Editing Grafton, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Grafton
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| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline = LaMarsh house grafton.JPG
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| image_caption = The Slaten-LaMarsh House, Downtown Grafton
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| motto = “Key West of the Midwest”<ref name="City of Grafton, Illinois">{{cite web |url= http://cityofgrafton.org/about-grafton-illinois/ |title= City of Grafton, Illinois |publisher= City of Grafton, Illinois |access-date= August 31, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110820203519/http://cityofgrafton.org/about-grafton-illinois/ |archive-date= August 20, 2011 |url-status= usurped }}</ref>
| anthem = 
| image_map = File:Jersey County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Grafton Highlighted.svg
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| map_caption = Location of Grafton in Jersey County, Illinois.
| image_map1 = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
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| map_caption1 = Location of Illinois in the United States
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Illinois
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey]]
| subdivision_type3 = Township
| subdivision_name3 = [[Quarry Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Quarry]]
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| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1832
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| government_type = [[Mayor-Council government|Mayor-Council]]
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| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Michael Morrow
| leader_title1 = Mayor
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 9.62
| area_total_sq_mi = 3.71
| area_land_km2 = 9.62
| area_land_sq_mi = 3.71
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
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| elevation_ft = 758
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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| population_total = 626
| pop_est_as_of = 
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| population_density_km2 = 65.11
| population_density_sq_mi = 168.64
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| timezone1 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = -6
| timezone1_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -5
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|postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 62037<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/62037|title=Grafton IL ZIP Code|publisher=zipdatamaps.com|year=2023|access-date=May 12, 2023}}</ref>
| postal2_code_type = 
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| area_code = [[Area code 618|618]]
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| blank_info = 17-30653
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| blank1_info = 2394943<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394943}}</ref>
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
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| website = http://cityofgraftonil.com/
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Grafton''' is the oldest city in [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]. It is located near the confluence of the [[Illinois River|Illinois]] and [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] Rivers. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a total population of 626. Prior to the [[Great Flood of 1993]], Grafton had enjoyed a stable population of nearly 1,000 residents.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Grafton is a part of the [[Metro-East]] region and [[Greater St. Louis]].

==History==
Founded in 1832 by James Mason, Grafton is the oldest city in [[Jersey County]]. Described as having "a post office, one store, one tavern, and a number of families" in 1834, the area was being settled as early as 1812 when a [[blockhouse]] was built at the confluence for protection.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} The city was named after Mason's birthplace of [[Grafton, Massachusetts]]. Grafton was incorporated on May 16, 1907.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Grafton-Illinois.html|title= Grafton, Illinois |publisher= City-Data.com |access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>

Grafton's population reached its peak at approximately 10,000 in the 1850s with employment opportunities coming from the local stone quarries, boat building and commercial fishing. At one point, there were five quarries in or around Grafton that employed nearly 2,000 men. The local limestone was used to build the [[Eads Bridge]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], government buildings in [[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]], and the [[Jersey County Courthouse]] in [[Jerseyville, Illinois|Jerseyville]]. The Shafer's Wharf Historic District was one of the largest commercial fishing centers along the [[Mississippi River]] in the late 19th century. The Old Boatworks, located south of Main Street, once housed a paint house and a machine shop where paddle wheelers and later [[PT boat]]s were built. Today, the Old Boatworks building hosts many antique and craft stalls and is open on the fourth weekend of each month from May through October.<ref name="GFNAug07">[http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Grafton/graftonCover.htm Grafton description & history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823225229/http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Grafton/graftonCover.htm |date=2007-08-23 }}, retrieved August 24, 2007</ref>

The [[Great Flood of 1993]] caused significant damage to many of Grafton's structures, and a third of the city's residents moved away. The effects of the flood are still evident and the city's population has not recovered.

==Geography==
Grafton is located at {{Coord|38|58|16|N|90|26|13|W|type:city}} (38.971115, -90.436818).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Grafton has a total area of {{convert|3.71|sqmi|km2|2}}, all land.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web |author=US Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

===Climate===
Typically, the city's climate reflects most [[Midwestern US|Midwest]] cities, located in the transitional zone between the [[humid continental climate]] type and the [[humid subtropical climate]] type ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa'' and ''Cfa'', respectively), with neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. Spring is the wettest season and produces severe weather ranging from tornadoes to snow or ice storms. Summers are hot and humid, and the humidity often makes the [[heat index]] rise to temperatures feeling well above {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Fall is mild with lower humidity and can produce intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall with the first [[snow flurry|snow flurries]] usually forming in late November. Winters can be cold at times with periodic light snow and temperatures below freezing.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 222
|1860= 1266
|1880= 807
|1890= 927
|1900= 988
|1910= 1116
|1920= 949
|1930= 1026
|1940= 1110
|1950= 1117
|1960= 1084
|1970= 1018
|1980= 1024
|1990= 918
|2000= 609
|2010= 674
|2020= 626
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html Decennial US Census]
}}As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1730653 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 626 people, 298 households, and 219 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|168.64|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 400 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|107.76|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.21% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.80% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.00% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.64% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.00% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7.35% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.76% of the population.

