Union City, California
Union City is a city of 67,464 people in Alameda County, California.
Why visit Union City
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 138 parks and trails, 221 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include California State University, East Bay, Century 25, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and California School for the Blind.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 78°F; December lows average 42°F.
Weather in Union City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Union City
Union City is a city in Alameda County, California, United States in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population in the 2020 census was 70,143, up from 69,628 in the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Union City, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
California State University, East Bay
School · 4.3 mi
Public university in Hayward, California
Museums and landmarks23
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
Museum · 2.8 mi
Film museum in the Niles District of Fremont, California
37417 Niles Boulevard
Sa-Su 12:00-16:00
California School for the Blind
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
School in the United States
500 Walnut Ave., Fremont
Washington High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Public high school in Fremont, California
38442 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Human settlement in California, United States of America
Golden Gate Railroad Museum
Museum · 5.5 mi
Museum in Sunol, California
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi
31274;31310 Alvarado-Niles Road
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds138
Mission Hills of Hayward Golf Course
Golf course · 2.2 mi
9 hole Par 30
75 Industrial Parkway, Hayward
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Park · 4.7 mi
Park in Fremont, California, US
Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park
Park · 1.1 mi
Park in United States of America
Eden Landing Ecological Reserve
Park · 5.5 mi
Nature reserve in Hayward and Union City, California
Fremont Central Park
Park · 4.7 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
Garin Regional Park
Park · 2.3 mi
Park in California, United States of America
Vargas Plateau Regional Park
Park · 4.4 mi
Park in California, United States of America
126 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes221
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi
Located inside of Safeway
1790 Decoto Road, Union City
Mo-Su 05:00-19:00
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.8 mi
32232 Dyer Street, Union City
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Din Ding Dumpling House
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.0 mi
1779 Decoto Road, Union City
Mo-Fr 11:00-14:30, Mo-Fr 17:00-21:30, Sa 11:00-21:30, Su 11:00-21:00
Greens N Grills
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 3.0 mi
31804 Alvarado Boulevard, Union City
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Ramen Shu
Restaurant · Noodle · 1.0 mi
34308 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City
Mo-Sa 11:30-14:00; Mo-Th 17:30-21:00; Fr,Sa 17:30-21:30; Su...
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.8 mi
32240 Dyer Street, Union City
Mo-Su 04:30-00:00; Fr-Sa 04:30-01:00
209 more on the map.
History
Costanoans ("coastal peoples") were the first inhabitants, primarily the Ohlone peoples living alongside the Alameda and Dry Creeks. Shell mounds along the sloughs of Alameda Creek near the Alvarado sugar mill contained burial sites.
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". 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. 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.
From the History section of Union City, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Extended Stay America
Motel and hotel · 2.7 mi
31950 Union Landing Boulevard, Union City
Holiday Inn Express
Motel and hotel · 2.7 mi
31140 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City
San Francisco Bay Area Vacation Rentals
Motel and hotel · 3.2 mi
32223 Allison Drive, Union City
Churches and places of worship50
Dawoodi Bohra Masjid
Place of worship · Sunni · 3.3 mi
1121 Old Canyon Road, Fremont
Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 3.7 mi
35660 Cedar Boulevard, Newark
St. James the Apostle Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 2.3 mi
3848;3852 Ferry Lane
St. Paul United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 2.5 mi
33350 Peace Terrace, Fremont
Union City Apostolic Church
Church · Apostolic · 1.2 mi
33700 Alvarado-Niles Road
Shopping50
Gas and EV charging22
Schools, colleges and libraries88
Healthcare17
Bay Area Community Health
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.7 mi
1999 Mowry Avenue, Fremont
Map of Union City
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 44°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 46°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 75°F | 55°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 78°F | 57°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 52°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 65°F | 46°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 42°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fremont (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Alameda County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-04-01: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Hayward 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Fairview 5 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Newark 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Cherryland 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Castro Valley 8 mi north, about 12 min by car
- San Lorenzo 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Ashland 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Fremont 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Pleasanton 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Dublin 10 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aerial view of Union City, September 2018, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Capitol Corridor train in Union City, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union City station emergency exit stairs, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Two trains at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New escalator at Union City station (2), April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Northbound train at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Union City Transit route 2 bus at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Union City station platforms in twilight, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Atrium at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Platforms of Union City station (July 2026), Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Future east exit from Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Future pedestrian level crossing at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Elevator and escalator at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Northbound elevator at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Unused east faregates at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central passage at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Union City Transit buses at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AC Transit buses at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union City station from busway, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Unused passage at Union City station, January 2020, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Paid passage at Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Faregates at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jean Varda tile murals at Union City station (1), January 2020, Photograph by User:Pi.1415926535, Public domain
- Jean Varda tile murals at Union City station (2), January 2020, Photograph by User:Pi.1415926535, Public domain
- Union City Transit 647-a, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New escalator at Union City station (1), April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main entrance to Union City station, April 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dumbarton Express and Union City Transit buses at Union City station 202607, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main entrance to Union City station, July 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Northbound train at Union City station, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union City station platforms, July 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union City BART Station, LPS.1, CC0
- Dumbarton Express bus at Union City station, July 2018, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum 2657, Pedro Xing, CC0
- WHSFrontFacade, Whitelily519 (Amelia Chu), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Memorial-Day-2003, Mactographer at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
- American Kestrel (m & f) (33465142865), Becky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California, CC BY 2.0
- Acorn Woodpecker (16308029204), Rennett Stowe from USA, CC BY 2.0
- Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park (16309897323), Rennett Stowe from USA, CC BY 2.0
- Old and new trains in Hayward Yard, October 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.