Editing Upton, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Upton, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Upton Town Hall, MA.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Upton Town Hall
|image_seal               = Seal of Upton, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Worcester County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Upton highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] and [[Massachusetts]].
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
| image_blank_emblem = Wordmark of Upton, Massachusetts.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Wordmark
| blank_emblem_size  = 100px
| blank_emblem_alt   = 
| blank_emblem_link  = List of U.S. county and city insignia
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1728
|established_title2       = 
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = Town Manager
|leader_name              = Joseph Laydon
|leader_title1            = Board of Selectmen
|leader_name1             = {{ubl|Brett A. Simas|Maureen Dwinnell|Laura J. Hebb}}
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 56.3
|area_total_sq_mi         = 21.7
|area_land_km2            = 55.7
|area_land_sq_mi          = 21.5
|area_water_km2           = 0.5
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.2
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 8000
|population_density_km2   = 142.1
|population_density_sq_mi = 368.7
|elevation_m              = 92
|elevation_ft             = 301
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|10|28|N|71|36|10|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = {{ubl|01568 (Upton)|01757 ([[Milford, Massachusetts|Milford]])}}
|area_code                = [[Area code 508|508]] / [[Area code 774|774]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-71480
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618386
|website                  = {{URL|www.uptonma.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Upton''' is a town in [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. It was first settled in 1728. The population was given as exactly 8,000 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<!-- with n households (not yet readily available)-->.

== History ==
[[File:Upton, Massachusetts (2674547722).jpg|thumb|left|Plan of Upton in 1888]]
[[File:Early blueprint - Knowlton Factory.png |thumb|left|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, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]], [[Mendon, Massachusetts|Mendon]], [[Uxbridge, Massachusetts|Uxbridge]], and [[Sutton, Massachusetts|Sutton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uptonma.gov/about-upton/pages/history-upton |title=History of Upton |website=Town of Upton Massachusetts |access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref>

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.<ref name="vitals">{{cite book|last=Mass.|first=Uxbridge|title=Vital Records of Uxbridge, Massachusetts to the Year 1850|pages= [https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsuxb00towngoog/page/n431 409]|year=1851|publisher=Thomas Williams Baldwin|url=https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsuxb00towngoog|quote=Samuel Taft of Uxbridge.|access-date=October 27, 2007}}</ref> Samuel Taft had 22 children and hosted President [[George Washington]] on his inaugural tour of [[New England]] in 1789.<ref name = "washington"/> Three-term mayor of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], historian [[Judge Henry Chapin]] was born here on May 13, 1811.<ref name = "washington">{{cite book |last= Chapin |first= Judge Henry |title= Address Delivered at the Unitarian Church in Uxbridge; 1864 |publisher= Charles Hamilton Press (Harvard Library; from Google Books) |year= 1881 |location= Worcester, Mass. |url=https://archive.org/details/addressdelivere00socigoog}}</ref>

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.<ref name="nps.gov">http://www.nps.gov/blac/planyourvisit/upload/Upton%20Tour-rev.pdf Upton, MA Walking Tour {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106073412/http://www.nps.gov/blac/planyourvisit/upload/Upton%20Tour-rev.pdf |date=November 6, 2012 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="nps.gov"/>

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,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uptonma.gov/economic-development |title=Economic Development |website=Town of Upton Massachusetts |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imagineupton.com/ |title=Imagine Upton |website=Imagine Upton |publisher=Upton Economic Development Committee |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|21.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|21.5|sqmi|km2}} are land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} (0.97%) is water.

