It was home to professionals such as doctors and lawyers, retailers who served a middle class and upscale clientele, jazz clubs, dance halls, theaters, and other public and private institutions for the black community.

In the mid-20th century, Upton's population swelled due to the popularity of the neighborhood and the pressures of state racial segregation that kept African Americans confined to certain areas in the city.

It contains many historic rowhouses of the Queen Anne and Italianate styles, featuring high ceilings, decorative ironwork, and white marble steps.

Modern landmarks include The Avenue Market, Shake & Bake Family Fun Center, and Arabber Preservation Society.

Founded in the early 2000s, the Upton Boxing Center has produced stars Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Mia "Killer-Bee" Ellis under the tutelage of trainer Calvin Ford, the inspiration for character Dennis "Cutty" Wise in the HBO drama The Wire.

[6][7] Data collected by the city and the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance combines Upton and Druid Heights into a tabulation area.

Beginning in 2019, developers rehabilitated dozens of rowhouses on Harlem and Edmondson Avenues as part of the Upton Gateway project.

[12] That September, a development team headed by Alvin Hathaway Sr., pastor at the nearby Union Baptist Church, completed renovation of the P.S.

[13] In October 2024, Black Women Build, a non-profit founded by Upton resident Shelley Halstead, was named one of nine recipients of funding from JPMorgan Chase to combat housing vacancy in Baltimore.