Upper Arlington, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Upper Arlington is a suburban city in Franklin County
, Ohio
, United States
, on the northwest side of the Columbus metropolitan area. The population was 33,686 at the 2000 census.
, on the north and east by Columbus, and on the south by Marble Cliff
and Grandview Heights
. The Olentangy River
and the main campus of the Ohio State University
are a short distance to the east of Upper Arlington. Downtown Columbus lies to the southeast, its skyline visible across the OSU farmland research facilities extending along Upper Arlington's eastern border.
The city is located on relatively high ground located between the Olentangy and Scioto rivers. Two ravines cut through the city. The Slate Run in the northwest corner flows into the Scioto River
. Turkey Run is longer. It originates in the north then runs southwards until it makes an eastward bend around Reed Rd. Then, it flows eastwards through the OSU Golf Course. The run is used as a storm drain at points, has been dammed in the Ohio State course and runs through concrete pipes at two points. The soil is glacial till
, like the rest of Columbus, and is suitable for agriculture, supporting a research farm operated by The Ohio State University.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which, 9.76 square miles (25.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.20%) is water.
They originally wanted to call it the "Country Club District" after the Country Club development in Kansas City
, but by 1917, the community became known as "Upper Arlington," in reference to its southern neighbor of Arlington (now known as Marble Cliff). The Upper Arlington Company was incorporated that year and operated out of a field office built on the former Miller farm; that building is presently the Miller Park branch of the Upper Arlington Library (see no. 4 on the map).
The development proceeded according to the Garden City
-inspired plan by landscape architect
William Pitkin, Jr., which called for following the contours of the land to form curving streets, copiously lined with trees, rather than a gridded street layout. This development style gave the oldest district in Upper Arlington (at its southern-most end) its distinctively pleasant, park-like feel, though the lack of roadway predictability can lead to some frustrating driving experiences even for those familiar with the neighborhood. The area features numerous small green spaces.
In 1916, the development was interrupted (and largely undone) when the National Guard
used the area as a temporary training camp called Camp Willis, after Ohio's governor at the time, Frank B. Willis
. 8,000 servicemen were trained at Camp Willis and then dispatched against Pancho Villa
on the Mexican
border. The camp was dismantled by September 1916. Development resumed shortly afterwards, and on March 20, 1918, Upper Arlington incorporated as a village, with a population of 200 and James Miller, the original landowner, serving as the first mayor. The Mallway business district, which was constructed in the 1920s, was the first commercial district in Upper Arlington. Upper Arlington became a city on February 8, 1941, and annexed surrounding land as its population grew. Most annexation occurred in the late 1940s through 1960. The two largest annexations occurred in 1954 and 1955, by which the city more than doubled its surface area.
As was typical in many developing northern communities of the time, the Thompsons included restrictive covenant
s in their housing deeds that prevented African-Americans from purchasing homes in Upper Arlington (though the deeds did allow "colored servants" to be domiciled within owner's homes). The covenants also prevented Jewish people from purchasing homes. While today’s population remains predominantly Caucasian, the community is proud to be home to individuals representing many different nationalities.
The post-World War II
housing boom led to the development of many new housing tracts north of Lane Avenue. The newer developments took on a much different character from the older core of the city, being mostly organized along normal street grids, and with the usually ranch-style house
s, this area is called River Ridge. By the 1960s, as the city grew north, the houses were larger and the neighborhoods more consistent with the intent, if not style, of the original section south of Lane Avenue. The southern half of the city, designated as the "Upper Arlington Historic District" (though simply referred to as "Old Arlington"), was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985. The city is sister cities with St. Andrews, Scotland
.
