South Union, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Union, Kentucky
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 South Union, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
South Union, Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Logan |
| Elevation | 607 ft (185 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CST) |
| ZIP codes |
42283
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| GNIS feature ID | 503981 |
South Union is a small, unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city. It is located in Logan County, Kentucky, in the United States.
Contents
History of South Union
South Union was once home to a special group of people called the Shakers. They built their village here in 1807. For over 100 years, until 1922, the Shakers lived and worked in South Union. They built about 200 buildings and farmed a huge area of land, about 6,000 acres. The Shakers were very skilled! They made many things like garden seeds, fruit preserves, brooms, baskets, and even silk. They used these items themselves and sold them to people outside their community.
Shakers and Their Community
After the American Civil War, the Shakers hired formerly enslaved people, known as freedmen, to work in their mills. They also helped these workers build homes. This was important because, at that time, some white people in Logan County were trying to force Black people out of the area.
In 1868, some homes belonging to the freedmen were burned. The Shakers offered a reward to find those responsible. After this, the Shakers' own mills were also burned down. The Shakers had no insurance for these mills, and they lost a lot of money, about $70,000. A Shaker leader wrote that they believed their "offense" was treating the Black workers fairly and paying them for their work.
Shaker Museum at South Union
Today, you can learn more about the Shakers at the Shaker Museum at South Union. This museum is located in the South Union Shaker Center House and Preservatory. This building was first built in 1824 and was known as the Centre House. It's a great place to see how the Shakers lived and worked.
Geography of South Union
South Union is located in the eastern part of Logan County. It sits about halfway between two other Kentucky towns: Russellville and Bowling Green. The community is found along Kentucky Route 73. It is also close to U.S. Route 68 and Kentucky Route 80. The border of Warren County is just to the east, and the border of Simpson County is less than a mile to the south.
