In the early 20th century, William L. Elder, an Indianapolis real estate developer, offered the
Church of the United Brethren in Christ of land southeast of downtown Indianapolis to establish a college in exchange for help selling 446 building parcels in a subdivision platted as Marion Heights. Indiana Central University (now the University of Indianapolis) was chartered in 1902, but instruction did not start until September 26, 1905, when the first building,
Good Hall, was completed. In 1907, the subdivision was incorporated as University Heights. In 1910, the population was about 100, increasing to nearly 500 by 1920. The City of Indianapolis annexed the town in 1923. According to the
Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, homes in the neighborhood were built in a "variety of architectural styles reflecting middle-class tastes from the early 1900s to the 1950s". The neighborhood was largely developed by 1960, with a population of about 1,000. ==Transportation==