Materials related to Upper Arlington's history and culture can be viewed online at the UA Archives local history website. The site is part of the UA Archives
program, the Upper Arlington Public Library's digital library
initiative, which works with the Upper Arlington Historical Society, City of Upper Arlington, Upper Arlington School District, and other community groups to digitize, preserve, and provide free online access to historically and culturally significant materials related to Upper Arlington. This is an ongoing community effort, and organizations, businesses, and individuals can participate by allowing the UA Archives program to digitize their items of historical interest. By working with the Historical Society and other community groups, the UA Archives digital library initiative supports the goal of preserving Upper Arlington's history as well as the Upper Arlington Historic District's listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 33,686 people, 13,985 households, and 9,509 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,450.2 people per square mile (1,332.6/km²). There were 14,432 housing units at an average density of 1,478.2 per square mile (570.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.74% White, 3.52% Asian, 0.98% Hispanic or Latino, 0.52% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races.
There were 13,985 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $72,116, and the median income for a family was $110,208 (According to a 2007 estimate, these values were $88,365 and $112,575 respectively). Males had a median income of $66,846 versus $41,581 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $42,025. About 1.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,771 persons, 16,157 male (47.84%) and 17,614 female (52.16%). The following table summarizes census findings for age with the media being 42.8.
One notable feature of the Upper Arlington demographic is a "bottleneck" population pyramid, with large numbers of children (under 18), few young adults, and more older adults. The most prevalent population group is 50-64, higher than the national average. This population bottleneck can be explained by young residents moving outside the city upon adulthood and families with children moving to the city at a relatively late age. Such an explanation would also reflect the relatively high price of homes in the city (compared to neighboring areas), which are not affordable for younger adults. Another feature of the Upper Arlington demographic is the overwhelming white majority and the relative lack of other groups except Asians, whose population proportion is similar to the national average and above the Ohio average. In general, Upper Arlington has above average rates of home ownership and relatively few unoccupied homes.
The independent Upper Arlington City School District serves the entire municipality. As of 2000, the Upper Arlington Board of Education was the city's largest employer. There is one early childhood school named Burbank, which was built as an elementary but was converted due to a less-than-expected number of students. There are five elementary schools, Barrington, Greensview, Tremont, Wickliffe, and Windermere. Wickliffe exclusively teaches the informal/progressive style of education
, which is also offered at Barrington. Greensview, Tremont, and Windermere only offer the contemporary program. Hastings and Jones are the two middle schools. Hastings was built in the 1960s and Jones is located in the former high school building. There is only one high school in the Upper Arlington School District (see no. 2 on the map). It is appropriately named Upper Arlington High School
. The high school is notable for its extensive offering of higher-level courses and membership in the International Baccalaureate program. Upper Arlington High School has received a number of accolades, including the highest number of National Merit
Semi-Finalists in Ohio's public schools for three of the last four years, a nationally award-winning student newsmagazine, Arlingtonian, and the National Cup for the top orchestra in the country. There is also one private pre-K-12 school, the Wellington School
, located in the city. There are also two Catholic grade schools
, St. Agatha and St. Andrew. These schools offer K-8 programs and preschool childcare centers.
The high school sports teams are named the Golden Bears, a nickname shared by golf pro and Upper Arlington High School alumnus
Jack Nicklaus
. Upper Arlington has won 41 Ohio High School Athletic Association team state championships, the most in state history. Golden Bear teams are consistently ranked among the top Division One schools in Ohio and are traditionally considered state power-houses, particularly in the sports of golf, football, tennis, water polo, cross country, lacrosse (boys and girls), field hockey, swimming, and fencing. The Upper Arlington golf team has won 17 state championships. The Upper Arlington football team captured the Division One state title in football in 2000, and were led by Jeff Backes, who earned the Mr. Football Award
for Ohio, and Simon Fraser
.
Upper Arlington maintains its own police and fire departments. The Upper Arlington Police Department is headquartered in the Municipal Service Center and has 49 officers. The Fire Department has 61 fire fighters that operate from three fire houses. The city's public library system has three branches (see nos. 3, 4, and 5 on the map).
