On the Mallway in old Arlington. (Courtesy of Linda Treglia.)
Are you interested in learning more about Upper Arlington's history? Purchase our newly published history book - A Cherished Past, A Golden Future: Celebrating the First One Hundred Years of Upper Arlington.
(A Brief) History of Upper Arlington
The land we know as Upper Arlington was once inhabited by the Adena culture (800 BC to AD1). In the 1700s the Native American Wyandots were here and traded with the Delaware to the north and the Shawnee to the south.
By 1800 this area was part of the United States Military Lands. Elijah Backus, Jonathan Dayton, and Andrew Marker were awarded large parcels for their service in the Revolutionary War. Over the next century a number of farming families settled the area, then comprising the southernmost part of Perry Township.
Upper Arlington was developed by brothers King and Ben Thompson, who purchased the original 840 acres from James T. Miller in 1913, now known as our Historic District. The Miller farm boundaries were approximately where 5th Avenue, Riverside Drive, Lane Avenue and Northwest Boulevard are today. The site enjoyed westerly winds, shielding future residents from the fumes of Columbus' factories, while still be conveniently close to downtown and accessible by streetcar.
Inspired by the Country Club development in Kansas City, the Thompsons originally used the same nomenclature to promote their fledging community. In 1917 our community became known as Upper Arlington due to our location immediately north of an area previously named Arlington. ("Arlington" had changed its name to Marble Cliff in 1901.) Upper Arlington was incorporated as a village in 1918 and designated as a city in 1941. Locally, our community’s name is shortened to “Arlington” or simply “UA.”
Many restrictions existed as Upper Arlington developed. Some of these positively created open green spaces, maintained parks, and ensured generous setbacks for large front and corner lawns. Other racially-restrictive practices from the 1920s through 1970 limited the diversity of residents, now spurring a present day city-wide focus on inclusion.
The population of Upper Arlington grew rapidly. Following World War II, many returning servicemen and their families made the suburban areas of Columbus their homes, including Upper Arlington.
Those UA residents who have made significant contributions to our community and beyond are memorialized on our Wall of Honor. Those who lived on these lands before there was an Upper Arlington, like Bill Moose or Pleasant Litchford, are now being incorporated into our educational curriculum and community discussions.
Over the years, Upper Arlington annexed surrounding land to reach its current boundaries containing 9.67 square miles. In 2020, the U.S. Census population estimate was over 35,000.