Union, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Union, Washington
CDP
Scenery around Union
Union, Washington Location in Washington (state)
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Mason
Population  (2020)
• Total	683
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98592
Area code(s)	360

Union or Union City is a small community in Mason County, Washington, United States. It is a place the government counts for population, called a census-designated place.

Union is located along the southern shore of the Great Bend of the Hood Canal. This is near where the Skokomish River flows into the canal. The river comes from the nearby Olympic Mountains. In 2010, about 631 people lived here. The special mail code for Union is 98592.

State Route 106 is the main road through Union. It goes north to Belfair. To the south, it leads to Potlatch and US Highway 101.

History of Union

Early Inhabitants and Settlers

The area around Hood Canal has been home to several Native American groups for a very long time. These include the Skokomish and Squaxin peoples. They lived here long before European settlers arrived.

In the 1830s, white fur traders built a small fort, called a blockhouse, in the area. This was a simple, strong building used for defense. Settlers began to arrive in the 1840s. The spot where Union now stands was claimed in 1852.

Founding and Growth

The town of Union was officially started in 1858. It was named by two merchants, Willson and Anderson.

In 1889, a person named John McReavy planned out Union City. He was important in the logging industry. Logging means cutting down trees for wood. The logging operations here were huge. They helped supply wood for the California goldfields, where many people went to find gold. Wood was also sent to build the Panama Canal, a famous waterway connecting two oceans.

Art and Community

After the logging boom, people in Union were inspired by the beautiful nature around them. A special place called Olympus Manor became an artist colony. This was a community where artists lived and worked. It was the first artist colony of its kind in Washington. Olympus Manor was a lively center until it burned down in 1952.

Union City was once thought to be the end point for a transcontinental railroad. This would have been a railway stretching across the whole country. However, the project was stopped by the Union Pacific Railroad after an economic crisis in 1893.

Climate

Union has a type of weather called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means summers are warm and dry, but not extremely hot. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius).

Fun Things to Do in Union

Local Attractions

Union has many interesting places to visit and activities to enjoy.

• You can visit a working farm and a roadside market.
• There is a golf course for playing golf.
• You can find marinas and public boat launch sites. These are places where you can put boats into the water.
• The Hood Canal is a deep saltwater fjord. A fjord is a long, narrow inlet of the sea, with steep sides.

Activities for Visitors

People come to Union for many outdoor activities:

• Boating: Exploring the waters of Hood Canal.
• Fishing: Catching fish in the canal.
• Hunting: In designated areas.
• Shellfishing: Collecting shellfish like clams or oysters.
• Sea kayaking: Paddling small boats on the water.
• Birding: Watching different kinds of birds.

In 2010, Union was recognized as one of America's twenty prettiest towns by Forbes Traveler magazine.

Parks and Nature

Olympic National Park

In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the wild area of the Olympic Mountains a national park. A national park is a protected area of natural beauty.

This park is now very important globally. It is an International Biosphere Reserve, which means it's a special place for nature and people. It is also a World Heritage Site, recognized for its unique value to humanity.

Mountains Views

From almost anywhere in Union, you can see the tall mountains across Hood Canal. These include Mount Washington, Mount Constance, and the Brothers. They are in the southeast part of the Olympic National Park.

Images for kids

• 

  Union circa 1905

See also

In Spanish: Union (Washington) para niños