The city manages 33 public parks, which cover a total of 170 acre (0.6879662 km²). The larger parks have extensive athletic facilities, while some of the smaller parks have local historical significance or function as wooded nature preserves. Miller Park is located in the center of the old Miller Farm; Mallway Park is centered in the city's original business district and contains the memorial to U.S. military veterans from Upper Arlington; and Wyandot Park bears the gravesite and stone monument to Bill Moose (1837–1937), cited as the "last of the Wyandots." Other large parks include Thompson, Fancyburg, and Northam, where the city offers tennis courts. The city also owns and operates three public swimming pools, located at Jones, Hastings, and Tremont schools.
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on the northwest side of the Columbus metropolitan area. The population was 33,686 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Upper Arlington is located at 40°1′14"N 83°3′59"W (40.020613, -83.066520). It is bordered on the west by the Scioto RiverScioto River
The Scioto River is a river in central and southern Ohio more than 231 miles in length. It rises in Auglaize County in west central Ohio, flows through Columbus, Ohio, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olentangy River, and meets the Ohio River at Portsmouth...
, on the north and east by Columbus, and on the south by Marble Cliff
Marble Cliff, Ohio
Marble Cliff is a village in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 646 at the 2000 census.Marble Cliff was one of the first suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, settled as a community in 1890 and incorporated as the "Hamlet of Marble Cliff" in 1901. It took its name from the Marble Cliff...
and Grandview Heights
Grandview Heights, Ohio
Grandview Heights is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,695 at the 2000 census.The city was originally part of Marble Cliff, one of the first suburbs of Columbus, which settled as a community in 1890 and incorporated as the "Hamlet of Marble Cliff" in 1901...
. The Olentangy River
Olentangy River
The Olentangy River is a tributary of the Scioto River in Ohio.It was originally called keenhongsheconsepung, a Delaware word literally translated as "stone for your knife stream", based on the shale found along its shores. Early settlers to the region translated this into "Whetstone River"...
and the main campus of the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
are a short distance to the east of Upper Arlington. Downtown Columbus lies to the southeast, its skyline visible across the OSU farmland research facilities extending along Upper Arlington's eastern border.
The city is located on relatively high ground located between the Olentangy and Scioto rivers. Two ravines cut through the city. The Slate Run in the northwest corner flows into the Scioto River
Scioto River
The Scioto River is a river in central and southern Ohio more than 231 miles in length. It rises in Auglaize County in west central Ohio, flows through Columbus, Ohio, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olentangy River, and meets the Ohio River at Portsmouth...
. Turkey Run is longer. It originates in the north then runs southwards until it makes an eastward bend around Reed Rd. Then, it flows eastwards through the OSU Golf Course. The run is used as a storm drain at points, has been dammed in the Ohio State course and runs through concrete pipes at two points. The soil is glacial till
Till
thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
, like the rest of Columbus, and is suitable for agriculture, supporting a research farm operated by The Ohio State University.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which, 9.76 square miles (25.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.20%) is water.
History
Upper Arlington was founded by the real estate developers Ben and King Thompson, who purchased most of the farmland that was to become Upper Arlington from James Miller in 1913. This land was directly adjacent to the Marble Cliff Quarry Co.Marble Cliff Quarry Co.
The Marble Cliff Quarry Co., headquartered in Upper Arlington, Ohio, operated the largest limestone quarry in the United States from its opening in the mid-19th century until its sale in approximately 1985. The influential Kaufman family of the Columbus area owned and operated this plus of...
They originally wanted to call it the "Country Club District" after the Country Club development in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, but by 1917, the community became known as "Upper Arlington," in reference to its southern neighbor of Arlington (now known as Marble Cliff). The Upper Arlington Company was incorporated that year and operated out of a field office built on the former Miller farm; that building is presently the Miller Park branch of the Upper Arlington Library (see no. 4 on the map).
