Grafton (town), Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Grafton, Wisconsin
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Location of Town of Grafton in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Ozaukee |
| Settled | 1839 |
| Incorporated | 1846 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.4 sq mi (55.5 km2) |
| • Land | 19.8 sq mi (51.3 km2) |
| • Water | 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 755 ft (230 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,157 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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4,391 |
| • Density | 208.5/sq mi (80.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 262 |
The Town of Grafton is a town located in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and is in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The town was created in 1846 and at the time of the 2020 Census had a population of 4,157.
Grafton is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan. German and Irish immigrants first settled in Grafton in the 1840s. Their centers of settlement became the unincorporated communities of Lakefield and Ulao, as well as the Village of Grafton, which is partially located in the town.
Contents
History
Historically, one of the more important settlements was the community of Ulao, Wisconsin. It was located at the eastern end of the road which became State Highway 60.
The Town of Grafton was the site of Camp Hindenburg, owned and operated by the pro-Nazi German American Bund from the late 1930s through the outbreak of World War Two. In 1940, Camp Carl Schurz, operated by the anti-Bund Wisconsin Federation of German-American Societies, was opened a mile away.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.4 square miles (55.5 km²), of which, 19.8 square miles (51.3 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (7.47%) is water.
Landmarks
The Kevich Light is located in the town.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,132 people, 1,569 households, and 1,241 families residing in the town. The population density was 208.5 people per square mile (80.5/km2). There were 1,608 housing units at an average density of 81.1 per square mile (31.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.02% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,569 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,707, and the median income for a family was $73,125. Males had a median income of $42,320 versus $35,446 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,582. About 4.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Much of the town of Grafton is served by the Grafton School District, which has two elementary schools, serving kindergarten through fifth grade: John F. Kennedy Elementary School and Woodview Elementary School. John Long Middle School serves the entire district for grades six through eight, and Grafton High School serves grades nine through twelve.
The district is governed by a seven-member elected school board, which meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Grafton High School Library. The current district superintendent, Jeff Nelson, has held the position since 2016.
Some residents in the southwestern part of the town attend the Cedarburg School District, and residents in the northeastern part of the town attend the Port Washington-Saukville School District.
Grafton also has three parochial schools that serve students from kindergarten through eight grade: Our Savior Lutheran School, St. Joseph Catholic Parish School, and St. Paul Lutheran School.
Transportation
Interstate 43 passes through the town with access via Exit 92 and Exit 93, and Wisconsin Highway 60 also passes through Ulao and the downtown Village of Grafton.
Grafton has limited public transit compared with larger cities. Ozaukee County and the Milwaukee County Transit System run the Route 143 commuter bus, also known as the "Ozaukee County Express," to Milwaukee via Interstate 43. The bus makes two stops at park-and-ride lots in the village off of Exit 92: one at the Grafton Commons shopping center and the other in the Target parking lot. The bus operates Monday through Friday with limited hours corresponding to peak commute times. Ozaukee County Transit Services' Shared Ride Taxi is the public transit option for traveling to sites not directly accessible from the interstate. The taxis operate seven days a week and make connections to Washington County Transit and Milwaukee County Routes 12, 49 and 42u.
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail, which is for pedestrian and bicycle use, goes through both the town and the Village of Grafton, connecting residents to the neighboring communities of Cedarburg and Port Washington. The trail continues north to Sheboygan County and south to Milwaukee County.
The Wisconsin Central Ltd. railroad operates a freight rail line which passes through the town and goes north to Saukville and south to Cedarburg. The Union Pacific Railroad runs parallel to Interstate 43. The town currently does not have a train station.
Parks and recreation
- Blue Wing Waterfowl Production Area: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a 54-acre wetland and prairie preserve which is home to species including green herons and American bitterns.
- Bratt Woods: The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust maintains this 17-acre park on the eastern bank of the Milwaukee River. The forest features endemic plants and retains the character of the beech-maple forests that sprawled across Ozaukee County in the early 19th century. The land is also a habitat for the American gromwell, a state-designated special concern plant species.
- Kurtz Woods Natural Area: Designated as a state natural area, the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust maintains this 45-acre park, which is split between the Town of Grafton and the Village of Saukville. The preserve boasts 82 documented plant species in a primeval beech-maple forest, and landforms in the park include glacially formed kettles.
- Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve: Ozaukee County maintains this 73-acre park on the shores of Lake Michigan with picnic facilities, walking trails, a beach, and views of the lake from 100-foot-high bluffs.
- Ulao Waterfowl Production Area: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a 44-acre waterfowl sanctuary adjacent to Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve trails for hiking and opportunities to observe dozens of bird species, including loons, scoters, and ducks.
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail runs through the town, following the former route of the Milwaukee Interurban Rail Line. The southern end of the trail is at Bradley Road in Brown Deer which connects to the Oak Leaf Trail (43°09′48″N 87°57′39″W / 43.16333°N 87.96083°W), and its northern end is at DeMaster Road in the Village of Oostburg Sheboygan County (43°36′57″N 87°48′08″W / 43.61583°N 87.80222°W). The trail connects the community to neighboring Cedarburg and Port Washington.
There are also two private, commercial golf courses in the town and the privately owned 20-acre Grafton Dells River Park.
Notable people
- Charles Guiteau, assassin of President James Garfield lived in Ulao from 1850 to 1855
See also
In Spanish: Grafton (condado de Ozaukee, Wisconsin) para niños
