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Union City lies in southern Alameda County on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, between Hayward and Fremont, with the green hills of the East Bay rising behind it. The city was formed in 1959 when the communities of Alvarado and Decoto joined together, and it is named for the Union City steamboat landing of the 1850s. Alvarado once served as the first county seat of Alameda County, and the area was home to California's first successful sugar beet factory.
Today Union City is a diverse residential city with a strong Asian and Latino heritage. The Union City BART station and intermodal center sit at the heart of a growing district, and local shopping centers are filled with Filipino, Indian and Chinese restaurants and markets.
Outdoor space is close by. Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park and Garin Regional Park share oak-dotted hills with sweeping bay views, and the Alameda Creek Trail and nearby Coyote Hills offer marsh walks and bike paths.
Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park covers grassy hills on the east side of Union City, with trails along Dry Creek and up to ridges with views across the bay. It was once part of the Meyers family ranch, whose old cottage garden remains. Access is from the Union City entrance off May Road, and trails get muddy in winter.
Garin Regional Park, next to Dry Creek Pioneer, has a small pond, an apple orchard of heritage varieties, an old red barn with a visitor center and trails through rolling ranch land. Cattle sometimes graze on the hillsides. Visit in spring for green hills, and in early fall for the park's apple festival.
The Alameda Creek Trail runs about 12 miles along the levees of Alameda Creek from Niles Canyon to the bay, passing along the southern edge of Union City. A paved side is used by cyclists and runners, and a dirt side by horses. It is flat and easy, with birds in the flood channel, but there is little shade.
The Union City Historical Museum, run by volunteers in the old Alvarado district, displays photos, documents and objects about the towns of Alvarado and Decoto, including the first beet sugar factory in the US. It is a small but interesting stop. It opens only on limited days, so check its schedule before you go.
Union City was formed in 1959 from the old towns of Alvarado and Decoto. Alvarado, by Alameda Creek, was briefly the county seat and home of the first successful sugar beet factory in the US, while Decoto grew around the railroad. Look for historic markers, and visit the local museum for the full story.
Kennedy Park in Union City is a family park with a small amusement area that has a carousel, a train ride and other rides for young children, plus picnic areas, playgrounds and sports fields. It is a favorite for birthday parties. The rides run on limited days and hours, so check before you visit.
Union Landing is a large shopping center next to Interstate 880 in Union City, with big-box stores, chain restaurants, a cinema and many Asian eateries. It is a convenient stop for meals and errands. Parking is plentiful, and the center is busiest on weekend afternoons and evenings.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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