The development proceeded according to the Garden City
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
-inspired plan by landscape architect
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
William Pitkin, Jr., which called for following the contours of the land to form curving streets, copiously lined with trees, rather than a gridded street layout. This development style gave the oldest district in Upper Arlington (at its southern-most end) its distinctively pleasant, park-like feel, though the lack of roadway predictability can lead to some frustrating driving experiences even for those familiar with the neighborhood. The area features numerous small green spaces.
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
used the area as a temporary training camp called Camp Willis, after Ohio's governor at the time, Frank B. Willis
Frank B. Willis
Frank Bartlett Willis was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 47th Governor of Ohio.-Biography:...
. 8,000 servicemen were trained at Camp Willis and then dispatched against Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
on the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border. The camp was dismantled by September 1916. Development resumed shortly afterwards, and on March 20, 1918, Upper Arlington incorporated as a village, with a population of 200 and James Miller, the original landowner, serving as the first mayor. The Mallway business district, which was constructed in the 1920s, was the first commercial district in Upper Arlington. Upper Arlington became a city on February 8, 1941, and annexed surrounding land as its population grew. Most annexation occurred in the late 1940s through 1960. The two largest annexations occurred in 1954 and 1955, by which the city more than doubled its surface area.
As was typical in many developing northern communities of the time, the Thompsons included restrictive covenant
Restrictive covenant
A restrictive covenant is a type of real covenant, a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property...
s in their housing deeds that prevented African-Americans from purchasing homes in Upper Arlington (though the deeds did allow "colored servants" to be domiciled within owner's homes). The covenants also prevented Jewish people from purchasing homes. While today’s population remains predominantly Caucasian, the community is proud to be home to individuals representing many different nationalities.
The post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
housing boom led to the development of many new housing tracts north of Lane Avenue. The newer developments took on a much different character from the older core of the city, being mostly organized along normal street grids, and with the usually ranch-style house
Ranch-style house
Ranch-style houses is a domestic architectural style originating in the United States. First built in the 1920s, the ranch style was extremely popular amongst the booming post-war middle class of the 1940s to 1970s...
s, this area is called River Ridge. By the 1960s, as the city grew north, the houses were larger and the neighborhoods more consistent with the intent, if not style, of the original section south of Lane Avenue. The southern half of the city, designated as the "Upper Arlington Historic District" (though simply referred to as "Old Arlington"), was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985. The city is sister cities with St. Andrews, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Materials related to Upper Arlington's history and culture can be viewed online at the UA Archives local history website. The site is part of the UA Archives
UA Archives (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
The UA Archives program provides access to materials related to the culture and history of Upper Arlington, Ohio, and is part of the Upper Arlington Public Library's digital library initiative...
program, the Upper Arlington Public Library's digital library
Digital library
A digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats and accessible by computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks...
initiative, which works with the Upper Arlington Historical Society, City of Upper Arlington, Upper Arlington School District, and other community groups to digitize, preserve, and provide free online access to historically and culturally significant materials related to Upper Arlington. This is an ongoing community effort, and organizations, businesses, and individuals can participate by allowing the UA Archives program to digitize their items of historical interest. By working with the Historical Society and other community groups, the UA Archives digital library initiative supports the goal of preserving Upper Arlington's history as well as the Upper Arlington Historic District's listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 33,686 people, 13,985 households, and 9,509 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,450.2 people per square mile (1,332.6/km²). There were 14,432 housing units at an average density of 1,478.2 per square mile (570.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.74% White, 3.52% Asian, 0.98% Hispanic or Latino, 0.52% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.79% from two or more races.
