With population in decline, Union hopes amphitheater and downtown improvements will spark growth [Video]

UNION, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Unlike many other areas across the upstate, Union County has not seen a big boom in new residents or development.

Now the city is planning ways to help attract more residents.

“A lot of people like the small town atmosphere,” said Union City Administrator Joe Nichols. “And I think we still can have that with growth.”

According to 2022 Census data, Union County’s population has dropped by nearly 8 percent since 2010. That’s about 2,000 fewer people.

But Nichols says the city is working on ways to entice growth.

“So, as long as we get rooftops, we get something that people can do, we got to have something culture-wise that we can do in Union. We feel like these residents that are driving into Union work will come to union and stay here,” he said.

Nichols says housing options and retail stores are slowly growing …