Grafton, New Hampshire Facts for Kids

Grafton is a small town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. In 2020, about 1,385 people lived there. It is known for its natural beauty and a unique period in its recent history.

History of Grafton
Geography of the Town
Population Changes
The Free Town Project
Notable People
Places to Visit
See also

History of Grafton

Grafton was first given land in 1761 and then again in 1769. It was named after Augustus FitzRoy, the 3rd Duke of Grafton. He was related to Benning Wentworth, who was a governor back then. Grafton officially became a town in 1778.

For a long time, Grafton's economy relied on farming to feed families. It also had small businesses and mining. There were several mines for mica and quarries for granite. One of the most famous was Ruggles Mine.

The United Mica Company used this mill from 1909 to 1916. This picture is from around 1909.

Geography of the Town

Grafton covers about 42.6 square miles (109.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 41.7 square miles (107.4 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.9 square miles (2.4 square kilometers), is water.

The highest point in Grafton is the top of Melvin Mountain. It stands about 2,177 feet (664 meters) above sea level. Grafton Pond is a notable body of water in the western part of the town. Most of Grafton's water flows into the Merrimack River. However, the western edge of town sends its water towards the Connecticut River.

Population Changes

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	403	—
1800	682	69.2%
1810	931	36.5%
1820	1,094	17.5%
1830	1,207	10.3%
1840	1,201	−0.5%
1850	1,259	4.8%
1860	1,150	−8.7%
1870	907	−21.1%
1880	934	3.0%
1890	787	−15.7%
1900	748	−5.0%
1910	641	−14.3%
1920	554	−13.6%
1930	539	−2.7%
1940	552	2.4%
1950	442	−19.9%
1960	348	−21.3%
1970	370	6.3%
1980	739	99.7%
1990	923	24.9%
2000	1,138	23.3%
2010	1,340	17.8%
2020	1,385	3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, Grafton had 1,340 people living in 564 households. The town's population has changed a lot over the years. For example, in 1790, there were only 403 people. The population grew steadily until the mid-1800s, then it decreased for many years.

Since the 1960s, Grafton's population has been growing again. By 2020, it reached 1,385 people. The average age of people in Grafton in 2010 was about 45.6 years old.

The Free Town Project

Around 2004, Grafton became a special place for a group called Libertarians. They started something called the Free Town Project. Their goal was to encourage people who believed in less government rules to move to Grafton.

Grafton was appealing to them because it did not have many building rules (called zoning laws). It also had low property taxes at the time. A local Libertarian, John Babiarz, invited people to move there.

About 200 new people moved to Grafton, mostly men. The new residents voted for changes, including cutting the town's budget by 30%. This led to some challenges for the town. For example, town offices were not heated in winter, and roads had many potholes. The police department also had very few officers.

Another issue that came up was about black bears. Some new residents did not use special trash cans that bears cannot open. They also did not always dispose of waste safely. This led to more bears coming into town, sometimes even entering homes. Some bears became very bold, causing problems for residents.

This picture shows a bear-resistant trash container. An American black bear is climbing on top of it.

The Free Town Project ended in 2016.

Notable People

Monroe Heath (1827–1894), he was the mayor of Chicago from 1876 to 1879.
Myra Belle Martin (1861–1936), a teacher, writer, and financier in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Cyrus A. Sulloway (1839–1917), he was a congressman.

Places to Visit

Ruggles Mine (This mine is now closed to visitors.)

Grafton, New Hampshire facts for kids

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