The modern Union-Bulletin can trace its origins to the Washington Statesman, the city's first newspaper, founded in September 1861.
[2] It began publishing weekly editions on November 29, 1861, using an old printing press acquired from the Oregon Statesman in Salem by brothers William Smith and R. B. Smith and a press from The Oregonian purchased by Major Raymond R. Rees and Nemiah Northrop.
The Union was merged with the Statesman in 1907, coming under the common ownership of Washington Printing and Book Publishing Company.
[5][6] The Union-Bulletin was operated as an independent newspaper until it was acquired by The Seattle Times Company on October 1, 1971.
[6][8] In November 2020, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin acquired EO Media Group's printing press to replace its own and was contracted to print all of EO's papers moving forward.