There were 13,985 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $72,116, and the median income for a family was $110,208 (According to a 2007 estimate, these values were $88,365 and $112,575 respectively). Males had a median income of $66,846 versus $41,581 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $42,025. About 1.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,771 persons, 16,157 male (47.84%) and 17,614 female (52.16%). The following table summarizes census findings for age with the media being 42.8.
| Age Group | Number of Persons | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 0-18 | 8467 | 25.07% |
| 18+ | 25304 | 74.93% |
| 20-24 | 1100 | 3.26% |
| 25-34 | 3177 | 9.41% |
| 35-49 | 7199 | 21.32% |
| 50-64 | 7574 | 22.43% |
| 65+ | 5636 | 16.69% |
| Race | Number of Persons | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 31118 | 92.14% |
| Asian | 1665 | 4.93% |
| Two or More Races | 546 | 1.62 |
| African American | 269 | .80% |
| Other Race | 130 | .38% |
| Native American or Alaskan Native | 36 | .11% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 7 | - |
| Non-Hispanic (all races) | 33224 | 98.38% |
| Hispanic of Latino (all races) | 547 | 1.62% |
| Housing Category | Number of Homes | Misc |
|---|---|---|
| Total Homes | 14544 | - |
| Occupied Homes | 13754 | 2.46 residents per occupied home |
| Owner Occupied Homes | 11117 | 80.83% of homes (83.27% of residents) are owner occupied |
| Rented Homes | 2637 | 19.17% of homes (16.73% or residents) are rented |
| Homes with Minors | 4486 | 32.62% of homes had minors, at 1.89 minors/home |
| Vacant Homes | 790 | 5.43% of homes were vacant, including 260 for sale, 201 for rent, and 44 occasional use |
Family data
- 99.2 % (33,517) live in households
- 40.7% (13754) are householders
- 24.1% (8124) were spouses of householders
- 30.0% (10,123) were children
- 24.5% were the householder's child under 18 years
- 68.9% of households were families, 32.6% were households with children
- 59.1% were married couples
- 26.9% were householders living alone
- 4.3% were single mothers
- 1.3% were single fathers
One notable feature of the Upper Arlington demographic is a "bottleneck" population pyramid, with large numbers of children (under 18), few young adults, and more older adults. The most prevalent population group is 50-64, higher than the national average. This population bottleneck can be explained by young residents moving outside the city upon adulthood and families with children moving to the city at a relatively late age. Such an explanation would also reflect the relatively high price of homes in the city (compared to neighboring areas), which are not affordable for younger adults. Another feature of the Upper Arlington demographic is the overwhelming white majority and the relative lack of other groups except Asians, whose population proportion is similar to the national average and above the Ohio average. In general, Upper Arlington has above average rates of home ownership and relatively few unoccupied homes.
Schools and other public services
Alternative education
Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different...
, which is also offered at Barrington. Greensview, Tremont, and Windermere only offer the contemporary program. Hastings and Jones are the two middle schools. Hastings was built in the 1960s and Jones is located in the former high school building. There is only one high school in the Upper Arlington School District (see no. 2 on the map). It is appropriately named Upper Arlington High School
Upper Arlington High School (Ohio)
Upper Arlington High School is the sole high school in the Upper Arlington City School District in Upper Arlington, Ohio, a northwest suburb of Columbus, Ohio. It receives students from Jones Middle School and Hastings Middle School. The principal of the high school is Mr. Kip Greenhill...
. The high school is notable for its extensive offering of higher-level courses and membership in the International Baccalaureate program. Upper Arlington High School has received a number of accolades, including the highest number of National Merit
National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and college scholarships administered by National Merit Scholarship Corporation , a privately funded, not-for-profit organization. The program began in 1955...
Semi-Finalists in Ohio's public schools for three of the last four years, a nationally award-winning student newsmagazine, Arlingtonian, and the National Cup for the top orchestra in the country. There is also one private pre-K-12 school, the Wellington School
Wellington School, The (Columbus, Ohio)
The Wellington School is a pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade private school in northwest Columbus, Ohio, established in 1982.In 2006, the Wellington School began construction to add another wing to the school. In the Spring of 2006 the new cafeteria facilities were completed and recently the...
, located in the city. There are also two Catholic grade schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
, St. Agatha and St. Andrew. These schools offer K-8 programs and preschool childcare centers.
