From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Upland, Indiana
Upland, Indiana
Upland, Indiana Website http://upland.in.gov/
— Town —
Upland is a town in Jefferson Township, Grant County,
Indiana, United States. The population was 3,845 at the
2010 census. It is most notable for being the home of Tay-
lor University, a Christian college with 1,920 students, as
of 2011.
History
The first White resident of the Upland area was John
Oswalt, who came to Jefferson Township in the early
1830s and purchased 2,240 acres (9.1 km2) including al-
most all the land which is now a part of Upland. He
bought this large amount of land because, as a speculator,
he thought that an Indianapolis to Fort Wayne canal
might pass through or near his property. Jacob Bugher,
who moved to the township in 1851, purchased land from
Oswalt. Sixteen years later, when the first railroad (the
Indiana Central Railroad) passed through the township,
Bugher planned the beginnings of Upland as a depot
point for the railroad. The name of the town came from
its reputed location as the highest point on the rail line
between Columbus and Chicago. Gradually, the town
grew in population and organization. By the late 1870s,
it had thirty families, 150 in total population, one grade
Location of Upland in the state of Indiana school, two churches, three dry-goods stores, one
Coordinates: 40°28′2″N 85°30′0″W / 40.46722°N 85.5°W / sawmill, and a blacksmith shop.
40.46722; -85.5Coordinates: 40°28′2″N 85°30′0″W / A guest-preaching engagement in 1882 in the Upland
40.46722°N 85.5°W / 40.46722; -85.5 Methodist Church afforded Taylor University president
Country United States Thaddeus Reade the chance to meet the minister of Up-
State Indiana land Methodist Church, Rev. John C. White. Because the
County Grant school was having financial difficulties at its location in
Township Jefferson Fort Wayne, White and Upland citizen J.W. Pittinger
worked to bring the school to Upland. In the spring of
Area
1893 White negotiated an agreement between the Taylor
• Total 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km2)
• Land 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km2)
trustees and the Upland Land Company, whereby the
• Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
university agreed to move to Upland, and the company
agreed to provide Taylor with $10,000 in cash and 10
Elevation 935 ft (285 m)
acres (40,000 m2) of land. In the summer of 1893, Taylor
Population (2010) University relocated to Upland. White was able to find
• Total 3,845 the resources to support Taylor University because of the
• Density 967.1/sq mi (373.4/km2) recent discovery of large deposits of natural gas in the
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) area. The gas boom of central Indiana began in 1886 and
• Summer (DST)
DST) EDT (UTC-4) continued through the 1890s before the supply began to
decline at around 1900. The first gas discoveries in Up-
ZIP code 46989
land were in 1888, and three years later the Upland Land
Area code(s) 765
Company came into existence to take advantage of the
FIPS code 18-77966[1] newly found resources by promoting the development of
GNIS feature ID 0445158[2] the town.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Upland, Indiana
When Taylor University moved to the community in
1893, the incorporated town of 1,000 inhabitants could
boast of improved streets and carbon street lights, water
and gas lines, a major glass bottle manufacturing plant,
and a zinc factory. In 1915, Taylor paid seven thousand
dollars to purchase 70 acres (280,000 m2) more from
Charles H. and Bertha Snyder. The university added an-
other 80 acres (320,000 m2) to its present location in the
early 1920s when the Lewis Jones farm was purchased.
During the 1960s, the infrastructure of the town was
improved. Interstate 69 was completed. The public
schools were consolidated into the Eastbrook School
District and Eastbrook Junior High and High School were
built. The municipality constructed a new water and
sewage system. In the early 1990s, a new building was
built by the Avis Industrial Corporation, across from Tay-
lor University. The Avis-Taylor Prairie Restoration Pro-
ject was also begun.
Upon the celebration in 1993 of Taylor’s 100th an-
niversary in Upland, the university worked with the
community to purchase and relocate a train depot from
Muncie to Upland to serve as a local museum. The depot
together with a new town hall and library were major
developments in the downtown renewal project of Our
Town Upland, Inc.
married couples living together, 9.1% had a female
Source
householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were
Taylor University: The First 150 Years by William C. Ringen- non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of in-
berg. Upland: Taylor University Press, 1996. dividuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64
Geography and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 13.3%
Upland is located between Fort Wayne (one hour north under the age of 18, 51.9% from 18 to 24, 13.9% from 25
by car) and Indianapolis (1¼ hours south). It is about 30 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of
minutes from Muncie, where Ball State University is lo- age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100
cated. It is about 20 minutes from Marion, where Indiana females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age
Wesleyan University is located. 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
Upland is located at 40°28′2″N 85°30′0″W / The median income for a household in the town was
40.46722°N 85.5°W / 40.46722; -85.5 (40.467146, $36,827, and the median income for a family was $44,712.
-85.500120)[3]. Males had a median income of $32,019 versus $21,845 for
females. The per capita income for the town was $11,761.