There were 298 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.07% were married couples living together, 9.73% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.51% were non-families. 23.15% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.42% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.26.

The city's age distribution consisted of 16.5% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 16.6% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 33.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,625, and the median income for a family was $86,250. Males had a median income of $55,417 versus $22,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $37,330. About 16.4% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Grafton's main industry is tourism. The city is at the center of the region's [[bald eagle]] watching area and proudly calls itself "The Winter Home of The Bald Eagle." Main Street is lined with restaurants, antique, craft, and wine shops, which make Grafton a popular stopping place for bicyclists on the [[Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail]] or for visitors in search of fall foliage color and bald eagles. During the warmer months, visitors can take advantage of the two rivers with boating, canoeing and parasailing activities. There are two river ferries in the Grafton area that provide transportation to [[St. Charles County, Missouri]] and [[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun County]]. Five miles west of Grafton is [[Pere Marquette State Park]], which is Illinois' largest and most popular state park.

Grafton experienced modest economic growth from 2000 to 2010, including some new housing and restaurants, the Grafton Elementary School, the [http://www.graftonharbor.net/ Grafton Harbor] marina, and a lighthouse located along the Mississippi River.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

==Culture==
[[File:Ruebel Hotel.jpg|thumb|right|The Ruebel Hotel in Grafton]]

===National Register of Historic Places===
Grafton has seven places and sites that are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The [[Grafton Historic District (Grafton, Illinois)|Grafton Historic District]], [[Grafton Bank]], the [[John and Amelia McClintock House]], [[Ruebel Hotel]], the [[Slaten-LaMarsh House]], and the [[Paris Mason Building]] were all added in 1994. The [[Charles Brainerd House]] was added to the Register in 1998.

==Government==
Grafton uses a [[Mayor-Council government|city council]] form of government and consists of a mayor and six aldermen from three wards. The city's current mayor is Michael Morrow.

==Education==

===Public schools===
Grafton is served by the public [[K-12]] [[Jersey Community Unit School District 100]]. District schools in Grafton include [https://web.archive.org/web/20070627231357/http://www.jersey100.k12.il.us/grafton/ Grafton Elementary School].

===Colleges and universities===
Nearby colleges and universities include [[The Principia|Principia College]], in [[Elsah, Illinois|Elsah]], and [[Lewis and Clark Community College]], in [[Godfrey, Illinois|Godfrey]].

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

[[Illinois Route 100]] runs along a west–east route through the city. It is part of the [[Great River Road]] and the [[Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route|Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway]]. Also, [[Illinois Route 3]] has its northern terminus in Grafton at Illinois Route 100.

There are two [[ferry|ferries]] that serve Grafton. The Grafton Ferry takes travelers across the [[Mississippi River]] to [[St. Charles County, Missouri]], while the Brussels Ferry takes travelers across the [[Illinois River]] to [[Calhoun County, Illinois]].

===Utilities===
Utility companies serving Grafton are [[Ameren]] ([[natural gas]] and [[electricity]]), [http://www.gtec.com/ Grafton Telephone] (landline [[telephone]] service and [[Internet access|internet]]), and [https://web.archive.org/web/20110209064354/http://www.pconecable.com/ PC One Cable] ([[cable television]]). Water services are no longer provided and maintained by the city and are currently purchased from another source.

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
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* [[Ed Baecht]], former pitcher for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[St. Louis Browns]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baeched01.shtml|title= Ed Baecht|publisher= Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Lambert Redd]], [[Quincy College]] and Bradley Polytechnic Institute (now [[Bradley University]]) track star who won the silver medal in long jump at 1932 Olympics <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hsqac.org/lambert-redd-the-flying-hawk-part-3-olympic-series31737e83|title= Lambert Redd, “The Flying Hawk” (Part 3 - Olympic Series)|publisher= Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78934|title= Lambert Redd|publisher= Olympedia |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.cometografton.org/ Grafton Visitors Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083529/http://www.cometografton.org/ |date=2014-04-07 }} website
*[http://www.enjoygrafton.com/ Grafton Chamber of Commerce] website
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Grafton-Illinois.html City-Data.com]

{{Riverbend|state=collapsed}}
{{Jersey County, Illinois}}
{{Metro-East}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Metro East]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Cities in Jersey County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1832]]
[[Category:1832 establishments in Illinois]]