It is located upstream of most of the rest of Lawrence County's Ohio River townships.

Two villages are located along the shoreline of Union Township: Proctorville far upstream, and Chesapeake in the center.

[5] In the early Northwest Territory era, waterways were the nation’s highways.

According to Lawrence County Register, Union Township, with its waterway resources, boasted a grist mill and blacksmith shop on Symmes Creek.

[6] The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1.