Upminster shift from farming to garden suburb. As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Upminster significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming part of Hornchurch Urban District in 1934, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965. The placename Upminster is first recorded in 1062 as "Upmynstre" and is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Upmunstra". It is formed from Old English "upp" and "mynster", meaning the large church on high ground. The high ground of St Laurence's parish church being in relation to the valley of the River Ingrebourne and the Upminster Bridge
Upminster in Great Warley. Land for Upminster Park was purchased by the parish council in 1929. The town forms part of the Hornchurch and Upminster UK Parliament constituency, and is covered by the Havering wards of Upminster and Cranham. The current MP is Angela Watkinson. Each ward elects three councillors to Havering London Borough Council. All six councillors elected in 2010 for the two wards were the Upminster and Cranham Residents' Association candidates and the area is unusual in that the residents' association is strongly active. From 1945 to 1974 Upminster formed part of the Hornchurch constituency and from 1974 to