Union City, California

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|19|sqmi|km2}}, all land with no bay frontage. The Niles Cone aquifer, managed by the Alameda County Water District, supplies much of the water consumed by Union City. Hayward bounds the city to the north and Fremont and Newark to the south. Union City, Newark and Fremont are known as the Tri-Cities.

{{US Census population

|1960= 6618

|1970= 14724

|1980= 39406

|1990= 53762

|2000= 66869

|2010= 69516

|2020= 70143

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=September 20, 2021}}

}}

According to the 2020 census estimate, the median income for a household in the city is $142,374.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fremontcitycalifornia|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Fremont city, California }} Males have a median household income of $59,274 versus $40,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,411. About 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Costanoans ("coastal peoples") were the first inhabitants, living along Alameda and Dry Creeks. Shell mounds along the sloughs of Alameda Creek near the Alvarado sugar mill contained burial sites.{{cite book |last1=Sandoval |first1=John S |title=The history of Washington Township |date=1985 |publisher=Mt. Eden Historical Publishers |location=Hayward, California |isbn=093619300X}}{{rp|7–9}} {{cite book |last1=Raymundo |first1=Myrla |title=Union City through the years (History of Union City) |date=2005 |publisher=FolgerGraphics, Inc|isbn=097152114X}}{{rp|8–9}}

The first non-native community was founded in 1850 by John and William Horner, who named it "Union City" after their Sacramento River Steamship, "The Union".{{cite web | url=http://www.ci.union-city.ca.us/general/history.htm | title=History of Union City | publisher=City of Union City, California | access-date=November 24, 2010}} In 1854, it merged with the nearby community of New Haven (founded 1851) to form the town of Alvarado, named after a former Mexican governor, Juan Bautista Alvarado.{{cite web | url=http://www.unioncitymuseum.com/Newsletters/newssep00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717163302/http://www.unioncitymuseum.com/Newsletters/newssep00.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=July 17, 2011 | title=The Union City Historical Museum Letter | volume=2 | issue=5 | publisher=Union City Historical Museum |date = September 2000| access-date=November 24, 2010}} Alvarado was the first county seat of Alameda County, a designation it lost in 1865 to San Leandro. Further east, Decoto was founded in 1870 as a railroad hub, hosting the first transcontinental railroad. Alvarado-Niles Road, one of the city's largest streets, connects the historical Fremont district of Niles with the historical Union City district of Alvarado.

The California Beet Sugar Company, the US' first successful sugar beet mill, was located in Alvarado and began operations in 1870. The plant was demolished in 1977.{{Cite web|url=http://tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2009-04-08&file=Holly+Sugar.txt|title=Tri-City Voice Newspaper - Whats Happening - Fremont, Union City, Newark, California|website=tricityvoice.com|access-date=August 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011012044/http://tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2009-04-08&file=Holly+Sugar.txt|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Union City is a former railroad and steel town with an extensive industrial heritage. The Pacific States Steel Company occupied the land behind Union City Station that is redeveloping into the Union City Station District Downtown. The Alvarado and Decoto neighborhoods were both former railroad hubs and active railroad lines bisect both East End and the West Side of town. Trains are a way of life in Union City and natives are accustomed to waiting for Amtrak and freight trains to cross while commuting.

In the 1950s, Alvarado and Decoto – the latter making up the eastern side of the town – were annexation targets of the nearby communities of Newark, Hayward, and what would become Fremont. On January 13, 1959, they decided to incorporate into a single city, and named it after the Horners' original settlement, Union City.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2008-09-24&file=Tom+Kitayama+History.txt|title=Tri-City Voice Newspaper - Whats Happening - Fremont, Union City, Newark, California|website=www.tricityvoice.com|access-date=May 31, 2017}} Tom Kitayama served as the city's first mayor in 1959 and was involved in Union City politics until his 1991 retirement. The population grew from 6,000 in 1959 to 70,000 in 2020. In 2016, Union City started to rebrand and unveiled a new city seal. Union City opened a new Teen Center in 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.union-city.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=632 |title=Union City Climate Action Plan |date=November 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2014}} In March 2025, the city of Union City rolled out new city branded color coded trash carts with Republic Services and local Tri-CED community recycling to meet state and local goals.

