About Union County

Union County sits in the southern Piedmont area of North Carolina on the southeast edge of Charlotte and is part of the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Union County borders South Carolina to the south. Monroe is the county seat. Union County was created in 1842 and is historically a rural, agricultural county that evolved through the 1900’s and is now a fast-growing suburban county due to its proximity to Charlotte.

The 2020 U.S. Census recorded about 238,267 residents in Union County. As of 2024, official estimates put the county’s population near 263,000 – this is about a 9.5% increase in four years. Median annual household income is historically high for the region and is about $95,000 to $100,000. 

Rapid population growth and rising household incomes in many areas of Union County are the underlying demand drivers for retail, medical office, residential, restaurant, multi-family and other commercial type properties. The Charlotte-area industrial market continues to push demand outward toward surrounding counties including Cabarrus, Gaston and Union.

The Union County Public School (USPS) district serves all of Union County. The district has approximately 42,000 students. There are 53 schools in the district. This includes non-traditional options / charter schools such as Union Academy, Union Day School and Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail. The UCPS district is ranked #2 in North Carolina. The district’s high ranking contributes to the appeal of Union County for families and thus indirectly supports residential demand which is relevant for commercial real estate.

Major Commercial Corridors and Smaller Commercial Neighborhoods

1. Independence Blvd / Route 74 (Indian Trail → Stallings → Monroe)

This is the primary east-west/high traffic arterial in Union County, connecting into the Charlotte metro and serving as a major entrance to the county. It’s estimated that about 30% of Union County’s employment falls within one mile of this throughway. This road begins in Charlotte and runs east-west to Wilmington, North Carolina and North Carolina’s coast. The types of properties that are located along this corridor are major retail national chains, strip malls, lifestyle centers and grocery store anchored centers. Additionally, there are franchised restaurants, gas stations, fast food restaurants, and auto services. While there are medical and office properties, these are less dominant.

2. Outer-Suburban Retail and Growth Corridors (Waxhaw, Wesley Chapel, Weddington, South/West Union County)

This area is about suburban and exurban retail growth following residential expansion. As the population has  flowed outward from Charlotte, nodes or concentrated areas of commercial real estate grew to support daily-needs retail, medical offices and service retail. The kinds of commercial properties that dominate are grocery-anchored neighborhood and community shopping centers, medical and professional office parks, retail-service plazas with services such as hair, fitness and urgent care.

3. Expressway / Industrial Growth & Site-Ready Areas (Monroe Bypass / Expressway, Old Charlotte Hwy / Airport Rd, Austin Chaney Rd area)

Completion of the Monroe Expressway or US 74 Bypass was completed and opened in 2018. This roadway is an 18 mile bypass that eliminates using Independence Boulevard which consists of many stoplights when traveling east-west. This roadway provides close proximity to Charlotte but with lower land cost and growing infrastructure. It’s dominated by large industrial parks including warehouses, distribution centers and manufacturing buildings. There is land available for build-to-suit and speculative development.

4. Town-Center Commercial Districts (Monroe Downtown, Waxhaw Historic, Indian Trail Town Center)

These are smaller commercial areas that are strategically important for both office and retail. They tend to be walkable and consist of mixed-use type properties with higher end retail / restaurants. Small to mid-sized office buildings are generally occupied by professional, legal and financial service businesses. Redevelopment is occurring of older buildings being updated.

Industrial and Business Parks in Union County

The business base in Union County clusters around Monroe and Highway 74 / Independence Boulevard corridor which includes, Indian Trail, Stallings and Monroe. Union County Economic Development participates in assisting existing industries across the county trying to expand and provides services to industries seeking to initiate a presence in the county. Additionally, the Monroe Office of Economic Development provides support for new businesses interested in moving to the area as well as support for expanding businesses.

Listed below are a few of the business parks in Union County.

 

5. Monroe Corporate Center – This industrial center was built in the 1990’s and has expanded to nearly 500 acres. There are manufacturing companies located here that employ about 1,300 people. There is room for continued development within the center. It is located very close to the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport.
6. Expressway Commerce Park – This is a new, 74 acre park that is part of Union County’s strategy for future growth. This site was chosen as part of North Carolina’s SelectSites Readiness Program and is one of just 15 sites selected from 64 applicants across the state. Funding assists with covering key site readiness activities such as preliminary engineering reports for water, publicly-owned electric infrastructure and wastewater treatment to the site, buildable area map, environmental assessments and related road and highway infrastructure serving the site.
7. Old Hickory Business Park – This industrial park is located off Indian Trail-Fairview Road near Independence Boulevard in Indian Trail and was established around 1999. It is a master-planned business park for small to medium sized companies. Lots are several acres, and the park is about 225 acres with sites still available. It is the home of Extreme Ice Arena, an ice skating venue.
8. Industrial Ventures I & II Business Park – This park is located off Highway 74 in Monroe and serves businesses in east Charlotte, Indian Trail and Monroe. It consists of industrial and office properties as well as some multi-tenant properties interspersed. There are a few vacant lots that have not been developed. This park allows easy access to I-485 and the newer Highway 74 Bypass.