Editing Union, Oregon

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Union, Oregon
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "City of Victorian Heritage"
| image_skyline      = Union Victorian (6231363534).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = The Eaton House, a Victorian home in the [[Union Main Street Historic District]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Union_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Union_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Oregon]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Oregon]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Union County, Oregon|Union]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Susan Hawkins{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = 1878
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.49
| 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/5/query?where=STATE='41'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 6.45
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.49
| area_land_km2      = 6.45
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 2152
| population_density_km2 = 333.84
| population_density_sq_mi = 864.60
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = Pacific
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| coordinates        = {{coord|45|12|32|N|117|52|05|W|region:US-OR_type:city_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 2786
| website            = [http://www.cityofunion.com www.cityofunion.com]
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 97883
| area_code          = [[Area code 541|541]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 41-75850<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2412129<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412129}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Union''' is a city in [[Union County, Oregon|Union County]], [[Oregon]], United States, originally [[plat]]ted in 1864, and located {{convert|15|mi|km}} southeast of [[La Grande, Oregon|La Grande]].<ref>{{cite web|work=City of Union|url=https://cityofunion.com/visitor-information/|title=Visitor Information|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230422182116/https://cityofunion.com/visitor-information/|archive-date=April 22, 2023}}</ref> It is the namesake of [[Union County, Oregon|Union County]], which references the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union states]], or Northern States, of the [[American Civil War]].  The population was  2,152 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=enc/> The city is known for the numerous historic [[Victorian architecture|Victorian homes]] that line its Main Street, some of which are registered on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=enc>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=[[Oregon Encyclopedia]]|url=https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/union/#.ZEQfmy_MKRs|title=Union|publisher=[[Oregon Historical Society]]; [[Portland State University]]|first=Nathan|last=Pedersen|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230422175848/https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/union/%23.ZEQfmy_MKRs|archive-date=April 22, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also home to [[Oregon State University]]'s Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, founded in 1888, which is contemporarily housed in the former Union train station.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|title=State of Success: Oregon|url=https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/blogs/state-success-oregon|date=March 8, 2023|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230422181242/https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/blogs/state-success-oregon|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
Union was [[plat]]ted on November 11, 1864 along the [[Oregon Trail]].<ref name="main">{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Barbara Ruth|title=Main Street: Northeastern Oregon|publisher=[[Oregon Historical Society]]|year=1982|isbn=0-87595-073-6|pages=46, 85}}</ref> The name references the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union states]], or Northern States, of the [[American Civil War]].<ref name="rr" />

La Grande was named the county seat when Union County was created in 1865.<ref name="rr" /> Due to the [[Thomas and Ruckle Road]] going through Union, it elected the county seat in 1872, but when the railroad was built it was put through La Grande instead of Union. La Grande became the bigger town within the county and regained the county seat in 1902.<ref name="rr">{{cite book|last=Deumling|first=Dietrich|title=The roles of the railroad in the development of the Grande Ronde Valley (masters thesis)|publisher=[[Northern Arizona University]]|location=[[Flagstaff, Arizona]]|date=May 1972|oclc=4383986}}</ref> J. W. Shelton, a local attorney, chartered the [[Union Electric Power and Light Company]] in March 1890 to bring the railroad from Union Junction (2.5 miles away) to Union itself.<ref name="rr" /> The company was renamed the [[Union Railway Company]] in July 1890, and the rail spur was built into Union by August 1892.<ref name="rr" /> Shelton planned to build more lines, had a fight with his company partners (the Hutchinsons), then two competing firms were formed: Shelton's [[The Union Railway]] in January 1893, and Hutchinsons' [[Union Street Railway and Suburban Railway]].<ref name="rr" /> Both companies competed to buy the Union Railway Company.<ref name="rr" /> Shelton maintained control until August 1905, when The Union Railway was renamed to the [[Union, Cove and Valley Railway]]. This company was bought the following year by a timber company from the East Coast.<ref name="rr" />

During the [[Oregon statewide elections, 2006|2006 November elections]], Kyle Corbin, an 18-year-old college student, was elected mayor after a successful [[Write-in candidate|write-in campaign]]. He had promised to bring an end to the political chaos that had plagued the town for the last two years, which included three councilmen and mayor Deborah Clark being removed in [[recall election]]s. "I know the procedures and rules," he told an ''[[The Oregonian|Oregonian]]'' reporter. "I've run a meeting with a bunch of high school kids."<ref>Richard Cockle, "Teen to tackle 'chaos' in Union &mdash; as mayor", ''The Oregonian'', November 10, 2006, pg. A1 +</ref> Since then, one newspaper reports that "talk around town about whether the young mayor will succeed ranges from skepticism to sunny optimism."<ref>{{cite news
|first=Mark
|last=Baker
|title=Freshman politician
|work=Eugene Register Guard
|date=March 25, 2007}}
</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Catherine Creek diversion dam (4048106640).jpg|thumb|[[Catherine Creek]] diversion dam in Union.]]
Union lies in the extreme southeast corner of the [[Grande Ronde Valley]] near the western edge of the [[Wallowa Mountains]]. [[Oregon Route 237]] runs through the city between [[Cove, Oregon|Cove]] to the north and [[North Powder, Oregon|North Powder]] to the south. [[Oregon Route 203]] also passes through Union, linking it to [[La Grande, Oregon|La Grande]], about {{convert|20|mi|km}} to the northwest. [[Catherine Creek]], a tributary of the [[Grande Ronde River]], passes through the city.<ref>{{cite book|title=Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas|pages=55–56|publisher=Benchmark Maps|edition=5th|year=2012|location=Santa Barbara, California|isbn=978-0-929591-62-9}}</ref>
 
