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Union, South Carolina Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Union, South Carolina, is a small city located in the Upstate region of South Carolina, with a population of 8,393 according to the 2010 census. The city is situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is surrounded by rolling hills and forests. It enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters and hot summers.

Union’s history dates back to 1799 when it was first established as Unionville. In 1842, it was incorporated as Unionville but changed its name to Union in 1873 when it was granted a charter as a town. In 1895, Union became a city and has since grown steadily in population. Politically, Union is part of Spartanburg County and the mayor-council form of government governs the city.

The economy of Union is largely based on manufacturing and agriculture. Major employers include Brockway Glass Company and Gaffney Manufacturing Company which produce glass products and automotive parts respectively. There are also several smaller businesses that provide services for both residents and visitors alike such as restaurants, retail stores and entertainment venues.

Union has several schools including public elementary schools (Jonesville Elementary School), middle schools (Jonesville Middle School), high schools (Union County High School) as well as several private religious schools (including St John’s Lutheran Church & School).

Some of the notable landmarks in Union include the historic Jonesville Baptist Church, which was built in 1857; The Old Stone Church which dates back to 1838; The Farmer’s Market which has been selling fresh produce since 1927; The Town Clock which has been keeping time since 1895; And lastly Liberty Park which offers outdoor recreational activities for all ages.

Population: 8,793. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,321 (-5.4% change)
Males: 3,894 (44.3%), Females: 4,899 (55.7%)

Zip code: 29379

Demographics

Median resident age: 40.4 years
Median household income: $26,110
Median house value: $62,800

Population by Race

Races in Union:

  • White Non-Hispanic (56.1%)
  • Black (42.1%)
  • Two or more races (0.7%)
  • Hispanic (0.7%)

Ancestries: United States (15.7%), English (7.1%), Irish (3.6%), German (2.7%), Scotch-Irish (1.4%).

Land area: 8.0 square miles

Population by Education

Union, South Carolina is a small town located in the upstate region of the state. As of 2019, the population was 8,393 people. The median age is 41.3 years old, and the median household income is $40,619. The cost of living in Union is lower than the national average. Housing costs are well below average at $744 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Utilities are also below average at $95 per month for electricity, water and garbage services. The estimated food costs for a family of four are around $1,067 per month. Transportation expenses are relatively low with gasoline prices averaging around $2.55 per gallon and public transportation costing an average of $1 per ride. Overall, Union is an affordable place to live with its low cost of living and reasonable housing costs compared to other areas in South Carolina and across the country as a whole.

For population 25 years and over in Union

  • High school or higher: 66.1%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 6.0%
  • Unemployed: 9.5%
  • Mean travel time to work: 22.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Union city

  • Never married: 25.7%
  • Now married: 44.5%
  • Separated: 4.6%
  • Widowed: 14.0%
  • Divorced: 11.2%

0.7% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -1,050 (-10.7%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Union:

  • WALLACE THOMSON HOSPITAL (322 W SOUTH ST PO DRAWER 789)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Union:

  • MARY BLACK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; SPARTANBURG, SC)
  • UPSTATE CAROLINA MEDICAL CENTER (about 22 miles; GAFFNEY, SC)
  • LAURENS COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 24 miles; CLINTON, SC)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Union:

  • GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG INTL (about 43 miles; GREER, SC; Abbreviation: GSP)
  • DONALDSON CENTER (about 52 miles; GREENVILLE, SC; Abbreviation: GYH)
  • CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL (about 59 miles; CHARLOTTE, NC; Abbreviation: CLT)

Other public-use airports nearest to Union:

  • UNION COUNTY, TROY SHELTON FIELD (about 3 miles; UNION, SC; Abbreviation: 35A)
  • SPARTANBURG DOWNTOWN MEMORIAL (about 26 miles; SPARTANBURG, SC; Abbreviation: SPA)
  • LAURENS COUNTY (about 27 miles; LAURENS, SC; Abbreviation: 34A)

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Union:

  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT UNION (Full-time enrollment: 189; Location: PO DRAWER 729; Public; Website: www.sc.edu/union/)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Union:

  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT SPARTANBURG (about 30 miles; SPARTANBURG, SC; Full-time enrollment: 3,041)
  • WINTHROP UNIVERSITY (about 37 miles; ROCK HILL, SC; Full-time enrollment: 4,976)
  • GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY (about 37 miles; BOILING SPRINGS, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,563)
  • SPARTANBURG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 43 miles; SPARTANBURG, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,086)
  • YORK TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 45 miles; ROCK HILL, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,221)
  • LANDER UNIVERSITY (about 50 miles; Greenwood, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,429)
  • GREENVILLE TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 51 miles; GREENVILLE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 6,157)

Schools

Public high school in Union:

  • UNION COMPREHENSIVE HIGH (Students: 1,087; Location: 1163 LAKESIDE DRIVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Union:

  • SIMS JR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 622; Location: 200 SIMS DRIVE; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • EXCELSIOR MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 571; Location: 300 CULP STREET; Grades: 05 – 06)
  • FOSTER PARK ELEMENTARY (Students: 560; Location: 901 ARTHUR BLVD; Grades: PK – 04)
  • MONARCH ELEMENTARY (Students: 480; Location: 218 MONARCH SCHOOL RD.; Grades: PK – 04)

Private primary/middle school in Union:

  • UNION ACADEMY INC DBA UNION DA (Students: 64; Location: DRAWER 743; Grades: PK – 11)

Libraries

Library in Union:

  • UNION COUNTY CARNEGIE LIBRARY (Operating income: $262,302; Location: 300 EAST SOUTH STREET; 53,003 books; 1,633 audio materials; 15 video materials; 255 serial subscriptions)

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