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Grafton, Illinois

Grafton
City
LaMarsh house grafton.JPG
The Slaten-LaMarsh House, Downtown Grafton
Motto: “Key West of the Midwest”
Country United States
State Illinois
County Jersey
Township Quarry
Elevation 435 ft (132.6 m)
Coordinates 38°58′16″N 90°26′13″W / 38.97111°N 90.43694°W / 38.97111; -90.43694Coordinates: 38°58′16″N 90°26′13″W / 38.97111°N 90.43694°W / 38.97111; -90.43694
Area 3.70 sq mi (9.6 km2)
 - land 3.70 sq mi (10 km2)
 - water 0.00 sq mi (0 km2), 0%
Population 674 (2010)
Density 182.2/sq mi (70.3/km2)
Founded 1832
Government Mayor-Council
Mayor Tom Thompson
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code 62037
Area code 618
Map of Jersey County highlighting Grafton, Illinois.png
Location of Grafton within Jersey County, Illinois
Location of Grafton within Illinois
Website: cityofgrafton.org

Grafton is the oldest city in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 674. Prior to the Great Flood of 1993, Grafton had enjoyed a stable population of nearly 1,000 residents.

Grafton is a part of the Metro-East region and the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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. The city was named after Mason's birthplace of Grafton, Massachusetts. Grafton was incorporated on May 16, 1907.

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, government buildings in Rock Island, and the Jersey County Courthouse in 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 boats 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.


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