Union City, Tennessee

Union City, Tennessee
City
Obion County Courthouse, downtown
Nickname(s):  UC
Location of Union City in Obion County, Tennessee.
Coordinates: 36°25′28″N 89°3′3″W / 36.42444°N 89.05083°W / 36.42444; -89.05083Coordinates: 36°25′28″N 89°3′3″W / 36.42444°N 89.05083°W / 36.42444; -89.05083
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Obion
Established	2004[1]
Incorporated	1867[2]
Named for	Local railroad junction[1]
Area [3]
• Total	12.07 sq mi (31.27 km2)
• Land	12.07 sq mi (31.25 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	335 ft (102 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	10,895
• Estimate  (2019)[6]	10,325
• Density	855.71/sq mi (330.39/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	38261 & 38281
Area code(s)	731
FIPS code	47-75940[4]
GNIS feature ID	1273213[5]
Website	www.unioncitytn.gov

Union City is a city located in Obion County, Tennessee, United States.^[7] The 2010 census reported the population of the town as 10,895. Union City is the principal city 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[]

The city name was derived from its location at the junction of two railroads, with one running roughly east–west and the other roughly north–south.^{[citation needed]}

Geography[]

Union City is located at

36°25′28″N 89°3′3″W / 36.42444°N 89.05083°W / 36.42444; -89.05083 (36.424395, −89.050850).^[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.7 square miles (28 km²), all land. The mayor, appointed by his fellow city councilors since 1988, is Terry Hailey.^[9]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	1,879		—
1890	3,441		83.1%
1900	3,407		−1.0%
1910	4,389		28.8%
1920	4,412		0.5%
1930	5,865		32.9%
1940	7,256		23.7%
1950	7,665		5.6%
1960	8,837		15.3%
1970	11,925		34.9%
1980	10,436		−12.5%
1990	10,513		0.7%
2000	10,876		3.5%
2010	10,895		0.2%
2019 (est.)	10,325	[6]	−5.2%
Sources:[10][11]

As of the census^[4] of 2000, the population density was 1,020.1 people per square mile (393.9/km²). There were 5,013 housing units at an average density of 470.2 per square mile (181.6/km²). 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.^[12]

Darling International operates a rendering plant.^[13]

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.^[14] 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. ^[15] They played in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League and won three league championships (1936, 1948, and 1954).^[15] Over their 19-year run, the team had affiliations with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Brooklyn Dodgers.^[15]

Media[]

Union City is served by the newspaper The Messenger (Union City Daily Messenger),.^[16][17]

Historic landmarks[]

• Masquerade Theatre - located in the former Capital Theater on South First Street. The theatre is a historic landmark and has been standing since the early 1900s.^[18]

• Confederate Monument

Notable people[]

• Russell Dickerson - country music singer
• Steve Finley - MLB outfielder, World Series champion with Arizona Diamondbacks
• Bruce Fleisher (born 1948) – professional PGA golfer
• 

  Discovery Park of America in Union City, TN.
  Milton H. Hamilton Jr. - served in the Tennessee General Assembly; was majority leader of the Tennessee State Senate
• Andrieus A. Jones - US Senator of New Mexico 1917–27, born in Union City
• Jovante_Moffatt NFL Player (Cleveland Browns)
• Jon Robinson - General Manager, Tennessee Titans
• John S. Tanner – US Congressman, born in Halls, but grew up in Union City
• Derrick Turnbow – MLB pitcher
• Koko B. Ware – professional wrestler
• Zach Underwood - professional fighter

References[]

Further reading[]

• History of Obion County, assembled and edited by E.H. Marshall, 1941

External links[]

• Union City, official website