Did You Realize Union Gap, Is An Oxymoron?

Let me be clear – I am not calling the city or people in it morons. What I am pointing out is that “union” and “gap” are complete opposite words.

For those who skipped out on 7^th grade English class, an oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and or contradictory. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word as a noun: oxymoron; a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true).

Further the dictionary defines the word “union” as: the action or fact of joining or being joined.

The word “gap” is defined as a break or hole in an object or between two objects.

In speech, oxymoron’s can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. I am sure the founders of Union Gap didn’t have any of those in mind when they named their new town. In thier defense, contrasts do make things more interesting.

Union Gap is so named due to the small "gap" in the Earth, in the east-west ranging hill near US Highway 97 & I-82.

The city of Union Gap has a pretty interesting history. It was originally named Yakima City in 1883. When bypassed by the Northern Pacific Railroad (the life blood of the economy back in the day) in 1884, over 100 buildings were moved with rollers and horses to the nearby site of the depot where it now resides. Now that's commitment.

The new city was dubbed North Yakima. In 1918 North Yakima was changed to simply Yakima, and the original town to the south was named ‘Union Gap’.

Union Gap. It's a lot like saying, “rolling stop”, “jumbo shrimp”, or “alone together”.

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I love Union Gap. It houses some great businesses I love to frequent like Costco and ‘Home Depot’.

Home – stationary. Never moves.

Depot – a place where things are moved, transported or exchanged.

It looks like Home Depot is in the right city.

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All My Best,

The JimShow

Bonus oxymorons

Clearly confused

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