Union, Kentucky


Union is a home rule-class city in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 5,379. The area was rural until residential growth in the 1990s and 2000s. Union is located 17 miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio.

History

The City of Union grew from a small settlement that may have existed as early as the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, much of the land that now lies in Union was owned by the Fowler family, and Benjamin Piatt Fowler had a home in what is now the northern area of the city c. 1817.
Union was established as early as 1833, and was officially incorporated as a city in 1838. The name "Union" is said to have been chosen since it was a connection point between the city of Florence and Big Bone Lick. Salt was manufactured at Big Bone Lick during the early 1800s, and was brought to Union for distribution to other area settlements.
A post office was in operation by 1850, and at some point there was a Millinery Shop located next to the post office. The Union Presbyterian Church was built next to that in 1870. A bank was built in the city in 1905, and a large two-story general store was located on the corner of Mt. Zion Road and what eventually became U.S. Highway 42. Across the street from the general store was a drugstore that supplied the medications prescribed by the city's two doctors. A village blacksmith was located around the corner from the bank, and nearby was a creamery.
During the early 1900s, the city was unable to field a slate of officers to act as a legislative body, and the official corporation lapsed. In 1969, the city of Union was reincorporated. In 1969, the area of the city was one square mile, which has since grown to approximately three square miles. In 1970, the official census population figure for the city was 233. The current population figure is in excess of 3,500, which makes Union the second largest incorporated city in Boone County. In 2005, Union moved up from a 5th to a 4th class city.
The city of Union has recently been one of the fastest growing areas in one of the fastest growing counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The city of Union has a defined city boundary, which does not include all of the addresses defined as Union by the United States Postal Service. Some nearby communities, including Triple Crown Country Club, Cool Springs and Brigadoon, have Union addresses but are not part of the incorporated city and are in unincorporated Boone County.

Geography

Union is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,379 people, 1,661 households, and 1,471 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.4 people per square mile. There were 1,739 housing units at an average density of 271.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% White, 1.2% African American, 0.0% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 850 households out of which 62.9% included children under the age of 18. 85.3% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 7.8% were non-families. 5.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40 and the average family size was 3.55.
In the city, the population age ranges included 37.6% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 2.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $85,454, and the median income for a family was $85,859. Males had a median income of $61,531 versus $34,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,626. About 1.4% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Neighborhoods

Schools and Libraries

The City of Union is home to six public schools, all part of Boone County Schools:
Elementary School:
Middle School:
High School:
Union has a public library, Scheben Branch, which is an installation of the Boone County Public Library system.

Transportation

Roadways and Freeways

The city of Union is served by two US Highways and three Kentucky Routes. Concurrent Interstates 71/75 connect the city directly to Cincinnati and Lexington/Louisville.

Airports

Air travel is provided by the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. It is less than 20 miles away via Interstates 71/75 and Interstate 275.

Notable people