mean F  =37.2
| Mar mean F  =47.2
| Apr mean F  =57.7
| May mean F  =66.5
| Jun mean F  =74.7
| Jul mean F  =79.0
| Aug mean F  =77.6
| Sep mean F  =69.3
| Oct mean F  =57.9
| Nov mean F  =46.1
| Dec mean F  =36.7
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =22.9
| Feb low F  =26.1
| Mar low F  =35.3
| Apr low F  =45.0
| May low F  =54.8
| Jun low F  =63.3
| Jul low F  =67.4
| Aug low F  =65.8
| Sep low F  =57.0
| Oct low F  =45.6
| Nov low F  =35.0
| Dec low F  =27.2
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =2.72
| Feb precipitation inch  =2.45
| Mar precipitation inch  =3.87
| Apr precipitation inch  =4.99
| May precipitation inch  =4.85
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.24
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.74
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.84
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.63
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.31
| Nov precipitation inch  =3.66
| Dec precipitation inch  =2.66
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =4.7
| Feb snow inch  =4.1
| Mar snow inch  =1.8
| Apr snow inch  =0.2
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.7
| Dec snow inch  =2.9
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00238515 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-02 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 402
|1890= 610
|1900= 744
|1910= 934
|1920= 1605
|1930= 2143
|1940= 2125
|1950= 2917
|1960= 3937
|1970= 5183
|1980= 5506
|1990= 5909
|2000= 7757
|2010= 10204
|2020= 12348
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-18 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> counted 12,348 people, 4,686 households, and 3,023 families in Union. The population density was {{convert|1,367.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,035 housing units at an average density of {{convert|557.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 89.66% (11,071) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 1.51% (187) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 0.42% (52) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 0.57% (70) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% (5) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.91% (112) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.89% (851) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 2.2% (263) of the population.

Of the 4,686 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18; 41.4% were married couples living together; 34.7% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 28.3% consisted of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0.

25.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 91.1 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> estimates show that the median household income was $54,585 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,873) and the median family income was $63,345 (+/- $8,741). Males had a median income of $36,124 (+/- $2,199) versus $31,443 (+/- $5,041) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $34,505 (+/- $2,581). Approximately, 7.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those ages 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 10,204 people, 3,902 households, and 2,612 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1114.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,226 housing units at an average density of {{convert|461.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 3,902 households, of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 31.9 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,757 people, 2,940 households, and 2,002 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|959.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,133 housing units at an average density of {{convert|387.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.44% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.43% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.23% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.43% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 2,940 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,596, and the median income for a family was $44,474. Males had a median income of $31,852 versus $22,924 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,885. About 4.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The City of Union is a 4th Class City with a City Administrator form of government.  The elected, policy-making body of the City consists of a Mayor and an eight-member Board of Aldermen. Union is divided into four wards and each ward has two aldermanic representatives. Municipal elections are held on the first Tuesday of April every year.

==Transportation==

=== Rail ===
Missouri Eastern Railroad, a division of Jaguar Transport, provides regular freight rail service to industrial customers located in Union.  MER operates the far eastern segment of the former [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]]'s St. Louis to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] main line that was constructed in 1870.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uprr.com/customers/shortline/lines/cmr.shtml|title=Central Midland Railway CMR|access-date=February 5, 2012}}</ref> The active portion of the former CRI&P line runs from the north side of St. Louis, where it connects with the [[Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis]] and [[Union Pacific Railroad]], and now terminates in Union, Missouri.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Progressive Rail Inc.]]|url=http://www.progressiverail.com/where_we_go.html|title=Where We Go|access-date=February 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213185206/http://www.progressiverail.com/where_we_go.html|archive-date=February 13, 2012}}</ref>