Union City is the location of the American Licorice Company's West Coast operations, which moved there in 1971."Candy"; Modern Marvels; History Channel; 2006; Viewed July 15, 2010.

Union City is home to three major health care providers: a Kaiser Permanente facility, the Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, and Washington Hospital's Nakamura Clinic.

Union City hosts industrial and shipping companies, including R&S Manufacturing, RCD Concrete, Jatco, and EntirelyPets.

Union Landing Shopping Center is a {{convert|100|acre|ha|adj=on}} shopping center, adjacent to Interstate 880. It is one of the largest centers in the city and supports about 70 stores. The mall was completed in 1999. The land was previously a drive-in movie park.{{Cite web |url=http://www.union-city.ca.us/economicdevelopment/amenities/unionlanding.html |title=Union Landing |access-date=November 20, 2011 |archive-date=August 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820223658/http://www.union-city.ca.us/economicdevelopment/amenities/unionlanding.html |url-status=dead }}

A Target shopping center sits near the Hayward/Union City border.{{cite web |url= http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate-131220/ci_22700773/24-hour-fitness-plans-new-stores-fremont-and|title=24 hours fitness|date=July 21, 2014 |access-date=July 21, 2014}}

According to Union City's June 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,{{Cite web |url=https://www.unioncity.org/DocumentCenter/View/5487/City-of-Union-City-CAFR-2019---FINAL |title=City of Union City CAFR}} the top employers in the city were:

In 2014 New Haven Unified School District enrolls 10,000 students from Union City and Hayward. The district consists of seven (K-5) elementary schools, two (6–8) middle schools, one comprehensive high school (James Logan High School) with approximately 3,000 students enrolled. In addition, James Logan houses a 3,000-seat gymnasium and a 4,000 seat football stadium with lights. Lastly one adult/K-12 independent study school program is available.{{cite news |author=New haven |date=June 9, 2014 |title=New Haven Unified School District sites |work=New Haven USD |url= https://www.cde.ca.gov/sdprofile/details.aspx?cds=01612420134668 |access-date=June 9, 2014}}

In December 2015, New Haven Unified School District renamed Alvarado Middle School to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in honor of Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong.{{cite news |title=Union City school is nation's first named after Filipino-Americans, but acrimony over decision remains |author=Chris De Benedetti |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_23065812/union-city-school-is-nations-first-named-after |newspaper=Mercury News |date=April 19, 2013 |access-date=May 5, 2013}} The school district added solar power at school sites to cut energy costs. An arts center and new track and field are available at James Logan High School.

New Haven Unified School District's first teacher strike came in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/union-city-teachers-to-strike-monday/|title=Union City Teachers to Strike Monday|website=Kron4|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2022}}

Cornerstone International College, located at 725 Whipple Rd., is the city's first post-secondary institution.

Union City lies within the Ohlone Community College District and Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohlone.edu/purchasing|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061221215744/http://purchasing.ohlone.edu/RFP20709054aTitleCompanyPreliminaryTitleReport.pdf|url-status=dead |title=Purchasing, Contracts, and Auxiliary Services|date=January 9, 2018|archivedate=December 21, 2006|website=Ohlone College}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clpccd.cc.ca.us/ |title=Chabot-Las Positas Community College District website |publisher=Clpccd.cc.ca.us |access-date=May 26, 2012}}

Several transit systems serve Union City, including AC Transit, the Dumbarton Express, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and Union City Transit. The latter started in 1974 and runs 6 bus lines throughout Union City and parts of Hayward.{{Cite web|last=Maharaj|first=Zoneil|date=September 30, 2013|title=Union City Transit Announces New Routes, Fares|url=https://patch.com/california/unioncity/union-city-transit-announces-new-routes-fares|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=Union City, CA Patch|language=en}}

BART came to Union City when the system opened in 1972. In 2007 the Union City BART station was rebuilt and developed into Union City Intermodal Transit Station.{{cite web |title=Union City BART (Phase 2) Station Improvements and At-grade Pedestrian Crossing Component |url=https://www.unioncity.org/DocumentCenter/View/1481/VRF-Grant-Funds-Union-City-BART |access-date=July 31, 2019 |ref=uc-bart-multimodal}}

Union City is served by a network of high-capacity streets, with four exits on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway). Highway 238 also serves the city (Mission Boulevard). Quarry Lakes Parkway, formerly known as the East–West Connector, is a {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on}} roadway project that connects Mission Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway.

