Grafton, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grafton, New York
Town
St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Grafton
Motto(s):  Beauty is All Around Us
Location in Rensselaer County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Rensselaer
Area
• Total	45.96 sq mi (119.04 km2)
• Land	44.72 sq mi (115.83 km2)
• Water	1.24 sq mi (3.21 km2)
Elevation	1,440 ft (439 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,051
• Density	44.626/sq mi (17.230/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12082
Area code(s)	518
FIPS code	36-29674
GNIS feature ID	0979010

Grafton is a small town located in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 2,051 people lived there. The town likely got its name from Grafton, Vermont. This is because Nathaniel Dumbleton, the first town supervisor, came from there.

Grafton is known for its Peace Pagoda. This special Buddhist temple was built in 1993 by the Nipponzan Myohoji order. NY Route 2 runs through the town.

History of Grafton

Early Settlements and Name Origin

The area that is now Grafton was once part of a large estate called the Manor of Rensselaerswyck. Back then, it was known as Roxborough. The first people to live here were renters on this estate. It's not clear exactly when the first European settlers arrived. Grafton was probably the last town in Rensselaer County to be settled.

The town of Grafton was officially created on March 20, 1807. It was formed from parts of the towns of Troy and Petersburgh. Abel Owen is thought to be the first person to build a home in this mountain area. He was a strong farmer. To encourage more people to settle, the estate owner, Stephen Van Rensselaer III, gave him a large piece of land.

Abel Owen was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. So, the town was likely settled around the end of the war or a bit later. By 1786, Owen had neighbors, including families named Coon and Demmon. Around 1796, Abel Owen sold his farm and moved away.

Nathaniel Dumbleton, who became the first town supervisor, moved to Grafton from Grafton, Vermont. People believe that he helped name the town after his old home. The first town meeting was held in April 1807 at Nathan Hakes' house.

Early Businesses and Services

In the early days, Grafton had a few important businesses. Two of the first taverns (like inns or hotels) were in East Grafton and the western part of town. The Grafton House, built around 1838, was a very important tavern for many years.

Around 1800, Josiah Litchfield opened a general store and built a saw mill in Quackenkill. Saw mills were very important because the area had many forests. These mills also produced tan bark and charcoal. Later, people started focusing more on farming and raising animals.

The first doctor in Grafton was Dr. Rufus S. Waite, who arrived in 1819. He practiced medicine for about 40 years. Dr. Amos Allen also became a well-known doctor in Grafton starting in 1846.

Education and Local Events

In 1813, Grafton started its first public schools. The town was divided into ten school districts, and each had a common school. The school system changed over time, just like in other towns.

A sad event happened in Grafton on December 19, 1845. A man named Elijah Smith was shot during a conflict. This was part of the Anti-Rent War, a time when renters on large estates protested against the landowners.

Industries and Landmarks

Besides sawmills, Grafton also had shirt manufacturing. Around 1855, Caleb W. Scriven started this business. His employees made shirts at home, and the finished products were sent to New York City. This industry provided jobs for many families.

The Dickinson Hill Fire Tower is an important historical landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Geography of Grafton

Landscape and Waterways

Grafton is located north of the center of Rensselaer County. It is surrounded by other towns like Pittstown, Hoosick, Petersburgh, Berlin, Poestenkill, and Brunswick. The town is shaped like a rectangle.

Grafton has more small lakes and ponds than any other town in the county. These bodies of water are the starting points for many streams that flow in different directions. You could say Grafton is the center of the county's water system.

The land in Grafton is very uneven. It is part of the Rensselaer Plateau. The highest points in the town are about 1,800 feet above sea level. Only a small part of the land is good for farming. However, the hillsides are excellent for grazing animals. Many farmers in Grafton have worked hard to make their land productive.

Ponds and small streams are very common. Cranberry Lake, in the southern part of town, is where the Quacken Kill stream begins. This stream flows west and has many good spots for mills. In the northern part of town, several creeks flow towards the Hoosick Valley. The water in Grafton's ponds is known for being very clean. Some of these ponds were even considered as a source for Troy's drinking water.

The town covers about 46 square miles. Most of this area, about 44.9 square miles, is land. The rest, about 1.1 square miles, is water.

Grafton is mostly a highland area, which means it has many hills and small mountains. The beautiful scenery can be seen at the Grafton Lakes State Park. This park has four lakes surrounded by gentle mountains.

Neighboring Areas

Grafton is located south of the towns of Hoosick and Pittstown.

Population and People

According to the census from 2000, there were 1,987 people living in Grafton. These people made up 747 households, with 554 of them being families. The population density was about 44.3 people per square mile.

Out of all the households, 33.5% had children under 18 living with them. About 62.4% were married couples. Around 21% of households were made up of single individuals. The average household had 2.66 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 25.2% were under 18 years old. About 9.5% were 65 years or older. The average age in Grafton was 38 years.

The median income for a household in Grafton was $48,347. For families, the median income was $53,810. About 6% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Communities and Places in Grafton

Grafton has several small communities and notable locations:

• Babcock Lake – A small community in the northeastern part of the town.
• Dunham Reservoir – A reservoir (a place where water is stored) in the southern part of the town.
• Dyken Pond – A lake located south of Grafton Lakes State Park.
• East Grafton – A community east of the main Grafton village, along NY-2.
• Elizabeth Lake – A small lake found near Grafton Lakes State Park.
• Grafton (also known as "Grafton Center" and "Patroons Mill") – This is the main village of Grafton, located in the center of the town on NY-2.
• Grafton Lakes State Park – A state park near Grafton village, north of NY-2. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
• Quackenkill – A community in the western part of the town, also on NY-2.
• Taconic Lake – A private lake and community in the southeastern part of the town.

Education in Grafton

Different parts of Grafton are served by different school districts. The westernmost area is part of the Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District. The rest of the town is served by the Berlin Central School District.

Notable People from Grafton

Some well-known people have connections to Grafton:

• Sanford M. Green – A judge and lawmaker from Michigan, who was born in Grafton.
• Granville Hicks – A famous author and literary critic.
• Leah Penniman – A farmer and activist.

Images for kids

• Dickinson Hill Fire Tower.jpg

  The historic Dickinson Hill Fire Tower.