Demographics About 7.4% of families and 14.5% of the population were
below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,803 people, 789
age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
households, and 569 families residing in the town. The
population density was 967.1 people per square mile
(373.6/km²). There were 824 housing units at an average Description
density of 209.5 per square mile (81.0/km²). The racial Besides Taylor University, Upland is most well-
makeup of the town was 94.40% White, 1.53% African known for Ivanhoe’s, a restaurant known for its 100+ sun-
American, 0.68% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.13% Pa- daes and 100+ shakes as well as great food. Upland is also
cific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.08% from two the home of the late Barton Rees Pogue, well-known au-
or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% thor, poet, speaker, preacher and teacher.[4]
of the population. In addition to Ivanhoe’s and Taylor University, Up-
There were 789 households out of which 30.5% had land includes a historic train depot and 1923 Pennsyl-
children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were vania Railroad caboose, four community parks, a sports
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Upland, Indiana
• The Upland Lion’s club has music, vendors and track
events at the Lions Club Park throughout the
weekend.
• On Labor Day Monday, the annual Labor day parade
is held down main street. The parade usually lasts at
least an hour with over 100+ entries.
• Upland also hosts a festival called "Blooms and
Berries" the second Saturday in June.
• The Annual Indiana Poetry Festival is held in April in
honor of Barton Rees Pogue.
• Olde Tyme Christmas in Upland is held the first
Sunday after the first Saturday in December.
• Another Town highlight is the softball/baseball
Ivanhoe’s - Upland’s most famous restaurant diamonds located at the park.
• Through the ball season the park lights up with
complex, three gas stations, three banks, a post office, li- active kids competing against one another in
brary, town hall, general store, fire station, police station, America’s favorite pastime.
three churches, a funeral home, a barber, three beauty
salons, a realtor, two car-repair shops, a car wash, a med-
ical clinic/pharmacy,an animal shelter, World Headquar-
Religion
ters of Avis Industrial, Pierce Company manufacturing, Upland’s population is predominantly Christian.[citation
numerous other small businesses and two traffic lights. needed] The largest church in town is Upland Community
Upland is served by the Upland Police Department, Church which is associated with the "Fellowship of Evan-
Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Upland Volunteer gelical Churches." Mark Biehl is currently the teaching
Fire Department and Medic 8 Ambulance Service. pastor.
Government is town board with current president, Mike Rob Neel is pastor at Upland United Methodist
Cooper, town clerk-treasurer, Jane Rockwell, and town Church.
manager, Chip Long. Curt Blasiman is pastor at Upland Friends Church
Upland is located off Interstate 69 at exit 59 where Other Churches include the Jefferson Christian
a number of businesses are located, including three gas Church and the Upland Christian Church.
stations, a doctor’s office, three hotels, Burger King, Lightrider and Wandering Wheels are two Christian
KFC/Taco Bell, Cracker Barrel, East of Chicago Pizza, Casa ministries which are headquartered in Upland. Wander-
Grande, China One, Payne’s Coffee and Custard, and Star- ing Wheels specializes in coast-to-coast cycling trips and
bucks. Upland is also known for a local pizza establish- has been in existence since 1964. Lightrider is a mobile
ment called T.O.P.P.I.T., which stands for "The Only Pizza retreat ministry that uses a 40-foot (12 m), double-decker
Place In Town", although technically it hasn’t been for motor coach equipped with seats and bunk beds. Next to
a while. T.O.P.P.I.T. is a local favorite for university stu- Lightrider, is the "Red Barn" - a youth outreach center
dents and Upland residents alike.[citation needed] and the Gray Barn, a facility catering to senior activities.
Active organizations include; Upland Area Historical
Society, Upland Junior Historical Society, Upland Cham-
ber of Commerce, Upland Lions Club, "Our Town Up-
Education
land," Upland Masonic Lodge, Jefferson Alumni Associ- Upland residents attend:
ation, Muddobbers Motorcycle Club, Upland Cub Scouts • Eastbrook South Elementary School
and Boy Scouts, Upland Brownies and Girl Scouts, Upland • Eastbrook Jr. High and Eastbrook High School
4-H Club, Grant United Soccer, Blackford Youth Soccer, (located four miles north of Upland)
Timeless Treasures Red Hat Club and Tri A Dice Club.
Media
Culture The county newspaper is the Marion Chronicle-Tribune. Al-
Town highlights include: so, two local weekly papers are issued: The Courier and
• The Labor Day weekend festival. SEG-way News. Both provide information specific to the
• On the Saturday before Labor day, the town comes Upland and Matthews communities, including town
alive when hundreds of households hold yard sales events, personal milestones, school information, adver-
throughout the town. tisements, fire and police calls, and more.
• On the day before Labor day there is an annual car
show at the Community Park.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Upland, Indiana
References and notes http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/
gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
[1] ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census [4] USATODAY.com - Travel Destinations and City
Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved Guides
2008-01-31.
[2] "US Board on Geographic Names". United States
Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
External links
http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. • Town of Upland, Indiana website
[3] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United • Taylor University Official Website
States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. • Ivanhoe’s Website
• Upland Area Veterinary Clinic
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Upland,_Indiana&oldid=458415132"
Categories:
• Populated places in Grant County, Indiana
• Towns in Indiana
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