is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States, on the northwest side of the Columbus metropolitan area.

The land on which present-day Upper Arlington sits was first known to be inhabited by the Adena people, renowned for building conical mounds for burial sites.

Centuries later the Wyandot lived there, eventually being expelled after the U.S. Government gave land grants to Revolutionary War soldiers in lieu of pay.

Brothers and real estate developers King and Ben Thompson founded Upper Arlington.

This design style gave the oldest district in Upper Arlington (at its southernmost end) its distinctively pleasant, park-like feel, featuring numerous small green spaces.

Some of these involved creating open, green spaces, maintenance of parks, generous setbacks ensuring large front and corner lawns, and carefully controlled development of separate areas for businesses and multi-family housing.

One such resident was Pleasant Litchford, a former slave who migrated north after buying his freedom, and who became a notable citizen in the African-American community.

The McCoy, Richards, Lakin, Matthews, Delashmutt, Phenegar, Slyh, Zollinger, Bickett, Wills and Walcutt families were connected in some way by marriage and have descendants living in Upper Arlington.

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 classic ranch-style houses like those found in the area 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.

Upper Arlington is bordered on the west by the Scioto River, 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 soil is glacial till and is suitable for agriculture, supporting a research farm operated by Ohio State University.

[12] The Parks & Recreation Department—in consultation with the Cultural Arts Commission[13]—hosts numerous family oriented community events throughout the year, including Winter Fest and the annual holiday tree lighting, Fall Fest, Spring Fling and Summer Celebration.

With assistance from the city, UACA hosts the community's annual Fourth of July celebrations, which include a parade along Northwest Boulevard in the morning, and an evening festival – Party in the Park – which features live music and ends with a fireworks display.

The City of Upper Arlington operates under the Council/Manager form of government—a system of representative democracy that combines the policy-setting leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of an appointed manager.

An Economic Development Division provides a range of services to help businesses, and amenities available to residents and strengthening the tax base.

The Public Works Division focuses on minor road repairs, street cleaning, snow removal and leaf collection.

Upper Arlington High School serves students from the entire district and boasts membership in the International Baccalaureate program.