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History    

Photo Album of Union in the Days of the Past Hardin County Historical Society
History of Union & Union Township  Biographies of Early Union Settlers 

                        Geology of Iowa   Maps, photos, geology of State parks, Archaeology, meteorites, glaciers, and more
 

 

Union is a small rural village built on the bluffs of the Iowa River.   Union has the distinction of being the first community in what is now Hardin County.  When Greenberry Haggin and his family entered this  untouched land in 1849, they were the only white persons residing in Hardin county.  What is now Union township was a high grass prairie when the first settlers came in 1850.  The early settlers were mostly Quakers from North Carolina.  Ethnic groups were primarily English and Irish with a few Germans.  Almost all were farmers or had farm related interests.   Union’s Annual Tar Heel Days is named in honor of those early settlers from North Carolina, the "Tar Heel" state.

The main attraction for settlers was the prime farm land.  The Iowa River provided water for saw mills and flour mills. There was timberland along the Iowa River for hunting small game, house building and firewood.  Coal was mined north of Union.

Today, the principal industry is still agriculture.  The factors that have made farming more efficient in terms of labor, such as research in plant breeding, veterinary medicine, and crop production , have also influenced population trends in the area.   The town of Union, with strong support from its citizens, is striving to grow with the times while maintaining its valuable small town characteristics.



Photo Album of Union in the Days of the Past            Hardin County Historical Society

History of Union & Union Township                          Biographies of Early Union Settlers 

Geology of Iowa   Maps, photos, geology of State parks, Archaeology, meteorites, glaciers, and more.
 

  

   Home      Businesses     Cemetery     Churches    Events    History    Useful  Internet Links                   Parks and Recreation           South Hardin Recreation Area        Special Events     Tar Heel Days         Town Council Minutes              Union Betterment Assn          Pool       Welcome to  Union    

                                                     
                                                                              
We welcome any additions, suggestions or corrections to this page.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Please email  Jo Bates