The high school sports teams are named the Golden Bears, a nickname shared by golf pro and Upper Arlington High School alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
. Upper Arlington has won 41 Ohio High School Athletic Association team state championships, the most in state history. Golden Bear teams are consistently ranked among the top Division One schools in Ohio and are traditionally considered state power-houses, particularly in the sports of golf, football, tennis, water polo, cross country, lacrosse (boys and girls), field hockey, swimming, and fencing. The Upper Arlington golf team has won 17 state championships. The Upper Arlington football team captured the Division One state title in football in 2000, and were led by Jeff Backes, who earned the Mr. Football Award
Mr. Football Award (Ohio)
The Mr. Football Award has been given out annually since 1987 to the player voted by the Associated Press to be the best high school football player in the state of Ohio...
for Ohio, and Simon Fraser
Simon Fraser (American football)
Simon Fraser is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
.
Upper Arlington maintains its own police and fire departments. The Upper Arlington Police Department is headquartered in the Municipal Service Center and has 49 officers. The Fire Department has 61 fire fighters that operate from three fire houses. The city's public library system has three branches (see nos. 3, 4, and 5 on the map).
The city manages 33 public parks, which cover a total of 170 acre (0.6879662 km²). The larger parks have extensive athletic facilities, while some of the smaller parks have local historical significance or function as wooded nature preserves. Miller Park is located in the center of the old Miller Farm; Mallway Park is centered in the city's original business district and contains the memorial to U.S. military veterans from Upper Arlington; and Wyandot Park bears the gravesite and stone monument to Bill Moose (1837–1937), cited as the "last of the Wyandots." Other large parks include Thompson, Fancyburg, and Northam, where the city offers tennis courts. The city also owns and operates three public swimming pools, located at Jones, Hastings, and Tremont schools.
Community events
Upper Arlington annually hosts a Fourth of July parade and fireworks display, thanks to the efforts of members of the Upper Arlington Civic Association. The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival at Northam Park (see no. 3 on the map) and the annual Halloween festival at Tremont Elementary School, where visitors can buy crafts, treats, pumpkins and other items are other notable community events. The City's Parks & Recreation Department hosts numerous events including the Winter Festival and Tree Lighting, Spring Fling, Summer Celebration and Fall Fest. Other events include the Chamber's Taste of UA festival, and during the summer months Upper Arlington also hosts a program called "Movie in the Park" where (usually free of charge) a movie is shown in Upper Arlington's various parks. A farmer's market is held at the Mallway during the summer. The City’s Cultural Arts Division hosts a summer Music in the Park series and showcases juried exhibitions featuring two- and three-dimensional art in the Concourse Gallery at the Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road.Notable residents
- Beverly D'AngeloBeverly D'AngeloBeverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
(1951 - ), actress and singer; a graduate of Upper Arlington High School - Simon FraserSimon Fraser (American football)Simon Fraser is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
(1983 – ), professional football player; born in Upper Arlington - Woody HayesWoody HayesWayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
(1913 – 1987), head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team - Jim TresselJim TresselJames Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
(1952 – ), head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team - Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
(1940 – ), professional golfer; born in Upper Arlington, and a graduate of Upper Arlington High School - George SmootGeorge SmootGeorge Fitzgerald Smoot III is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, Nobel laureate, and $1 million TV quiz show prize winner . He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006 for his work on COBE with John C...
(1945 – ), Nobel PrizeNobel Prize in PhysicsThe Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
winning astrophysicist, cosmologist - Chris SpielmanChris SpielmanCharles Christopher "Chris" Spielman is a former American football player and is currently an analyst for ESPN's coverage of college football games.-Football career:...
(1965 – ), professional football player, television sports commentator
External links
- Upper Arlington Historical Society
- City of Upper Arlington official site
- City of Upper Arlington Fire Division Website
- Upper Arlington Public Library
- UA Archives - Explore the History of Upper Arlington
- Upper Arlington City Schools
- Arlingtonian - Upper Arlington High School's Student Newsmagazine Website
- "Our young athletes in action!"