===Roads===
Union is located on the junction of US Route 50 and Route 47. I-44 runs east and south of Union. A proposal for an expressway to bypass the junction of US 50 and Route 47 was cancelled due to complications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Folsom |first=Geoff |date=2024-05-22 |title=Union Expressway dead |url=https://www.emissourian.com/local_news/union-expressway-dead/article_57aa4500-17a6-11ef-8d62-c7d14d44a0d4.html |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=The Missourian |language=en}}</ref> There is another proposal to make US 50 from Union to I-44 four lanes and eventually through the rest of Franklin County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Folsom |first=Geoff |date=2022-01-26 |title=Upgrades coming to Highway 50 in Union |url=https://www.emissourian.com/local_news/upgrades-coming-to-highway-50-in-union/article_79fa715c-7e0b-11ec-95bf-ab08a42fbf7f.html |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=The Missourian |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
The only public secondary school is [[Union High School (Missouri)|Union High School]] (The UHS Wildcats), which enrolls ninth through twelfth grades.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Office Personnel|url=https://uhs-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com/ourschool/officepersonnel|access-date=2021-04-05|website=uhs-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com}}</ref> There is one public middle school (The UMS Wildcats) serving sixth through eighth grades,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Staff Directory|url=https://ums-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com/ourschool/directory|access-date=2021-04-05|website=ums-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com}}</ref> and two public elementary schools (Central Elementary and Prairie Dell Elementary, also the Wildcats) with both serving kindergarten through fifth grades.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Elementary: Classrooms Home|url=https://ce-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com/classrooms/home|access-date=2017-01-03|website=ce-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Clark-Vitt Elementary: Home Page|url=https://cv-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com/|access-date=2017-01-03|website=cv-urxi-mo.schoolloop.com}}</ref> Union also has one private Catholic school, Immaculate Conception (Serving Pre-K to eighth grade).

Union is home to [[East Central College]], which offers two-year degrees and certificates. [[Central Methodist University]] has an extension on the ECC campus. Union is also home to an extension of [[Missouri Baptist University]].

Union has a [[public library]], a branch of the Scenic Regional Library System.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://scenicregional.org/about-us/locations-and-hours/ | title=Locations and Hours | publisher=Scenic Regional Library | access-date=2 June 2019}}</ref>

==Economy==

The [[Missouri Meerschaum]] company, founded in 1869 is the first and oldest manufacturer of corn-cob pipes. With the introduction of the railroad in the late 1800s, Union saw an increase in population which in turn, increased the need for job opportunities. In 1907, The National Cob Pipe Works was opened to help fulfill the need for jobs in the area. In less than 10 years, it became one of the largest corn cob pipe manufacturers in the world, producing at least five million cob pipes a year.<ref name=":1"/> By 1925, there were almost a dozen corn cob pipes spread across Franklin County. The only surviving corn cob pipe factory left is the original Missouri Meerschaum Company located in [[Washington, Missouri]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leinicke |first=Connie |title=Our History |url=https://corncobpipe.com/our-history/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=CornCobPipe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Presently, there are over 300 businesses in Union, including the presence of manufacturers such as the Esselte Pendaflex Corporation and Silgan Plastic Containers.<ref name=":1" />

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category: People from Union, Missouri}}
* [[Antonina Armato]] (1968-), songwriter and record producer, born in Union{{cn|date=April 2025|reason=Cited source said nothing about where she was born.}}
* [[Paul J. Mueller]] (1892–1964), [[United States Army]] personnel<ref>{{Cite news |date=1915-06-13 |title=Biggest West Point Class Joins Army |page=13 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/13/301801502.pdf |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> 
* [[William L. Nicholson]] (1926–2020), [[United States Air Force]] general<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1980 |title=Major General William L. Nicholson III |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106075/major-general-william-l-nicholson-iii/https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106075/major-general-william-l-nicholson-iii/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* [[Kenneth Roderick O'Neal]] (1908–1989), architect, born in Union<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Dreck Spurlock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t8iTAgAAQBAJ |title=African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945 |date=2004-03-01 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-95628-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Burkett |first=Randall K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FqIUAQAAMAAJ |title=Black Biography, 1790-1950: K-Z |last2=Burkett |first2=Nancy Hall |last3=Gates Jr. |first3=Henry Louis |date=1991 |publisher=Chadwyck-Healey |isbn=978-0-89887-085-5 |pages=219 |language=en |author-link3=Henry Louis Gates Jr.}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[List of cities in Missouri]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Union, Missouri}}
* {{official website|http://www.ci.union.mo.us}}
* [http://www.unionmochamber.org Union Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138994 "Historic maps of Union"], Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection, [[University of Missouri]]

{{Franklin County, Missouri}}
{{St. Louis MSA}}
{{Missouri county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Franklin County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]
[[Category:County seats in Missouri]]
[[Category:1826 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1826]]