Union, South Carolina Facts for Kids

Union is an active and historic city located in the state of South Carolina. It serves as the official county seat of Union County. According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 8,174 people. Union is the main community in the local Micropolitan Statistical Area. This district belongs to a larger region that connects Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson.

Discovering the History of Union South Carolina
Geography and Local Weather Patterns
People and Community Demographics
Historic Sites and Cultural Attractions
Schools and Higher Education
Famous Residents of Union
Related Pages

Discovering the History of Union South Carolina

The community of Union has a deep past that started long before modern roads existed. Both the city and Union County took their name from the old Union Church. This historic church once stood very close to the old Monarch Mill. When leaders established the town, people originally called it Unionville. Later on, residents shortened the name to Union.

Pioneer settlers moved to this region from Virginia in 1749. The population expanded rapidly between 1762 and the start of the Revolutionary War. Families worked hard to make homes in the thick wilderness. Early settlers constructed sturdy log cabins from surrounding timber. They cleared open fields to harvest crops like corn, wheat, flax, and tobacco.

During the Civil War, many towns in the South suffered major damage from marching soldiers. However, Union was spared during that conflict. General Sherman led troops through the state, but nature protected the town. The nearby Broad River overflowed with floodwaters. The high waters forced the military units away, leaving Union completely untouched.

Geography and Local Weather Patterns

Central Graded School is one of many historic sites in Union.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about eight square miles. Every single bit of this measured space is land.

The city experiences a weather pattern known as a humid subtropical climate. This means that the region has warm summers, mild winters, and plenty of rainfall throughout the year. Scientists classify this climate as "Cfa" under the world-famous Köppen Climate Classification system.

Summer afternoons in the area can become extremely hot. The highest temperature ever recorded in Union was 110 degrees Fahrenheit. This record occurred twice, first on September 4, 1925, and again on July 1, 2012. In contrast, winter nights can plunge well below freezing. The lowest recorded temperature plunged to minus 11 degrees Fahrenheit on February 14, 1899. Rain falls steadily across all four seasons, keeping forests and farm fields green.

People and Community Demographics

The community has changed and developed over many generations. The census counts how many people live in an area every ten years. Union first appeared in the official count in 1850 under the name Unionville. At that time, only 554 citizens lived there. By the year 1970, the population had peaked at more than 10,000 residents.

The 2020 census reported that 8,174 people lived inside the city borders. About 24 percent of the residents were children and teenagers under the age of 18. About 20.5 percent of the town was made up of senior citizens aged 65 and older.

The community includes people from many different backgrounds and heritage lines. In 2020, about 49.6 percent of residents identified as Black or African American. About 45.3 percent identified as White. Around 4.0 percent of residents identified with two or more races. A smaller group of neighbors identified as Asian, Native American, or Hispanic or Latino. Families live in neighborhoods spread across the city, sharing schools, parks, and community centers.

Historic Sites and Cultural Attractions

Union holds many well-preserved buildings that help tell the story of American architecture. The federal government recognizes many of these locations on the official National Register of Historic Places. Walking through the downtown area lets visitors see buildings built more than a century ago.

The town features several preserved landmarks and protected historical zones:

Central Graded School, a former neighborhood educational center
Corinth Baptist Church, a historic religious gathering space
Cedar Bluff and the historic Culp House
Judge Thomas Dawkins House, an early residence built by a local leader
East Main Street-Douglass Heights Historic District, a protected neighborhood
Episcopal Church of the Nativity, known for its distinctive architecture
Fair Forest Hotel, a major commercial building from earlier days
Herndon Terrace and the Gov. Thomas B. Jeter House
Meng House and Merridun
South Street-South Church Street Historic District
Union Community Hospital
Union County Jail
Union Downtown Historic District, the bustling center of town
Union High School-Main Street Grammar School
Nathaniel Gist House

Schools and Higher Education

The public education system for local children is managed by Union County Schools. In the past, the county operated separate small high schools in several neighboring towns. County leaders decided to join these programs together so students could share resources. Students attend Union County High School, where they study academic topics, play sports, and join arts clubs.

Older students can attend college without moving far away from home. The city hosts the University of South Carolina Union, also known as USC Union. This school serves as a satellite campus for the larger University of South Carolina. The college opened in 1965 and helps students earn their college degrees locally.

Reading is popular in town thanks to the Union County Carnegie Library. A Carnegie library is a public book building funded by businessman Andrew Carnegie. This special facility serves everyday town residents as well as college students. In 2009, the national publication Library Journal selected it as the Best Small Library in America.

Famous Residents of Union

Many people who grew up or lived in Union became successful across the country:

Darrell Austin, an athlete who played professional football for the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lester Oliver Bankhead, a talented architect who designed many buildings
States Rights Gist, a general during the Civil War
Elizabeth B. Grimball, a creative writer, director, and theater producer
Willie Jeffries, an inspiring sports leader honored in the College Football Hall of Fame
Bob Jeter, an NFL football champion for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears
Henry "Rufe" Johnson, an influential Piedmont blues musician who sang and played guitar
Mona Lisa, a popular recording artist and singer
Cotton Owens, a race car driver inducted into major NASCAR halls of fame
Clifford Ray, a professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls
Don Rhymer, a screenwriter who wrote popular family movies
Jim Youngblood, a hard-hitting linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams
Shi Smith, a professional wide receiver who played for the Carolina Panthers

In Spanish: Union (Carolina del Sur) para niños

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Union, South Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Union, South Carolina facts for kids

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