The park was prone to flooding from Cicero Creek, however, during the summer, the park was popular for its honeysuckle plants. Education Early history The first school to open in Tipton was in the winter of 1846–7. School took place at a log cabin in what is now downtown Tipton. Students attended school two to three months out of the year. Teachers were poorly paid and often boarded with the families of the students they taught to make ends meet. A frame school house was built in 1852, which provided a permanent learning space for residents. The school was also used as a church at times, and as of 1914 a church had been built on the former school site. In 1867, a new school was built due to the growth of the population. The new school cost $15,000, had two stories and six rooms and a library. Classes were first held in 1869. A second school, totaling eight rooms, was built in 1890. A high school was built in 1910. The Sisters of St. Joseph came to Tipton in 1888 and founded a parochial school called St. Joseph's Academy. The school served high school students. It ceased operations in 1972. Today Primary and secondary schooling Tipton Community School Corporation serves the city of Tipton, and the southern half of Tipton County, with an elementary school, middle school, and high school co-located on one campus on the south-side of town. District enrollment for the 2014–15 school year comprised 1,732 students. As of 2006, 93% of the school population was Caucasian. Tipton Schools counts 1,851 students in K-12, with 97% being Caucasian, and the remaining 3% either African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Indian, or multiracial. St. John the Baptist School served grades K-5, and was a Roman Catholic school. This institution closed in 2014 due to low enrollment. Tipton has a public library, a branch of the Tipton County Public Library. Infrastructure Transportation In the mid to late 19th century, Tipton was known as being a very dirty and muddy place. Transportation was poor, with a poorly maintained railroad and "mud boats" being noted types of transportation. Mud boats were boat-like vehicles which were powered by oxen and transported people through the large amounts of mud in the area. Flooding was also common during this period. In 1890, Tipton became the first city in the state to have brick paved streets. Representatives