Grafton, New Hampshire
Encyclopedia
Grafton is a town in Grafton County
, New Hampshire
, United States
. The population was 1,340 at the 2010 census.
, a relative of colonial governor Benning Wentworth
. Grafton was incorporated in 1778.
Since 2004, Grafton has become a center for members of the Free State Project
.
, the town has a total area of 42.6 square miles (110.3 km²), of which 41.7 square miles (108 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is water, comprising 2.19% of the town. The highest point in Grafton is the summit of Melvin Mountain, at 2177 feet (663.5 m) above sea level
. Grafton Pond
is in the western part of town. Grafton lies mostly within the Merrimack River
watershed
, though the western edge of town is in the Connecticut River
watershed.
of 2000, there were 1,138 people, 455 households, and 306 families residing in the town. The population density
was 27.2 people per square mile (10.5/km²). There were 698 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.98% White, 0.26% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.09% from other races
, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 455 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 111.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,654, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $30,074 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,944. About 4.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
, a movement that sought to encourage libertarians to move to the town. Despite the fact that the project has become defunct after controversy between organizers and local residents, many libertarians continue to move as part of the overall Free State Project. Since then, Grafton has become a center of libertarian activism with a strong focus on homesteading, marijuana legalization and agorism
.
According to a local activists' website, Grafton's appeal as a favorable destination for libertarian-leaning activists is partially due to its absence of zoning laws and very low property tax
.
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,118. Its county seat is North Haverhill, which is a village within the town of Haverhill. Until 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were located in downtown Woodsville, a...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,340 at the 2010 census.
History
Originally granted in 1761, and re-granted in 1769, Grafton, like the county it resides in, takes its name from Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of GraftonAugustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton
Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, KG, PC , styled Earl of Euston between 1747 and 1757, was a British Whig statesman of the Georgian era...
, a relative of colonial governor Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
. Grafton was incorporated in 1778.
Since 2004, Grafton has become a center for members of the Free State Project
Free State Project
The Free State Project is a political movement, founded in 2001, to recruit at least 20,000 libertarian-leaning people to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideas....
.
Notable inhabitants
- John HancockJohn HancockJohn Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
, founding fatherFounding Fathers of the United StatesThe Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
and among the recipients of the second grant - James OtisJames Otis, Jr.James Otis, Jr. was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the political views that led to the American Revolution. The phrase "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny" is usually attributed to him...
, among the recipients of the second grant
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 42.6 square miles (110.3 km²), of which 41.7 square miles (108 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is water, comprising 2.19% of the town. The highest point in Grafton is the summit of Melvin Mountain, at 2177 feet (663.5 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Grafton Pond
Grafton Pond
Grafton Pond is a water body located in Grafton County in western New Hampshire, United States, in the town of Grafton. The pond is part of the Mascoma River watershed, flowing to the Connecticut River. It is an active loon nesting site, one of few remaining in New Hampshire...
is in the western part of town. Grafton lies mostly within the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, though the western edge of town is in the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
watershed.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,138 people, 455 households, and 306 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 27.2 people per square mile (10.5/km²). There were 698 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.98% White, 0.26% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.09% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 455 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 111.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,654, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $30,074 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,944. About 4.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Grafton was the focus of the Free Town ProjectFree Town Project
The Free Town Project was an unofficial splinter group of the Free State Project that was started in 2003 to encourage libertariansto move to Grafton, NewHampshire...
, a movement that sought to encourage libertarians to move to the town. Despite the fact that the project has become defunct after controversy between organizers and local residents, many libertarians continue to move as part of the overall Free State Project. Since then, Grafton has become a center of libertarian activism with a strong focus on homesteading, marijuana legalization and agorism
Agorism
Agorism is a political philosophy founded by Samuel Edward Konkin III and developed with contributions by J. Neil Schulman that holds as its ultimate goal bringing about a society in which all "relations between people are voluntary exchanges – a free market." The term comes from the Greek...
.
According to a local activists' website, Grafton's appeal as a favorable destination for libertarian-leaning activists is partially due to its absence of zoning laws and very low property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
.