{{Main|Union City Intermodal Transit Station}}

Union City invested $100 million into an expansion of the downtown district, including development surrounding the BART station, which links BART with rail services: Capitol Corridor, Dumbarton Rail Corridor and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE). Construction has started on 800 mixed units east of bart station known as station east near Decoto Road.

Union City runs a council–manager government. The City Council consists of five representatives on a part-time basis. On November 3, 2020, the city switched from citywide elections to districts. The Mayor is elected at large. As of December 2024 the elected officials were: Gary Singh mayor,Lance Nishihira Jaime Patiño, Jeff Wang, and Scott Sakakihara. The mayor and elected council members serve a 4-year term, with a 3-term limit. A utility tax was passed in November 2020.

In 2017, Union City had 35,857 registered voters with 19,644 (54.8%) registered as Democrats, 4,200 (11.7%) registered as Republicans, and 10,693 (29.8%) registered as decline to state voters.{{cite web| url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2017/politicalsub.pdf | access-date=January 29, 2024 | title=Report of Registration as of February 10, 2017 - Registration by Political Subdivision by County | date=February 10, 2017}}

The monthly East Bay Echo{{Cite web|url=https://eastbayecho.com/|title=East Bay Echo|website=East Bay Echo}} and bi-weekly Tri-City Voice newspapers offer local news. Union City Patch served the community and is part of Patch.com.{{cite web|title=Tri-City Voice: the newspaper for the new millennium|url=http://www.tricityvoice.com/|website=tricityvoice.com|access-date=February 15, 2017}}

File:Sugar BEe.jpg

The first sugar beet factory in the United States was located in Union City, called the California Beet Sugar Company. It is noted by a California Historical Landmark #768, situated at Dyer and Ratekin.{{rp|78}}

Bay Area Flight 93 Memorial is in Sugar Mill Landing Park. It was the first monument completed in the United States designed to honor the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, which was bound for San Francisco, but was hijacked and crashed in rural Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.{{cite news|last1=Tucker|first1=Jill|title=Union City dedicates memorial to 9/11's United Flight 93|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Union-City-dedicates-memorial-to-9-11-s-United-3234949.php|access-date=July 30, 2014|date=December 9, 2007|work=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{Cite web | url=http://93memorial.com/ | title=The Flight 93 Memorial, Union City California}}

{{Infobox historic site

| name = First Alameda County Courthouse

| image = First courthouse in Alameda.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = The center two-story building is the original Alameda County courthouse, in the old town of Alvarado, 1853–1865.

| designation1 = California

| designation1_number = 503

| location = 30977 Union City Blvd., Union City, California

| coordinates = {{coord|37.596667|-122.0811|region:US-CA_source:gnis-218162_type:landmark|display=inline}}

}}

Alameda County's first courthouse was located in Alvarado, starting on June 6, 1853. The original courthouse was a two-story wooden building that was originally a mercantile that included a post office.{{cite ohp|503|Site of the first Alameda county courthouse|October 6, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Swenson|first=Timothy|title=Union City History Collection|url=http://www.museumoflocalhistory.org/pages/UCcollection.pdf|publisher=Museum of Local History|access-date=August 31, 2012}} It was built by A. M. Church and Henry C. Smith. In 1865 the county seat moved to San Leandro. With the widening of Union City Blvd., the original site was paved over.{{cite book|last=Swenson|first=Timothy|title=Union City|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0PZ3JmDMHOcC&pg=PA78|access-date=August 31, 2012|date=2008|edition=Images of America|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-5809-7}}{{rp|78}} The site is listed on the California Historical Landmarks list.

