Union City, Tennessee Explained

Union City, Tennessee
Settlement Type:City
Nickname:UC
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Tennessee
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Obion
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Terry Hailey
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1854[1]
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:1867[2]
Named For:Local railroad junction
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:31.38
Area Land Km2:31.36
Area Water Km2:0.02
Area Total Sq Mi:12.12
Area Land Sq Mi:12.11
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:11170
Population Density Km2:356.18
Population Density Sq Mi:922.53
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:103
Elevation Ft:338
Coordinates:36.4244°N -89.0508°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:38261 & 38281
Area Code:731
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:47-75940[4]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1273213

Union City is located in Obion County, Tennessee, United States.[5] 11,170 people were living in the town as of the 2020 census. It is the principal urban settlement of the surrounding micropolitan area, which includes Obion County and Fulton County, Kentucky. Union City is home to Discovery Park of America which is a world-renowned encyclopedic museum with many exhibits pertaining to local history, as well as state, national, and world history, science, technology, and art.

Etymology

In 1852, General George Gibbs gave Union City its name because of its location at the junction or "union" of two railroads, the Nashville/Northwestern Railroad (Hickman, KY) and the Mobile, Alabama/Ohio Railroad.[6]

Geography

Union City is located at (36.424395, −89.050850).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.7sqmi, all land. The mayor, appointed by his fellow city councilors since 1988, is Terry Hailey.[8]

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification system, Union City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa).

Demographics

2020 census

Union City racial composition[9] !Race!Num.!Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)7,00362.69%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)2,47022.11%
Native American270.24%
Asian650.58%
Other/Mixed5915.29%
Hispanic or Latino1,0149.08%
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,170 people, 4,461 households, and 2,617 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, the population density was 1020.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 5,013 housing units at an average density of 470.2sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 75.44% White, 21.29% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.59% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.41% of the population.

There were 4,568 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every hundred females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,399, and the median income for a family was $40,737. Males had a median income of $35,801 versus $19,694 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,787. About 12.5% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company operated a plant in the city from 1969 to 2011. On February 10, 2011, Goodyear announced that the Union City plant would shut down by the end of the year. On June 11, 2011, production ceased at the plant.[10]

Darling International operates a rendering plant.[11]

Cultural

Museums

Union City is home to Discovery Park of America, a 50-acre museum and heritage park with exhibits pertaining to local and national history, nature, military history, art and science.[12] Discovery Park was founded by local businessman Robert Kirkland in order to give back to his home community.

Sports

Union City was home to a Minor League Baseball team known as the Union City Greyhounds from 1935 to 1942 and 1946 to 1952 and as the Union City Dodgers from 1953 to 1955.[13] They played in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League and won three league championships (1936, 1948, and 1954).[13] Over their 19-year run, the team had affiliations with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Brooklyn Dodgers.[13]

Media

Union City is served by the newspaper The Messenger (Union City Daily Messenger),.[14] [15]

Historic landmarks

Notable people

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Judi McIntyre,, National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, October 1998, Sec. E, pg. 1. Retrieved: February 26, 2013.
  2. Tennessee Blue Book, 2005-2006, pp. 618-625.
  3. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 15, 2022.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  5. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  6. Web site: 2021. Union City - About Us. September 13, 2021. Union City Tennessee.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  8. Web site: Mayor & City Council. Union City. June 19, 2020.
  9. Web site: Explore Census Data. December 7, 2021. data.census.gov.
  10. http://www.stategazette.com/story/1743289.html State Gazette, Goodyear Union City Plant Closes Its Doors
  11. NWTN Today, Darling Purchases Griffin Industries. Retrieved 17-July-2011.
  12. Web site: Discovery Park of America. September 28, 2019. Discovery Park of America. en-US.
  13. Web site: Sports in Union City, Tennessee. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. June 5, 2020.
  14. http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/42/2333/5694 Union City Daily Messenger
  15. http://www.nwtntoday.com/ NWTNToday.com
  16. Web site: History. en-US. September 28, 2019.