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Union County Genealogy

Last reviewed July 11, 2026

  • Formed 1842
  • Parent county / earlier Anson, Mecklenburg
  • County seat Monroe
  • Neighbors mecklenburg, cabarrus, stanly, anson

Photos & maps

Freely licensed images from Wikimedia Commons (and related open sources), cached locally for research context.

Historic view — Union County
Historic view Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Source
Courthouse — Union County
Courthouse Indy beetle · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons Source
Map — Union County
Map US Census, Ruhrfisch, Dincher · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Source

What’s new

  • Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
  • Formation 1842 from Anson, Mecklenburg — search parents for earlier events.
  • Seat: Monroe · Library: Union County Public Library.
  • Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.

In-depth topics

Towns & communities

15 places — view all town pages

Monroe county seat Fairview Hemby Bridge JAARS Lake Park Marvin Mineral Springs Unionville Indian Trail Waxhaw Weddington Wesley Chapel Marshville Wingate Stallings

Union County was formed in 1842 from Anson, Mecklenburg. The county seat is Monroe. Neighboring counties include mecklenburg, cabarrus, stanly, anson.

This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.

Union county was formed in 1842 from parts of Anson County and Mecklenburg County. Its name was a compromise between Whigs, who wanted to name the new county for Henry Clay, and Democrats, who wanted to name it for Andrew Jackson. The county seat is Monroe.

Union County is divided into the following townships: Goose Creek, Jackson, Marshville, Monroe, New Salem, Vance , Buford , Lanes Creek, and Sandy Ridge.

* Brooklandwood in the Union County town of Mineral Springs is the site of the Queens Cup Steeplechase, one of steeplechase horse racing's major annual events. The program consists of several races, and is held the last Saturday of April. The schedule of events also features a Jack Russell Terrier judging contest. Over 10,000 people descend on Mineral Springs from all parts of the country to take part in this day long event of races and other activities.

* The Union County town of Marshville is the site of the Boll Weevil Festival, an annual street fair and carnival that takes place every fall.

Source Wikipedia.

Union County Genealogy Resources

The Union County Heritage Room
The Heritage Room
Old Union County Courthouse, First Floor
P.O. Box 397
Monroe, NC 28111
Hours: Mondays-Wednesdays – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Thursdays – 1:00 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed: The week of Thanksgiving and two weeks at Christmas.
Please call for confirmation of holiday hours. - 704-289-6737
FAX number is: 704-283-3782

The Carolinas Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 397
Monroe, NC 28111

Union County Historical Society
P.O. Box 397
Monroe, NC 28111

Union County Historic
Preservation Commission
P. O. Box 282
Monroe , NC 28111

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Union County Government

Union County Government - Official Site
Union County Register of Deeds
Mailing Address:
Union County Register Of Deeds
P.O. Box 248
Monroe, NC 28111

Physical Address:
Union County Register Of Deeds
Union County Courthouse
500 Main Street
Monroe, NC 28111
8:30am - 5:00pm Mon - Fri
(704)283-3797

Union County Public Library
Monroe Library
316 East Windsor Street
Monroe, NC 28112
(704) 283-8184

Hours:
Monday & Tuesday 9:30 am - 8 pm
Wednesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 7pm
Friday 9:30 am - 6 pm
Saturday 1 pm - 5 pm
Sunday 2 pm - 5pm
The Norvan K. and Sarah Craig Dickerson Genealogy & Local History section of the Union County Public Library in Monroe houses a number of unique and/or useful items for genealogical or historical research.

