Union, Maine Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Union, Maine
Town
Union Common in 1915
Location in Knox County and the state of Maine.
Country	United States
State	Maine
County	Knox
Incorporated	1786
Villages	Union East Union North Union South Union
Area
• Total	34.49 sq mi (89.33 km²)
• Land	32.15 sq mi (83.27 km²)
• Water	2.34 sq mi (6.06 km²)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	2,383
• Density	74/sq mi (28.6/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	04862
Area code(s)	207
FIPS code	23-78115
GNIS feature ID	0582772

Union is a town located in Knox County, Maine, United States. In 2020, about 2,383 people lived there. Union is known for the Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage and its yearly Union Fair.

History of Union
Geography of Union
Education in Union
Population Changes Over Time
- How Many People Live Here?
Places to Visit in Union
Famous People from Union
Images for kids
See also

History of Union

Early Beginnings and Names

Union was once part of a large area called the Muscongus Patent. This land was given by the Plymouth Council in 1629. Later, around 1720, General Samuel Waldo bought it. It then became known as the Waldo Patent.

The first European settlers arrived in 1772. They were named Anderson, Malcolm, and Crawford. The town was officially settled on July 19, 1774. It was first called Taylor Town. This name honored Dr. John Taylor, who bought the land for £1,000.

On October 20, 1786, the town was officially formed and named Union. A part of Union later became the town of Washington in 1811.

What People Did for Work

Farming was the main business in Union for a long time. On October 5, 1869, the first yearly Union Fair was held. This fair was for farming and gardening.

The town had many mills that used water power from ponds. Factories in Union made things like carriages and cultivators. They also produced leather, harness, boots, and shoes.

In South Union, there was a factory that made cabinets and musical instruments. There was also an iron foundry, a machine shop, and a factory for coffins. East Union had a lumbermill and a factory that made chairs and tables.

Important Moments and Memories

A special war memorial was put up in the town's common area on July 4, 1888. On July 19, 1974, Union celebrated 200 years since its settlement. During this celebration, a time capsule was buried near the memorial.

This time capsule will be opened on July 19, 2024. It holds a picture of local children and many items from 1974. The town was also featured in a 1940 historical novel called Come Spring, written by Ben Ames Williams.

Geography of Union

Union covers about 34.49 square miles (89.33 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 32.15 square miles (83.27 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 2.34 square miles (6.06 square kilometers), is water.

Several rivers and streams flow through Union. These include the Medomak River, Saint George River, and Pettengill Stream. The highest point in town is Coggans Hill, which is 817 feet (249 meters) above sea level.

Education in Union

Union is part of the Maine School Administrative District 40. Union Elementary School is located right in town. The main office for the school district is also in this building. Rivers Alternative Middle School is on the second floor of the elementary school.

Older students attend Medomak Valley Middle School and Medomak Valley High School. These schools are in the nearby town of Waldoboro. Union also has its own public library, called Vose Library.

Population Changes Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	199	—
1800	573	187.9%
1810	1,266	120.9%
1820	1,391	9.9%
1830	1,612	15.9%
1840	1,784	10.7%
1850	1,972	10.5%
1860	1,957	−0.8%
1870	1,701	−13.1%
1880	1,548	−9.0%
1890	1,436	−7.2%
1900	1,248	−13.1%
1910	1,233	−1.2%
1920	1,133	−8.1%
1930	1,060	−6.4%
1940	1,150	8.5%
1950	1,085	−5.7%
1960	1,196	10.2%
1970	1,189	−0.6%
1980	1,569	32.0%
1990	1,989	26.8%
2000	2,209	11.1%
2010	2,259	2.3%
2020	2,383	5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

How Many People Live Here?

In 2010, there were 2,259 people living in Union. These people lived in 981 households. About 638 of these were families. The town had about 70 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Union (98.7%) were White. A small number were African American (0.3%) or Native American (0.4%). About 0.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 25.6% of households had children under 18. More than half (53.8%) were married couples. The average household had 2.30 people. The average family had 2.77 people.

The average age in Union was 46.5 years old. About 19.7% of residents were under 18. About 16.4% were 65 or older. The town had slightly more females (51.0%) than males (49.0%).

Places to Visit in Union

Several places in Union are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important historical sites.

Ebenezer Alden House
The Common
Lermond Mill
Joseph and Hannah Maxcy Homestead
Union Town House
Matthews Museum

Famous People from Union

Obadiah Gardner: He was a US senator.
Christine Savage: She was a state legislator.
John Langdon Sibley: He was the main librarian at Harvard University for many years.
Augustin Thompson: He was a doctor and businessman. He created the drink called Moxie.