County of Union history

In 1858 New River County was created and the town of Lake Butler was designated as the county seat.

In 1861 the name of the county was changed to Bradford in honor of Major Bradford, the first Confederate officer from Florida to lose his life in the Civil War.

Union County was formed in 1864.

The first census of the county in 1870 showed only 2,552 inhabitants.

The arrival of the Singer Manufacturing Company in Elizabeth in 1873 spurred industrial growth in the county.

When the city of Union was designated as the county seat in 1874, the county’s records were quickly moved to a new brick courthouse in the area where Union High School now stands.

Twenty-three years later, in 1887, Wallowa County was created from its eastern region.

In the late 1890’s Starke won the site election and was named the county seat.

The historic Union County Courthouse was built in 1899.

In 1905 a three-story structure, with facilities for all main offices of county government, was opened.

In 1919, Union County Sheriff James E. Warner mourned the reeking pollution that was ruining the Rahway River, a place very dear and familiar to him since his childhood, when he fished in its clear lakes and streams.

When the 1920 census indicated that Union County’s population fell short of that number by 100, Cranford residents canvassed every home to get signed affidavits from anyone who had not been present during the official census.

On the November 8, 1921 ballot, voters were asked to approve a permanent five-member Park Commission and $2.5 million to be spent at the commission’s discretion.

By June of 1925, the Park Commission had spent $1.7 million to purchase and develop 2,000 acres of land and had options for condemnation proceedings on another 1,000 acres.

In 1927, the Commission hired F.S. Matthewson as the first full-time Recreation Director in any county park system in the United States.

The Park Commission pushed through a referendum for an additional $1.5 million and another $1 million in 1928.

The Union County Historical Society was created in 1976 to preserve and promote the history and culture of Union County.

In 1978, through public referendum, the Union County Park Commission was abolished and the County of Union, Department of Parks and Recreation was formed.

In 1999, the per capita income in the county was 23,776 dollars, with 6.7 percent of the people living in poverty.

With a population of 15,942 people, Marysville was the county s largest community in 2000.

The first census of the county in 1870 showed only 2,552 inhabitants. It has grown steadily and the 2010 census shows the population at 25,748.

UCHS Board of Directors 10 September 2020