File:Masonichomeunioncity.jpg

Masonic Home at Union City, a senior living community for Freemasons and their spouses, has as its centerpiece a large brick administration building.{{cite web|title=Union City Community|url=http://www.masonichome.org/seniors/union_city.html|work=Masonic Home at Union City|access-date=May 6, 2011}} The administration building was identified as a significant historic property in the 1974 Historic Resource Inventory of Washington Township.{{cite web|title=Masonic Home Independent Living Apartments|url=http://dha-environmental.com/casestudies.html#Case2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119233747/http://www.dha-environmental.com/casestudies.html#Case2|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 19, 2008|work=DHA Case Studies|publisher=Douglas Herring & Associates|access-date=May 6, 2011}} Interior features include a main staircase with stained glass windows, a parlor filled with antiques, and paintings of fourteen Masonic US presidents.{{cite web|last1=Raymundo|first1=Myrla|title=History: The Masonic Home in Union City|url=http://www.tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2009-07-01&file=Masonic+Home+UC+History.txt|website=Tri-City Voice Newspaper|access-date=February 15, 2017|date=July 2009}} The original five-story brick building formed the center of the Administration Building. It was constructed in 1898 and was the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home overlooking Decoto.{{rp|87}} The north and south wings of the Administration Building were added in 1914 and 1928, respectively. Ten more buildings were built on this {{convert|305|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} campus,{{cite web|last1=Pratt|first1=Nancy|title=History: Masonic Home|url=http://www.nancypratt.com/pages/masonic-history.html|website=nancypratt.com|access-date=February 15, 2017|date=1998}} including Acacia Creek, a continuing care retirement community for all seniors, both Masons and non-Masons, completed in 2010.{{cite web|last1=Mahal|first1=Davinder|title=Masonic Home for Adults, Union City|url=https://www.mahal.org/articles/papers/2002/12/masonic-home-for-adults-union-city|website=mahal.org|access-date=February 15, 2017|date=December 2012}}

{{Weather box|location = Union City, California

|single line = Y

|Jan high F = 58

|Feb high F = 62

|Mar high F = 65

|Apr high F = 67

|May high F = 71

|Jun high F = 75

|Jul high F = 77

|Aug high F = 77

|Sep high F = 77

|Oct high F = 73

|Nov high F = 64

|Dec high F = 58

|year high F =

|Jan low F = 42

|Feb low F = 45

|Mar low F = 48

|Apr low F = 50

|May low F = 53

|Jun low F = 56

|Jul low F = 58

|Aug low F = 59

|Sep low F = 57

|Oct low F = 54

|Nov low F = 48

|Dec low F = 42

|year low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.95

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.02

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.34

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.02

|May precipitation inch = 0.48

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.11

|Jul precipitation inch = 0

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.03

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.17

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.81

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.70

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.56

|year precipitation inch=15.19

|source 1 = The Weather Channel{{cite web

|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/94587 |title= Monthly Averages for Union City, CA |

publisher=Weather.com|access-date=May 12, 2012|date=May 2012}}

|date=May 2012

}}

Union City's sister cities are:{{cite web |title=Union City and Asadabad, Afghanistan, finally become sister cities|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/02/15/union-city-and-asadabad-afghanistan-finally-become-sister-cities/|website=eastbaytimes.com|publisher=East Bay Times|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=November 11, 2020}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|AFG}} Asadabad, Afghanistan
• {{flagicon|PHL}} Baybay, Philippines
• {{flagicon|THA}} Chiang Rai, Thailand
• {{flagicon|IND}} Jalandhar, India
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Liyang, China
• {{flagicon|MEX}} Mulegé, Mexico
• {{flagicon|PHL}} Pasay, Philippines

{{div col end}}

• Stephen Abas - Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling
• Otis Amey - Professional football player
• Joey Bragg - Actor, comedian, formerly on Disney Channel television series Liv and Maddie
• Angelina Camarillo - Former pop singer, also associated with NB Ridaz
• Vicky Galindo - U.S. softball player
• Eddie House - Professional basketball player
• Aaron Ledesma - Former Major League Baseball player
• Darren Lewis - Former Major League Baseball player
• Raaginder - Musician and violinist
• SuChin Pak - MTV VJ
• Kelli White - Sprinter
• Roy Williams - Professional football player
• Avantika Vandanapu - Actress

• Assassination of William Cann

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.unioncitychamber.com/ Union City Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.aclibrary.org/branches/ucy/default.asp?topic=UnionCity&cat=UCYHome/ Union City Library]

{{Geographic location

|Center = Union City

|North = Hayward

|East =

|South = Newark

|Southeast = Fremont

|West =

}}

{{Alameda County, California}}

{{SFBayshopping}}

{{SF Bay Area}}

{{East Bay}}

{{California}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California

Category:Cities in Alameda County, California

Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area

Category:1959 establishments in California

Category:Populated coastal places in California