Editing Union, West Virginia

{{for|the community in Barbour County|Union, Barbour County, West Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Union, West Virginia
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Monroe_County_Courthouse_Union_West_Virginia.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = The historic Monroe County Courthouse in Union.
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = File:Monroe County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Union Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Union in Monroe County, West Virginia.
| 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        = [[West Virginia]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- Area -->
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 1.16
| area_land_km2            = 1.16
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 0.45
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.45
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est           = 425
| pop_est_as_of            = 2021
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total         = 427
| population_density_km2   = 466.77
| population_density_sq_mi = 1208.05

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 632
| elevation_ft             = 2073
| coordinates              = {{coord|37|35|28|N|80|32|35|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 24983
| area_code                = [[Area codes 304 and 681|304 & 681]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 54-81940<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1548463<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://local.wv.gov/union/Pages/default.aspx}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
| unit_pref                = Imperial
}}
'''Union''' is a town in [[Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe County]], [[West Virginia]], United States. Union’s population is 427 as of [[2020 United States Census|2020]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is the [[county seat]] of Monroe County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History==
Monroe County was established by an act of the Assembly of Virginia on January 14, 1799, occupying land formerly a part of [[Greenbrier County, West Virginia|Greenbrier County]]. Union did not yet exist when the county's first court convened in 1799. However, shortly after Monroe County was created, James Alexander offered 25 acres of land, including a lot for a courthouse which in time became the town of Union. On January 6, 1800, the Virginia Assembly passed an act creating the town of Union and naming William Haynes, John Gray, John Byrnside, James Handley, Michael Erskine, John Hutchinson, and Isaac Estill trustees.<ref>{{cite book|last=Morton|first=Oren Frederick|title=A History of Monroe County, West Virginia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NkEVAAAAYAAJ&q=Monroe+County+West+Virginia|year=1916|publisher=Ruebush-Elkins Co.|pages=192–193}}</ref>

By 1810, at least sixteen lots had been sold in the newly laid out town of Union and a courthouse and jail were built at its center.  In 1835, Union had 400 inhabitants and supported two hotels, two tanneries, a school, two churches, and two physicians. Union's location on stage coach lines which carried settlers across the Allegheny Mountains helped to fuel the region's growth, as did the several mineral spring resorts which operated in Monroe County, including [[Sweet Springs, West Virginia|Sweet Springs]], [[Red Sulphur Springs, West Virginia|Red Sulphur Springs]], and [[Salt Sulphur Springs, West Virginia|Salt Sulphur Springs]], all within a twenty-five mile radius of Union. Little activity during the American Civil War occurred around Union other than troop movements, especially in 1864 when regiments of the U.S. Army under [[George Crook|General Crook]] encamped near the town. Small skirmishes occurred throughout the war in the vicinity of Union and Monroe County. A majority of the citizens of Union supported the Confederacy and opposed the creation of West Virginia which included Monroe County. Union was incorporated in 1868.<ref>{{cite book|last=Capace|first=Nancy|title=Encyclopedia of West Virginia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K30UKW0aewgC&pg=PA194|year=1999|publisher=North American Book Dist LLC|isbn=978-0-403-09843-9|page=194}}</ref>

The town of Union retains much of its historic architecture, with many structures dating to the antebellum period when the local economy was thriving from the resort industry. The present Monroe County Courthouse, built in 1881, displays the fashionable Romanesque style of the late-19th century. Historic churches in Union include the Old Baptist Church (1845), Old Methodist Episcopal Church/Ames Clair Hall (1857), All Saints Episcopal Church (1875), Union United Methodist Church (1889), and the Union Presbyterian Church (1922). The Monroe County Historical Society preserves several historic structures in the town, including the Caperton Law Office, Owen Neel House, Clark-Wisemen House, Ames Clair Hall, and the Old Baptist Church.<ref>{{cite web|title=Projects|url=http://monroewvhistory.org/text/projects.html|website=Monroe County Historical Society}}</ref> In recognition of the history of Union and the integrity of its preserved streetscape, the [[Union Historic District]] was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
 
East of Union is [[Rehoboth Church]], built in 1784; it is the oldest existing church building in West Virginia.

==Geography==
Union is located at {{coord|37|35|28|N|80|32|35|W|type:city}} (37.591211, -80.543022).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.45|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=January 24, 2013|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>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 356
|1890= 312
|1900= 623
|1910= 779
|1920= 1270
|1930= 984
|1940= 1020
|1950= 1341
|1960= 1186
|1970= 1141
|1980= 1090
|1990= 830
|2000= 806
|2010= 565
|2020= 427
|estyear=2021
|estimate=425
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|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>
}}

===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=January 24, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 565 people, 264 households, and 156 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1255.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 310 housing units at an average density of {{convert|688.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.9% 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 0.7% of the population.

There were 264 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the town was 44.3 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.2% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 548 people, 267 households, and 148 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was 1,216.6 inhabitants per square mile (470.2/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 686.0 per square mile (265.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 94.16% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.47% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.91% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 1.09% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.18% of the population.

There were 267 households, out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,797, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $14,773 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,870. About 15.4% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable people ==
* [[Allen T. Caperton]] (1810–1876) — Confederate States and U.S. Senator<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000130 |title=Caperton, Allen Taylor |work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] |access-date=2024-11-22}}</ref>
* [[Augustus A. Chapman]] — [[Virginia]] congressman and lawyer, brigadier general for the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]
* [[Matthew W. Clair]] — among the first [[African American]] bishops in the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]]
* [[Thomas H. Stack|Thomas H. Stack, S.J.]] — American Jesuit, artilleryman for the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]; shortest-serving president of [[Boston College]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

{{Monroe County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}
{{West Virginia county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Monroe County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in West Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in West Virginia]]