Union West Regional
123 Unionville-Indian Trail Road,
Indian Trail, NC 28079
(704) 821-7475

Hours:
Monday - Thursday 9:30 am - 7 pm
Friday 9:30 am - 6 pm
Saturday 1 pm - 5 pm
Sunday 2 pm - 5pm

Edwards Memorial Marshville
414 Hasty Street
Marshville, NC 28103
(704) 624-2828

Hours:
Monday - Thursday 9:30 am - 7 pm
Friday 9:30 am - 6 pm
Saturday 1 pm - 5 pm
Sunday 2 pm - 5pm

Waxhaw Branch
509 South Providence Street
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 843-3131

Hours:
Monday & Thursday 9:30 am - 7 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 am - 6 pm
Saturday 1 pm - 5 pm

Union County Cities and Towns

Census

Cemeteries

Query Forums

News related to Union County, NC

History notes

Union County (formed 1842 from Anson and Mecklenburg; seat Monroe) mixes long farm families with late Charlotte metro spillover (Waxhaw, Indian Trail). Always pin community and decade before choosing Anson, Mecklenburg, or Union courthouses.

Local history & events

Recent news and notices about historic sites, heritage programs, reenactments, and local history related to Union County (and statewide North Carolina heritage stories). Links open external publishers — verify details before traveling.

Updated automatically from public news feeds focused on history and heritage. See statewide local history news · Suggest an event

Research tools

Free printables for field sessions and home research nights.

Starter checklist Cheatsheet bundle Start here guide

Record availability matrix

Guidance for what tends to exist for this county—not a guarantee. Always verify at the repository. Statewide method notes: vitals, land, probate, census.

Record type Coverage Years (approx.) Notes
Federal census good 1790–1950 Federal schedules available for NC with known quirks/losses in some years. Place the household in the correct county for each decade. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Birth records sparse 1915– Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Marriage records partial 1842– County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Death records partial 1915– Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Land & deeds good 1842– Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Probate & estates good 1842– Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Church & parish partial varies Church coverage varies by denomination and survival; check local societies and denominational archives.
Newspapers varies varies Title survival varies widely. Search local weeklies plus larger regional papers; use Chronicling America and the State Library of North Carolina and DigitalNC.
Military good 1775– Revolutionary through 20th-century service may generate pensions, CMSRs, and local militia notes. Pair with county context for battles and units.
Cemeteries partial varies Published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—use obituaries and church books.
Court records partial 1842– Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1842, search parent jurisdiction: Anson, Mecklenburg.
Tax lists sparse varies Tax lists can substitute for missing census years. Coverage is uneven by locality and year; check State Archives of North Carolina and published abstracts.

Newspapers

Selected titles and research notes for this county. Confirm runs and repositories—mastheads change often.

  • Union County local newspapers (verify titles by decade)
    Monroe · Weekly/varies
    Start with DigitalNC, Chronicling America, and the county public library microfilm/digital portal. Title names change—search county + “herald”, “news”, “gazette”, “times”.
  • Regional / nearest city dailies
    Monroe · Daily
    Many rural events appear first in larger nearby city papers (Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Wilmington, etc.).

Statewide newspapers guide · Libraries & societies directory

Cemeteries & burial research

Starting points and portals—not a complete inventory of every graveyard in the county.

  • Union County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
    Monroe
    Use Find a Grave, published surveys, churchyards, and USGS GNIS. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial.
    Find a Grave · More

Cemeteries research guide

Societies & repositories

Full societies & libraries directory

Research starting points

Census

Federal census schedules are foundational for Union County household reconstruction. Collect every decade, note neighbors (FAN club), and track the county name as it existed that year—especially across formation and split boundaries.

Vital records

North Carolina statewide vital registration expanded in the early 20th century. For many Union County families you will rely on marriage bonds, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, delayed births, and probate—not only a modern certificate.

Cemeteries (legacy notes)

Cemetery surveys for Union County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, churchyards, and family plots. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial—pair markers with obituaries and church books.

Courthouse & contacts

The county seat is Monroe. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.

Union County government

Public library: Union County Public Library

If not found here, try…

North Carolina brick walls are often jurisdiction problems. Search parent districts and neighbors when deeds, probate, or vitals are missing.

  • Formed 1842
  • Parent / earlier jurisdiction Anson, Mecklenburg — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).

Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):

Mecklenburg Cabarrus Stanly Anson

Also use Start here, the counties & formation guide, and local history news for recent heritage context.