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.50|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it 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=December 21, 2012|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=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| collapsed   = yes
| single line = yes
| location    = Union Experiment Station, Oregon (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1911–2011)
| Jan record high F = 61
| Feb record high F = 67
| Mar record high F = 77
| Apr record high F = 90
| May record high F = 95
| Jun record high F = 101
| Jul record high F = 105
| Aug record high F = 108
| Sep record high F = 101
| Oct record high F = 89
| Nov record high F = 74
| Dec record high F = 62
| year record high F = 108
| Jan high F = 38.5
| Feb high F = 43.5
| Mar high F = 52.3
| Apr high F = 59.0
| May high F = 66.8
| Jun high F = 74.4
| Jul high F = 84.9
| Aug high F = 85.7
| Sep high F = 76.3
| Oct high F = 62.7
| Nov high F = 47.3
| Dec high F = 38.1
| year high F = 60.8
| Jan mean F = 32.0
| Feb mean F = 35.2
| Mar mean F = 41.6
| Apr mean F = 46.8
| May mean F = 53.7
| Jun mean F = 60.4
| Jul mean F = 67.7
| Aug mean F = 67.5
| Sep mean F = 58.9
| Oct mean F = 48.4
| Nov mean F = 38.9
| Dec mean F = 31.3
| year mean F = 48.5
| Jan low F = 25.4
| Feb low F = 26.8
| Mar low F = 30.9
| Apr low F = 34.6
| May low F = 40.7
| Jun low F = 46.4
| Jul low F = 50.5
| Aug low F = 49.3
| Sep low F = 41.6
| Oct low F = 34.1
| Nov low F = 30.6
| Dec low F = 24.5
| year low F = 36.3
| Jan record low F = -27
| Feb record low F = -21
| Mar record low F = -3
| Apr record low F = 9
| May record low F = 20
| Jun record low F = 29
| Jul record low F = 32
| Aug record low F = 28
| Sep record low F = 18
| Oct record low F = 7
| Nov record low F = -12
| Dec record low F = -24
| year record low F = -27
| precipitation colour   = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.17
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.91
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.23
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.51
| May precipitation inch = 2.16
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.58
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.67
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.70
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.67
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.08
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.56
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.16
| year precipitation inch = 14.40
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days  = 11.8
| Feb precipitation days  = 9.2
| Mar precipitation days  = 11.9
| Apr precipitation days  = 11.9
| May precipitation days  = 12.2
| Jun precipitation days  = 9.2
| Jul precipitation days  = 4.4
| Aug precipitation days  = 4.4
| Sep precipitation days  = 5.1
| Oct precipitation days  = 8.5
| Nov precipitation days  = 13.4
| Dec precipitation days  = 11.7
| year precipitation days = 113.7
| Jan snow inch = 6.0
| Feb snow inch = 3.0
| Mar snow inch = 1.3
| Apr snow inch = 0.5
| May snow inch = 0.1
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = trace
| Nov snow inch = 2.1
| Dec snow inch = 4.8
| year snow inch = 17.8
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days  = 5.7
| Feb snow days  = 3.1
| Mar snow days  = 1.9
| Apr snow days  = 0.6
| May snow days  = 0.1
| Jun snow days  = 0.0
| Jul snow days  = 0.0
| Aug snow days  = 0.0
| Sep snow days  = 0.0
| Oct snow days  = 0.1
| Nov snow days  = 2.1
| Dec snow days  = 5.0
| year snow days = 18.6
| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = April 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00358746&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1981-2010
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = April 22, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 416
|1890= 604
|1900= 937
|1910= 1483
|1920= 1319
|1930= 1107
|1940= 1398
|1950= 1307
|1960= 1490
|1970= 1531
|1980= 2062
|1990= 1847
|2000= 1926
|2010= 2121
|2020= 2152
|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><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
[[File:City Hall, Union - DPLA - 067e296a7fce414be21260feac6430ed.jpg|thumb|Union City Hall]]

===2000 census===
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,926 people, 766 households, and 550 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|773.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 821 housing units at an average density of {{convert|329.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.21% White, 0.10% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 766 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $28,529, and the median income for a family was $34,286. Males had a median income of $32,148 versus $16,776 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,406. About 12.2% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

===2010 census===
[[File:Union Rexall Drugs (6231347608).jpg|thumb|left|Union [[Rexall]] Drugstore]]
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 2,121 people, 859 households, and 603 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|848.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 933 housing units at an average density of {{convert|373.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.3% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref>

There were 859 households, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% 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 2.93.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age in the city was 43.8 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

==Education==
It is within [[Union School District 5]].<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41061_union/DC20SD_C41061.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, OR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=2025-04-03}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41061_union/DC20SD_C41061_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Union County is not in the boundary of any community college district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clatsopcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/02-2-OR-CC-color-map.pdf|title=Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts|publisher=[[Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development]]|accessdate=2025-04-03}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Union Main Street Historic District]]
{{-}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Union, Oregon}}
* [http://www.cityofunion.com City of Union] (official website)
* [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/s-y/union.aspx Entry for Union] in the ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]''
* [http://ucmuseumoregon.com Union County Museum]

{{Union County, Oregon}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Union County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1864]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Railway towns in Oregon]]
[[Category:Former county seats in Oregon]]