North Carolina

Union

238,267
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Union

Union, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 10,051. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 238,267.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Wahab's Plantation, Battle of Wahab's Plantation II, Battle of McCowansville (NC Waxhaws, 1780), and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020238,267
2010201,292
2000123,677
199084,211
198070,380
197054,714
196044,670
195042,034
194039,097
193040,979
192036,029
191033,277
190027,156
189021,259
188018,056
187012,217
186011,202
185010,051
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Union

Military engagements that took place in Union, North Carolina.

Battle of Wahab's Plantation
1780
Battle of Wahab's Plantation II
1780
Battle of McCowansville (NC Waxhaws, 1780)
1780
Battle of Wahab's Plantation NC
1780
Battle of Hanging Rock (SC)
1780

Historic places in Union

National Register of Historic Places listings in Union, North Carolina.

Wingate Commercial Historic District
Wingate
Pleasant Grove Camp Meeting Ground
Waxhaw
Waxhaw-Weddington Roads Historic District
Monroe
Piedmont Buggy Factory
Monroe
US Post Office-Monroe
Monroe
Monroe Downtown Historic District
Monroe
Monroe Residential Historic District
Monroe
Waxhaw Historic District
Waxhaw
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

ColumbusCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDavidsonDavieDuplinDurhamEdgecombeForsythFranklinGastonGatesGrahamGranvilleGreeneGuilfordHalifaxHarnett
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Everything a full report reveals about Union County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Union County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Union

When does Union first appear in the US census?
Union, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 10,051.
What is the population of Union?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Union had a recorded population of 238,267.
Were any battles fought in Union?
5 documented military engagements took place in Union, including Battle of Wahab's Plantation, Battle of Wahab's Plantation II, Battle of McCowansville (NC Waxhaws, 1780).
How many historic places are in Union?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Union, North Carolina.
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