Upland, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Upland, Indiana
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Upland in the state of Indiana


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Grant
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = Jefferson
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

area_footnotes =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 10.2
area_land_km2 = 10.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.9
area_land_sq_mi = 3.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3758
population_density_km2 = 373.4
population_density_sq_mi = 967.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 285
elevation_ft = 935
latd = 40 |latm = 28 |lats = 2 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 30 |longs = 0 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 46989
area_code = 765
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-77966GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0445158GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Upland is a town in Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,758 at the 2006 census. It is most notable for being the home of Taylor University, a Christian college with 1,900 students, as of 2006.

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 including almost 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 school, two churches, three dry-goods stores, one sawmill, and a blacksmith shop.

A guest-preaching engagement in 1882 in the Upland Methodist Church afforded Taylor University president Thaddeus Reade the chance to meet the minister of the church, Rev. John C. White. Because the school was having financial difficulties at its location in Fort Wayne, White and Upland citizen J.W. Pittinger worked to bring the school to Upland. In the spring of 1893 White negotiated an agreement between the Taylor trustees and the Upland Land Company whereby the university agreed to move to Upland and the company agreed to provide Taylor with $10,000 in cash and ten acres of land. In the summer of 1893, Taylor University relocated to Upland. White was able to find the local resources to support the university because of the recent discovery in the area of large deposits of natural gas. The gas boom of central Indiana began in 1886 and continued through the 1890s before the supply began to decline at around 1900. The first gas discoveries in Upland were in 1888, and three years later the Upland Land Company came into existence to take advantage of the newly found resources by promoting the development of the town.

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 more acres from Charles H. and Bertha Snyder. The university added another eighty acres 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 Taylor University. The Avis-Taylor Prairie Restoration Project was also begun.

Upon the celebration in 1993 of Taylor's 100th anniversary 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 the new town hall and library were major developments in the downtown renewal project of Our Town Upland, Inc.

ource

"Taylor University: The First 150 Years" by William C. Ringenberg. Upland: Taylor University Press, 1996.

Geography

Upland is located between Fort Wayne (one hour north by car) and Indianapolis (1 1/4 hours south). It is about 30 minutes from Muncie, where Ball State University is located. It is about 20 minutes from Marion, where Indiana Wesleyan University is located.

Upland is located at coor dms|40|28|2|N|85|30|0|W|city (40.467146, -85.500120)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²) of it is land and 0.25% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,803 people, 789 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 density of 209.5/sq mi (81.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.40% White, 1.53% African American, 0.68% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 789 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 13.3% under the age of 18, 51.9% from 18 to 24, 13.9% from 25 to 44, 12.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,827, and the median income for a family was $44,712. Males had a median income of $32,019 versus $21,845 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,761. About 7.4% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Description

Besides Taylor University, Upland is most well-known for Ivanhoe's, a restaurant known for its 100+ sundaes and 100+ shakes as well as great food. [ [http://destinations.usatoday.com/indianapolis/day_trips/ USATODAY.com - Travel Destinations and City Guides ] ]

In addition to Ivanhoe's and Taylor University, Upland includes a historic train depot, three gas stations, two banks, a post office, general store, fire station, police station, three churches, a barber, a realtor, two car-repair shops, a car wash, a medical clinic/pharmacy, the Avis building, numerous other small stores and two traffic lights.

Upland is located off Interstate 69 at exit 59 where a number of businesses are located, including three gas stations, a doctor's office, three hotels, Burger King, KFC/Taco Bell, Cracker Barrel, East of Chicago Pizza, Taste of Texas, China One, Payne's Coffee and Custard, and Starbucks. Upland is also known for a local pizza establishment called T.O.P.P.I.T., which stands for "The Only Pizza Place In Town", although technically it hasn't been for a while. T.O.P.P.I.T. is a local favorite for university students and Upland residents alike.Fact|date=March 2008

Culture

Town highlights include:
*The Labor Day weekend festival.
*On the Saturday before Labor day, the town comes alive when hundreds of households hold yard sales throughout the town.
*On the day before Labor day there is an annual car show usually at the park.
*The Upland Lion's club usually holds a rodeo and tractor pull 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" towards the beginning of summer.
*Another Town highlight is the softball/baseball diamonds located at the park.
*Through the ball season the park lights up with active kids competing against one another in America's favorite pastime.

Religion

Upland's population is predominantly Christian.Fact|date=April 2008 The largest church in town is Upland Community Church which is associated with the "Fellowship of Evangelical Churches." Jay Kesler, former president of Taylor University, is currently the teaching pastor.

Lightrider and Wandering Wheels are two Christian ministries which are headquartered in Upland. Wandering Wheels specializes in coast-to-coast cycling trips and has been in existence since 1964. Lightrider is a mobile retreat ministry that uses a 40 foot, double-decker motor coach equipped with seats and bunk beds. Next to Lightrider, is the "Red Barn" - a youth outreach center.

Education

Upland residents attend:
* Upland Elementary School
* Eastbrook Jr. High and Eastbrook High School (located in Marion)

Media

The local newspaper is the "Marion Chronicle-Tribune".Also, two local weekly papers are issued, "The Courier" and "The Voice".

References and notes

External links

* [http://upland.in.gov/ Town of Upland Official Website]
* [http://www.taylor.edu/ Taylor University Official Website]
* [http://www.ivanhoes.info/ Ivanhoe's Website]
* [http://fairmountvet.com/ Upland Area Veterinary Clinic]