Union City, Indiana

Union City is a city in Wayne Township, Randolph County, Indiana.[6] As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 3,584.

This article is about the Indiana city. For the adjacent Ohio village, see Union City, Ohio. For other places called Union City, see Union City (disambiguation).

Union City, Indiana
City
Union City water tower and skyline
Location of Union City in Randolph County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 40°12′4″N 84°48′54″W
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Randolph
Township	Wayne
Government
• Mayor	Chad E. Spence (R)
Area [1]
• Total	2.26 sq mi (5.85 km^2)
• Land	2.25 sq mi (5.83 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km^2)  0.45%
Elevation [2]	1,122 ft (343 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	3,584
• Estimate  (2019)[4]	3,440
• Density	1,528.89/sq mi (590.33/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	47390
Area code(s)	765
FIPS code	18-77768[5]
GNIS feature ID	445119
Website
http://www.unioncity-in.com/

Union City was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, a forerunner of the Pennsylvania Railroad that connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis. The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (also known as the "Big Four", a predecessor of the New York Central) had the east–west route connecting Indianapolis, Anderson and Muncie, Indiana with Sidney, Bellefontaine and Columbus, Ohio. It is believed by some area residents that the town got its nickname "The Hub City" because the two railroads intersected near the Ohio and Indiana state line.

Union City, Indiana

History

Union City was platted in 1849, eleven years after its twin city of Union City, Ohio.[7] A post office has been in operation at Union City, Indiana since 1852.[8]

The William Kerr House, Raphael Kirshbaum Building, Union City Commercial Historic District, Union City Passenger Depot, Union City Public Library, and Union City School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]

Geography

Union City is located at 40°12′4″N 84°48′54″W (40.201173, -84.815094).[10]

According to the 2010 census, Union City has a total area of 2.209 square miles (5.72 km²), of which 2.2 square miles (5.70 km²) (or 99.59%) is land and 0.009 square miles (0.02 km²) (or 0.41%) is water.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	1,439		—
1880	2,478		72.2%
1890	2,681		8.2%
1900	2,716		1.3%
1910	3,209		18.2%
1920	3,406		6.1%
1930	3,084		−9.5%
1940	3,535		14.6%
1950	3,572		1.0%
1960	4,047		13.3%
1970	3,995		−1.3%
1980	3,908		−2.2%
1990	3,612		−7.6%
2000	3,622		0.3%
2010	3,584		−1.0%
Est. 2019	3,440	[4]	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 3,584 people, 1,477 households, and 922 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,629.1 inhabitants per square mile (629.0/km²). There were 1,733 housing units at an average density of 787.7 per square mile (304.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 9.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.8% of the population.

There were 1,477 households of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

The Union City Public Library is one of six sites in Union City listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 21.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 3,622 people, 1,569 households, and 969 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,995.1 people per square mile (768.4/km²). There were 1,738 housing units at an average density of 957.3 per square mile (368.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.04% White, 1.02% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.53% of the population.

There were 1,569 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,526, and the median income for a family was $34,250. Males had a median income of $27,877 versus $17,850 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,981. About 14.5% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Randolph Eastern School Corporation serves Union City through three schools: North Side Elementary School, West Side Middle School, and Union City Community High School.[13] They are housed in adjoining buildings on the northwest side of the town.

The town has a lending library, the Union City Public Library.[14]

Media

UnionCityNow.com is a locally owned online media outlet that focuses on current events and news stories in the community. The site also contains discussion forums focused on Union City history and local genealogy.

KISS TV is a local-access television station run by the school corporation. It broadcasts on the local Time Warner Cable feed, as well as online.[15] The school's DECA chapter also runs two school businesses: "The TeePee", a school store where students and staff can buy snacks during lunch periods, and "Apache Design", a T-shirt printing business where students record and produce orders for school functions and for organizations in the community and surrounding area.

WJYW 88.9 "Joy FM" broadcasts a Contemporary Christian music format.

WTGR 97.5 FM "Tiger Country" is licensed to neighboring Union City, Ohio, with a studio in Greenville.

Notable people

• Donald R. Atkinson, educator and writer
• Rick Derringer, guitarist and founding member of The McCoys, hit songwriter ("Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo") who later worked extensively with Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter and others, in addition to developing a solo career.[16]
• Isaac P. Gray, 18th and 20th governor of Indiana and Minister to Mexico in the second Cleveland administration. Buried in Union City Cemetery.
• Earle Raymond Hedrick, mathematician and vice president of University of California.
• Randy Jo Hobbs (1948–1993), born in Winchester, Indiana, later relocated to Union City. Bassist and founding member of The McCoys, he later worked extensively with Johnny Winter and also played with Jimi Hendrix. Hobbs is buried at a Catholic cemetery outside the city limits.[17]
• Haleloke Kahauolopua, a Hawaiian-born singer who appeared on TV on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town and for five years (1950–55) on The Arthur Godfrey Show. She retired to Union City at a young age to live with her friends the Paul Keck family. Kahualopua died in her adopted town on December 16, 2004, at the age of 82.[18]
• Henry Jackson (1861–1932), born in Union City, was a major-league baseball player for the Indianapolis Hoosiers in 1887. He played first base and batted .263. Jackson is buried in Union City Cemetery.
• Chris Hawkey, country music artist, co-host and producer of the Power Trip Morning Show on KFAN Radio in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN was raised in Union City and graduated from Mississinawa Valley High School.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. "Union City, Indiana". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
7. Willis, Wanda Lou (9 October 2013). More Haunted Hoosier Trails: Folklore from Indiana's Spookiest Places. Emmis Books. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-57860-182-0.
8. "Randolph County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
11. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
13. "Union City, IN website". Retrieved 2019-01-27.
14. "Indiana public library directory" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
16. "Rick Derringer Hometown Concert". Union City Now. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017. On September 12th, Rick will return to his hometown to celebrate the 2015 Union City Arts Festival
17. Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower: Their Lives and Music
18. Buddhism, A Westerner's Compendium, p.3 footnote, by Kirby L. Whitacre, 2007

External links

• Union City website