Grafton, North Dakota

History

Grafton was founded in 1881 and US Highway 81 and North Dakota Highway 17 are the 2 major highways that run through the city.

The Grafton area was homesteaded by Nils Monson. Nils Monson was a 29-year-old bachelor who walked to the area from Winnipeg in the fall of 1878 to homestead. He was the first to deed his 160-acre homestead to the town. The Grafton area was later settled by Thomas E Cooper in early 1879. He became postmaster later that year when a post office was constructed as part of expansions in service for the Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railway. Grafton was founded in 1881. It was incorporated as a village in 1881 and then became a city in 1903. In 1881, Walsh County was established and Grafton was subsequently designated the county seat. The city was named for Grafton County, New Hampshire, the native home of a large share of its early settlers.

The Grafton State School, a home for the developmentally disabled, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Government

The city employs a mayor-council government where the mayor is elected for a four-year term and eight city council members are elected to staggered four-year terms. There are four at-large members of the city council while the remaining four members are elected from the four wards of the city. Currently, Chris West is serving as mayor while the city council members are as follows: David Fellman (1st Ward), Greg Young (2nd Ward), Philip Ray (3rd Ward), Don Hutson (4th Ward), Brad Burianek (At-large), Donavon McMillian (At-large), Brian Sieben (At-large), and Loree Osowski (At-large).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.566 sqmi, of which 3.303 sqmi is land and 0.263 sqmi (7.38%) is water.

Climate

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of September 30, 2025, in Grafton is $164,709.

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,777 estimated households in Grafton with an average of 2.2 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $60,184. Approximately 10.4% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Grafton has an estimated _% employment rate, with 18.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 84.4% holding a high school diploma. There were 1,965 housing units at an average density of 594.91 /sqmi.

The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (%), Spanish (%), Indo-European (%), Asian and Pacific Islander (%), and Other (_%).

The median age in the city was 40.8 years.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 4,170 people, 1,738 households, 986 families residing in the city. The population density was 1262.49 PD/sqmi. There were 1,966 housing units at an average density of 595.22 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 77.87% White, 1.25% African American, 1.82% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 6.67% from some other races and 11.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 21.87% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 4,284 people, 1,776 households, and 1,073 families residing in the city. The population density was 1365.20 PD/sqmi. There were 1,990 housing units at an average density of 634.16 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 89.22% White, 0.35% African American, 2.82% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.05% of the population.

There were 1,776 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 42.5 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,516 people, 1,804 households, and 1,143 families residing in the city. The population density was 506.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,005 housing units at an average density of 225.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.67% White, 0.58% African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 4.69% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.57% of the population.

The top 6 ancestry groups in the city are Norwegian (39.4%), German (19.8%), French (8.9%), Polish (8.7%), Czech (8.3%), Irish (7.4%).

There were 1,804 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,231, and the median income for a family was $41,747. Males had a median income of $28,321 versus $20,433 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,644. About 8.3% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city of Grafton is served by the Grafton Public Schools system. The system includes Century Primary Elementary School (grades Pre-K–2), Century Intermediate Elementary School grades (3–6) Grafton Junior High School (grades 7–8), and Grafton High School (grades 9–12).

North Valley Career and Technology Center is a multi-district regional technology education center, serving students grades 9–12 from across the region.

Library

Grafton's Carnegie Regional Library opened in 1897 and is North Dakota's first public library. Carnegie's collection contains 49,005 volumes and circulates 33,620 items per year. The library, including its 3 branches, serves a population of over 27,000 residents.

Media

Local print and online news

• Walsh County Record
• Walsh County Daily News

Local radio

AM radio

FM radio

Sites of interest

• Walsh County Courthouse – The Walsh County Courthouse has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985.
• Centennial Center
• Elmwood historic home
• Fair Oaks Golf Club – a nine-hole golf course located in Grafton
• Grafton Winter Sports Arena – site of the former Winter Sports Arena, the first indoor hockey arena in North Dakota.
• Chandler Field – named after Albert "Happy" Chandler
• Leistikow Park

Notable people

· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability. · The article must mention how they are associated with Grafton, whether born, raised, or residing. · The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited. · Alphabetical by last name please. · All others will be deleted.

• Karen Anderson, state legislator
• Albert "Happy" Chandler, 44th and 49th governor of Kentucky; US senator; commissioner of Major League Baseball
• Pablo Garza, mixed martial arts featherweight fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
• William E. Gorder, teacher, farmer, and North Dakota state representative
• Les Lear, offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League and National Football League
• Raymond W. Lessard, bishop of Savannah (1973–1995)
• Clint Ritchie, actor (Clint Buchanan on One Life to Live)
• Barry Tallackson, forward for the St. Louis Blues

Notes

References

1. "Mayor". City of Grafton, North Dakota.
2. "2025 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Zip Code Lookup". [[United States Postal Service.
4. {{GNIS. 1036063
5. "Find a County". [[National Association of Counties]].
6. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "Walsh County Historical Society". Walsh County Historical Society.
8. Lounsberry, Clement Augustus. (1919). "Early History of North Dakota: Essential Outlines of American History". Liberty Press.
9. Hellmann, Paul T.. (May 13, 2013). "Chago is him". Routledge.
10. Federal Writers' Project. (1938). "North Dakota, a Guide to the Northern Prairie State". WPA.
11. "North Dakota – Walsh County". nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com.
12. "Grafton, North Dakota – NCDC 1981-2010 Monthly Normals". [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]].
13. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau.
15. "Grafton, ND Housing Market". [[Zillow]].
16. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Grafton city, North Dakota".
17. "General Social and Economic Characteristics: North Dakota". United States Census Bureau.
18. "North Dakota: 1990". United States Census Bureau.
19. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Grafton city, North Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Grafton city, North Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Grafton city, North Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau.
23. "How many people live in Grafton city, North Dakota". [[USA Today]].
24. "Grafton ND Library".
25. [http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/Parks/Elmwood.htm] {{webarchive. link. (January 22, 2008)