Upton, Massachusetts

Upton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It was first settled in 1728. The population was given as exactly 8,000 at the 2020 census.

Upton, Massachusetts
Town
Upton Town Hall
Upton Town Hall
Official seal of Upton, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 42°10′28″N 71°36′10″W
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyWorcester
Settled1728
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
 • Town ManagerJoseph Laydon
 • Board of
   Selectmen		Brett A. Simas
Maureen Dwinnell
Laura J. Hebb
Area
 • Total21.7 sq mi (56.3 km2)
 • Land21.5 sq mi (55.7 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation
301 ft (92 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,000
 • Density368.7/sq mi (142.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
01568
Area code508 / 774
FIPS code25-71480
GNIS feature ID0618386
Websitewww.uptonma.gov/

History
Plan of Upton in 1888
Knowlton hat factory plan

Upton was originally the home of the Nipmuc, who inhabited most of central Massachusetts. The town was first settled in 1728. Residents in outlying areas of surrounding towns were finding it difficult to fulfil the obligation to attend church every Sunday, so they petitioned the state for creation of a new town central to their homes, and in 1735 Upton was incorporated, taking land from Hopkinton, Mendon, Uxbridge, and Sutton.[1]

Upton was home to a number of members of the Taft family, including an American Revolutionary War soldier named Samuel Taft, who was born there.[2] Samuel Taft had 22 children and hosted President George Washington on his inaugural tour of New England in 1789.[3] Three-term mayor of Worcester, historian Judge Henry Chapin was born here on May 13, 1811.[3]

Between 1730 and 1850, Upton had many small shoe shops, called ten–footers. These operations were gradually merged into large assembly-line manufacturing companies. By 1837, Upton produced 21.7% of the boots made in Worcester County.[4]

William Knowlton founded what was to become the world's largest women's hat factory: Knowlton Hat Factory was built in 1872 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982.[4]

The Upton Fire Department was incorporated at Town Meeting on April 9, 1839, and has served Upton and its residents faithfully for 175 years

In 2018, the town, led by the Economic Development Committee,[5] began the process of redeveloping its downtown area. This is expected to be a decade-long project involving a public-private partnership and anchored by a new community center.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.7 square miles (56 km2), of which 21.5 square miles (56 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.97%) is water.

The Northwest part of Upton, including the area surrounding Warren Brook, have become known as Forest Green by locals due to the lush rolling hills that can be seen from Fowler Street and Mechanic Street.

Adjacent towns

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18502,023—    
18601,986−1.8%
18701,989+0.2%
18802,023+1.7%
18901,878−7.2%
19001,937+3.1%
19102,071+6.9%
19201,693−18.3%
19302,026+19.7%
19402,249+11.0%
YearPop.±%
19502,656+18.1%
19603,127+17.7%
19703,484+11.4%
19803,886+11.5%
19904,677+20.4%
20005,642+20.6%
20107,542+33.7%
20208,000+6.1%
20228,128+1.6%

Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

At the 2020 census, the population had reached 8,000. The racial makeup of the town was 87.5% White, 0.8% Black, 0% (1 individual) American Indian/Alaska Native, 4.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.[18]

There were 2,910 households in the town. The population density was 370.4 inhabitants per square mile (143.0/km2), and there were 2,995 housing units at an average density of 138.7 per square mile (53.6/km2). Of the households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18, 64.7% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 13.1% had a sole male householder. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18][19]

The age ranges included 5.4% under the age of 5, 22.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 21, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. 49.6% identified as male and 50.4% as female.[18]

According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the median income for a household in the town between 2017 and 2021 was $140,192 (2021 dollars), and the per capita income for the town was $57,613. About 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line.[19]

Community Center

The Upton Town Library was founded in March 1871,[20][21] and was until 2023 housed at a converted church downtown. After a 20-year effort, built using a $12 million bond approved at the 2021 Town Meeting and subsequent election, the new Upton Community Center was opened on 1 May 2023. It combines a new library building, a new senior center, a refurbished children's playground, and a number of meeting rooms and study areas.[22]

Education

Public schools

Memorial Elementary School and Nipmuc Regional High School are part of the public school system of the Mendon-Upton Regional School District.

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is a trade school also open to the nearby towns of Northbridge, Grafton, Bellingham, Uxbridge, Millville, Sutton, Milford, Hopedale, Blackstone, Douglas and Mendon.

Government

Government is by open Town Meeting. There are three selectmen elected to three-year terms, and an appointed town manager.

County-level state agency heads
Clerk of Courts: Dennis P. McManus (D)
District Attorney: Joe Early Jr. (D)
Register of Deeds: Katie Toomey (D)
Register of Probate: Stephanie Fattman (R)
County Sheriff: Lew Evangelidis (R)
State government
State Representative(s): David K. Muradian, Jr (R)
State Senator(s): Ryan C. Fattman (R)
Governor's Councilor(s): Paul M. DePalo (D)
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s): Jim McGovern (D) (2nd District)
U.S. Senators: Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D)

Notable people
  • Samuel Taft, an American Revolutionary War soldier, was born in Upton; hosted President George Washington on his inaugural tour of New England in 1789.

Images
  • 1851 survey map showing districts
    1851 survey map showing districts
  • Nipmuc Regional High School
    Nipmuc Regional High School
  • Nipmuc Regional High School logo
    Nipmuc Regional High School logo
  • Upton House of Pizza, in the town center
    Upton House of Pizza, in the town center

References
  1. "History of Upton". Town of Upton Massachusetts. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  2. Mass., Uxbridge (1851). Vital Records of Uxbridge, Massachusetts to the Year 1850. Thomas Williams Baldwin. pp. 409. Retrieved October 27, 2007. Samuel Taft of Uxbridge.
  3. Chapin, Judge Henry (1881). Address Delivered at the Unitarian Church in Uxbridge; 1864. Worcester, Mass.: Charles Hamilton Press (Harvard Library; from Google Books).
  4. http://www.nps.gov/blac/planyourvisit/upload/Upton%20Tour-rev.pdf Upton, MA Walking Tour Archived November 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Economic Development". Town of Upton Massachusetts. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. "Imagine Upton". Imagine Upton. Upton Economic Development Committee. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  7. "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  8. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  9. "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  15. "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  16. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  17. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  18. "Upton town; Worcester County; Massachusetts - Census Bureau Tables". United States Census Bureau. May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  19. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts; Upton town, Worcester County, Massachusetts; United States". United States Census Bureau. May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  20. C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891.
  21. "Upton Town Library blog". uptonlibrary.blogspot.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  22. Knapp, Tina (May 11, 2023). "New Upton Community Center now open". Upton & Mendon Free Press. Chuck Tashjian. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
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