Grafton, Vermont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grafton, Vermont
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
Grafton, Vermont
|
|
 Grafton, Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Vermont |
| County | Windham |
| Communities |
|
| Area | |
| • Total | 38.4 sq mi (99.5 km2) |
| • Land | 38.4 sq mi (99.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 925 ft (282 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 645 |
| • Density | 17/sq mi (6.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code(s) | 802 |
| FIPS code | 50-28900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1462105 |
Grafton is a small town located in Windham County, Vermont, in the United States. In 2020, about 645 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Grafton's Past
In the early 1800s, raising sheep became very popular in Grafton. Many factories that made woolen cloth were built along the Saxtons River. People also dug up soapstone from nearby Bear Mountain.
Grafton became an important stop for stagecoaches. These were like old-time buses that carried people and goods across the Green Mountains to Albany, New York. One famous inn from that time, "the Old Tavern," opened in 1801. It is still open today and is one of the oldest hotels in the United States. It is now called The Grafton Inn.
Before the American Civil War, Grafton had almost 1,500 people. But the town lost many people during the Civil War. Many tombstones in the local cemeteries belong to soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, fewer people lived in Grafton. The soapstone quarry (where they dug up stone) also ran out of stone and closed. By the time of the Great Depression, the town's population was less than 400.
In the 1960s, a group called the Windham Foundation was started. They wanted to help bring the village back to life. They bought the Old Tavern and many homes in the area to restore them. The foundation also created a business that makes special cheese, called the Grafton Village Cheese Company. They also built a great place for cross-country skiing called Grafton Ponds. In the summer, this center offers a popular mountain biking program for kids. These efforts to restore the town brought new people to Grafton from big cities like New York and Boston.
Why is it Called Grafton?
The town was first named Thomlinson in 1754. But in 1791, the right to rename the town was sold to the highest bidder. The person who won reportedly offered "five dollars and a jug of rum." They changed the name to Grafton, after their hometown of Grafton, Massachusetts.
Grafton's Location and Size
Grafton is a town that covers about 38.4 square miles (99.5 km2). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water. The main part of Grafton, called the village of Grafton, is located in the valley of the Saxtons River.
How Many People Live in Grafton?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 561 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,149 | 104.8% | |
| 1810 | 1,365 | 18.8% | |
| 1820 | 1,482 | 8.6% | |
| 1830 | 1,439 | −2.9% | |
| 1840 | 1,326 | −7.9% | |
| 1850 | 1,241 | −6.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,154 | −7.0% | |
| 1870 | 1,008 | −12.7% | |
| 1880 | 929 | −7.8% | |
| 1890 | 817 | −12.1% | |
| 1900 | 804 | −1.6% | |
| 1910 | 729 | −9.3% | |
| 1920 | 476 | −34.7% | |
| 1930 | 453 | −4.8% | |
| 1940 | 393 | −13.2% | |
| 1950 | 422 | 7.4% | |
| 1960 | 426 | 0.9% | |
| 1970 | 465 | 9.2% | |
| 1980 | 604 | 29.9% | |
| 1990 | 602 | −0.3% | |
| 2000 | 649 | 7.8% | |
| 2010 | 679 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 645 | −5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 649 people living in Grafton. Most of the people were White. A small number of people were Asian or from two or more races. Some people were also of Hispanic or Latino background.
About 21% of the homes had children under 18 living there. Most homes were made up of married couples. The average age of people in Grafton was 46 years old.
Famous People from Grafton
Many interesting people have connections to Grafton:
- John Barrett – He was a United States ambassador and started the Pan American Union.
- John S. Barry – He served as the fourth and eighth Governor of Michigan.
- L. J. C. Daniels – An American suffragist who worked for women's right to vote.
- Benjamin W. Dean – He was the Secretary of State of Vermont.
- C. W. Deane – A politician from Michigan.
- Enoch Hale – An army colonel who built the first bridge over the Connecticut River.
- George Van Horn Moseley Jr. – A commander in the army during World War II.
- Samuel B. Pettengill – A congressman from Indiana who founded the Grafton Historical Society.
- Albert J. Pullen – A politician from Wisconsin.
- Frank E. Putnam – A politician from Minnesota.
- Danny Roberts – A television personality who lived in Grafton.
- Frank Ryan – A football quarterback and athletic director at Yale University.
- Daisy Turner – An African-American storyteller.
See also
In Spanish: Grafton (Vermont) para niños