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

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations |type=USA |align=left |cols=2
 | 1850|2023
 | 1860|1986
 | 1870|1989
 | 1880|2023
 | 1890|1878
 | 1900|1937
 | 1910|2071
 | 1920|1693
 | 1930|2026
 | 1940|2249
 | 1950|2656
 | 1960|3127
 | 1970|3484
 | 1980|3886
 | 1990|4677
 | 2000|5642
 | 2010|7542
 | 2020|8000
 | 2023|8311
 | footnote={{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}

At the 2020 [[United States census|census]], the population had reached 8,000. The racial makeup of the town was 87.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]], 0% (1 individual) [[AIAN (U.S. Census)|American Indian/Alaska Native]], 4.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.5% of the population.<ref name="Census2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Upton+town;+Worcester+County;+Massachusetts&d=DEC+Demographic+Profile |title=Upton town; Worcester County; Massachusetts - Census Bureau Tables |date=May 25, 2023 |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

There were 2,910 households in the town.  The population density was {{convert|370.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, and there were 2,995 housing units at an average density of {{convert|138.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. Of the households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18, 64.7% were [[Marriage|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.<ref name="Census2020"/><ref name="QuickFacts">{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/uptontownworcestercountymassachusetts,US/PST045222 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts; Upton town, Worcester County, Massachusetts; United States |date=May 25, 2023 |access-date=May 26, 2023 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Census2020"/>

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]].<ref name="QuickFacts"/>

<!--
2000 numbers; 2020 details still to come:
The median income for a household in the town was $88,595, and the median income for a family was $109,251. Males had a median income of $66,734 versus $39,224 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $43,924.  About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
-->
{{clear}}

==Community Center==
The Upton Town Library was founded in March 1871,<ref>C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. [https://books.google.com/books?id=LusKAAAAYAAJ 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts]. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uptonlibrary.blogspot.com/ |title=Upton Town Library blog  |website=uptonlibrary.blogspot.com |access-date=November 10, 2010}}</ref> 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 May 1, 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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Upton Community Center now open |url=https://www.milfordfreepress.com/2023/05/08/434541/new-upton-community-center-now-open-residents-encouraged-to-use-building-creatively |last=Knapp |first=Tina |date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=May 27, 2023 |work=Upton & Mendon Free Press |publisher=Chuck Tashjian}}</ref>

==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, Massachusetts|Northbridge]], [[Grafton, Massachusetts|Grafton]], [[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]], [[Uxbridge, Massachusetts|Uxbridge]], [[Millville, Massachusetts|Millville]], [[Sutton, Massachusetts|Sutton]], [[Milford, Massachusetts|Milford]], [[Hopedale, Massachusetts|Hopedale]], [[Blackstone, Massachusetts|Blackstone]], [[Douglas, Massachusetts|Douglas]] and [[Mendon, Massachusetts|Mendon]].

==Government==
Government is by open Town Meeting. There are three selectmen elected to three-year terms, and an appointed town manager.
{{Worcester County politicians
| county = Worcester
| state_rep = [[David K. Muradian, Jr]] (R)
| state_sen = [[Ryan C. Fattman]] (R) 
| gov_councilors = 	Paul M. DePalo (D)
| fed_rep = [[Jim McGovern (American politician)|Jim McGovern]] (D) ([[United States House of Representatives, Massachusetts District 2|2nd District]])
}}

==Notable people==
<!--
• Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes their notability.
• The article must mention how they are associated with the community--whether born, raised, or residing.
• The fact of their association must have a reliable source cited.
• Alphabetical by last name please.
-->
* [[Arthur L. Newton|Arthur Newton]], athlete
* [[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==
<gallery>
File:Map of the town of Upton, Worcester Co., Mass. (3719858991).jpg | 1851 survey map showing districts
File:Nipmuc Regional High School, Upton MA.jpg | Nipmuc Regional High School
File:Nipmuc Regional High School Logo.png | Nipmuc Regional High School logo
File:Upton House of Pizza, Upton MA.jpg | Upton House of Pizza, in the town center
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Upton, Massachusetts}}
* [http://www.uptonma.gov/ Upton official website]

{{Geographic location
|width=auto
| Centre = Upton
 | North = [[Westborough, Massachusetts|Westborough]]
 | Northeast = [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]]
 | Northwest = [[Grafton, Massachusetts|Grafton]]
 | South = [[Mendon, Massachusetts|Mendon]]
 | Southeast = [[Hopedale, Massachusetts|Hopedale]]
 | Southwest = [[Northbridge, Massachusetts|Northbridge]]
 | East = [[Milford, Massachusetts|Milford]]
}}
{{Blackstone Valley}}
{{Worcester County, Massachusetts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Upton, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]