# Union, South Carolina

The city of Union is the county seat of Union County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 8,393 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Union Micropolitan Statistical Area (population 28,961 according to 2010 Census), which includes all of Union County and which is further included in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Combined Statistical Area (population 1,266,995 according to the 2010 Census).

## History

Both the city of Union and Union County received their names from the old Union Church that stood a short distance from the Monarch Mill. When it was first founded, the city of Union was known as Unionville; later the name was shortened to Union. The county's first white settlers came from Virginia in 1749. Union County's population grew the fastest between 1762 and the start of the Revolutionary War. Settlers built log cabins and cultivated tobacco, flax, corn and wheat. Union was one of the first towns settled in the area and was untouched during the Civil War because the Broad River flooded and turned Sherman’s troops away from the town.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (21 km$^2$), all of it land.

## Demographics

Union first appeared in the 1850 U.S. Census as "Unionville", with a recorded total population of 554.

### 2020 census

Union Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,660 | 44.78% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,023 | 49.22% |
| Native American | 10 | 0.12% |
| Asian | 34 | 0.42% |
| Other/Mixed | 306 | 3.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 141 | 1.72% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,174 people, 3,452 households, and 2,063 families residing in the city.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,793 people, 3,791 households, and 2,399 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,105.0 inhabitants per square mile (426.6/km$^2$). There were 4,240 housing units at an average density of 532.9 per square mile (205.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 56.48% White, 42.12% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 3,791 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,110, and the median income for a family was $34,714. Males had a median income of $29,071 versus $19,966 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,175. About 17.6% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

## Arts and Culture

Sites in Union listed on the National Register of Historic Places webpage for Union County include:
* Cedar Bluff
* Central Graded School
* Corinth Baptist Church
* Culp House
* Judge Thomas Dawkins House
* East Main Street-Douglass Heights Historic District
* Episcopal Church of the Nativity
* Fair Forest Hotel
* Herndon Terrace
* Gov. Thomas B. Jeter House
* Meng House
* Merridun
* South Street-South Church Street Historic District
* Union Community Hospital
* Union County Jail
* Union Downtown Historic District
* Union High School-Main Street Grammar School
* Nathaniel Gist House

## Education

Union County Schools operates public schools.
For some time, the county had three high schools, Union Comprehensive High, Jonesville High, and Lockhart High. As of a council ruling, the three high schools have been consolidated. Jonesville High School and Lockhart High School were closed, and the students were reassigned to Union High School, which has been renamed Union County High School.
The city is also home to the University of South Carolina Union (USC Union), a satellite campus of the University of South Carolina. USC Union was founded in 1965 and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Union has a public library, the Union County Carnegie Library. This Carnegie library provides services and resources for both the community and USC Union students. It was named 2009's Best Small Library in America by Library Journal.

## Notable people

* Darrell Austin, former NFL player for New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* States Rights Gist, Confederate brigadier general during Civil War
* Elizabeth B. Grimball, theatrical producer, director, writer
* Willie Jeffries, legendary College Football Hall of Fame coach for South Carolina State University, Wichita State University, and Howard University
* Bob Jeter, NFL player for Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears
* Henry "Rufe" Johnson, a Piedmont blues guitarist, pianist, singer and songwriter; born near, worked and died in Union
* Mona Lisa, R&B singer
* Cotton Owens, NASCAR driver
* Clifford Ray, former professional basketball player for Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls
* Don Rhymer, former film writer and producer
* Jim Youngblood, former NFL linebacker for Los Angeles Rams #53
* Shi Smith, NFL Wide Receiver for Carolina Panthers
* Susan Smith, born in Union, South Carolina in 1971 was convicted of murdering her two young sons ages 3 and 14 months in 1995.
* Lester Oliver Bankhead (1912–1997), American architect, born in Union, South Carolina and active in Los Angeles, California