Union, Missouri, United States

🇺🇸 Union is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located on the Bourbeuse River, 50 miles (80 km) south-west of St. Louis. The city has the highest growth rate (32%) in Franklin County over the previous decade.

History Union was founded in 1826 and designated as the county seat in 1827. The city is named for the ideal of political unity. A post office called Union has been in operation since 1827.

Early German settlers established themselves in and around Franklin County, including what would later be known as Union. German architecture, culture, and especially surnames are still prevalent around Union and surrounding areas. Depending on the definition, the city is within or near a region known as the Missouri Rhineland.

Geography The city is located on the north-west side of the Bourbeuse River. US Route 50 passes through the city and I-44 is approximately five miles to the east. Washington, on the Missouri River, is seven miles to the north on Missouri Route 47.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.16 square miles (23.72 km²), all land.

Economy The Missouri Meerschaum company, founded in 1869 is the first and oldest manufacturer of corn-cob pipes. With the introduction of the railroad in the late 1800’s, Union saw an increase in population which in turn, increased the need for job opportunities. In 1907, The National Cob Pipe Works was opened to help fulfill the need for jobs in the area. In less than 10 years, it became one of the largest corn cob pipe manufacturers in the world, producing at least five million cob pipes a year. By 1925, there were almost a dozen corn cob pipes spread across Franklin County. The only surviving corn cob pipe factory left is the original Missouri Meerschaum Company located in Washington, Missouri.

Presently, there are over 300 businesses in Union, including the presence of manufacturers such as the Esselte Pendaflex Corporation and Silgan Plastic Containers.

Rail Central Midland Railway (CMR), a division of Progressive Rail Inc. of Minnesota, provides regular freight rail service to industrial customers located in Union. CMR operates the far eastern segment of the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway's St. Louis to Kansas City main line that was constructed in 1870. The active portion of the former CRI&P line runs from the north side of St. Louis, where it connects with the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis and Union Pacific Railroad, and now terminates in Union, Missouri.