# Union Gap, Washington

Union Gap is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,568 at the 2020 census. Union Gap has become the retail hub for the entire Yakima Valley as a result of Valley Mall and other thriving businesses being located here. Part of the city is within the Yakama Nation.

## Name

The town is named for a water gap formed by the Yakima River between the Rattlesnake Hills and Ahtanum Ridge. The gap is traversed by U.S. Route 97, Interstate 82, and Thorp Road.

## History

The city of Union Gap was originally named Yakima City and was officially incorporated on November 23, 1883. When bypassed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in December 1884, over 100 buildings were moved with rollers and horse teams to the nearby site of the depot. The new city was dubbed North Yakima. In 1918, North Yakima was renamed to simply Yakima, and the original town to the south was named Union Gap to avoid confusion between the two towns.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.58 square miles (14.45 km$^2$), of which, 5.58 square miles (14.45 km$^2$) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km$^2$) is water.

## Economy

Liberty Bottleworks, a water bottle manufacturer, operates out of a plant in Union Gap that employs 18 people.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Union Gap, Washington – racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000 | Pop. 2010 | Pop. 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 3,667 | 2,925 | 2,307 | 65.24% | 48.37% | 35.12% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 23 | 28 | 46 | 0.41% | 0.46% | 0.70% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 108 | 112 | 118 | 1.92% | 1.85% | 1.80% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 29 | 42 | 35 | 0.52% | 0.69% | 0.53% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0.09% | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1 | 3 | 21 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.32% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 126 | 82 | 186 | 2.24% | 1.36% | 2.83% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,662 | 2,853 | 3,850 | 29.57% | 47.18% | 58.62% |
| Total | 5,621 | 6,047 | 6,568 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 6,568 people, 2,183 households, and 1,527 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,177.7 inhabitants per square mile (454.7/km$^2$). There were 2,275 housing units at an average density of 407.9 inhabitants per square mile (157.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 43.79% White, 1.10% African American, 2.79% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 35.76% from some other races and 15.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 58.62% of the population. 28.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 8.7% were under 5 years of age, and 10.5% were 65 and older.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,047 people, 2,061 households, and 1,420 families living in the city. The population density was 1,197.4 inhabitants per square mile (462.3/km$^2$). There were 2,173 housing units at an average density of 430.3 inhabitants per square mile (166.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 62.91% White, 0.91% African American, 2.61% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 29.07% from some other races and 3.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 47.18% of the population.
There were 2,061 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.43.
The median age in the city was 32.7 years. 28.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 5,621 people, 2,070 households, and 1,407 families living in the city. The population density was 1,117.7 inhabitants per square mile (431.5/km$^2$). There were 2,210 housing units at an average density of 439.5 inhabitants per square mile (169.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 72.19% White, 0.41% African American, 2.24% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 20.17% from some other races and 4.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 29.57% of the population.
There were 2,070 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,676, and the median income for a family was $34,795. Males had a median income of $25,802 versus $23,393 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,102. About 14.9% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

Union Gap is the namesake of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, a nationally successful pop group of the late 1960s (Puckett grew up in the adjacent city of Yakima).