Union City Heritage Water Trail

In the 1800s, Union City was the head to 170 miles of busy commerce on the St. Joe. Large freight barges poled by 8 men as well as steamers carried grain, pork, whiskey, flour, hides, furs, pig iron and
other goods manufactured along its banks downstream to Lake Michigan and on to Chicago. Return trips were laden with
immigrants, goods for stores and "Niles crackers." In the 1830s, founding fathers focused on Union City becoming a metropolis along a canal proposed to the east through Homer and Jackson connecting the St. Joe all the way to Lake Erie onto the East Coast. Locally $50,000 was appropriated and $10,000 was actually spent on clearing obstructions to improve navigation. However, river commerce gave way to rail, and nothing ever came of the cross-state canal. Union City had nearly lost out as it missed early chances on rail lines built to the north and south before one finally traversed the town.

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Show me all markers in:  Union City, MI  |  Branch County  |  49094  |  Michigan  |  United States of America

Gerald Davison's Hilltop House
Alumni Field
Elkhorn Lodge: Home of "Skinny" Bullock
The Park Street "Spencer" Bridge
Indigenous Residents
The French & Trading Posts
Union City Methodist Episcopal Church
Union City Milling and Mill Race Outlet
15. The Flood of 1908 & Broadway Bridge "Island"
16. Riverview Park

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