Groton is a town in Caledonia County,

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

, United States. The population was 984 at the 2020 census. It contains the places Groton Pond, Rickers Mills, Rickers and West Groton. The unincorporated village of Groton in the southeast corner of town is recorded as the Groton

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...

(CDP), with a population of 419 at the 2020 census.

History

Some say the town was named after

Groton, Massachusetts Groton is a town in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, within the Greater Boston metropolitan area. The population was 11,315 at the 2020 census. It is home to two prep schools: Lawrence Academy at Groton, founded in 17 ...

, while others believe it was named after

Groton, Connecticut Groton is a town in New London County, Connecticut located on the Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United States Navy. The Naval Submarine Base New London is ...

Geography

Groton is located in the southwest corner of Caledonia County. It is bordered by the town of Peacham to the north,

Barnet Barnet may refer to: People *Barnet (surname) * Barnet (given name) Places United Kingdom *Chipping Barnet or High Barnet, commonly known as Barnet, one of three focal towns of the borough below. *East Barnet, a district of the borough below; an ...

to the northeast, and Ryegate to the east, all in Caledonia County. To the south, in

Orange County Orange County most commonly refers to: *Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Orange County may also refer to: U.S. counties *Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando *Orange County, Indiana *Orange County, New ...

, are the towns of Newbury (southeast), Topsham (south), and

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

(southwest). The Washington County towns of Plainfield and Marshfield are to the west. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 2.19%, is water. The Wells River, a tributary of the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

, has its headwaters in Groton.

Groton State Forest Groton State Forest covers in Danville, Groton, Marshfield, Orange, Peacham, Plainfield, Topsham, Vermont. The forest covers areas in Caledonia, Orange, and Washington Counties. Major roads through the forest are U.S. Route 302 and Vermo ...

occupies most of the western third of the town. The highest point in Groton is Signal Mountain, near the southwest corner of the town. The CDP of Groton is the primary settlement in the town, located in the southeastern corner along US 302 and the Wells River. It has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.03%, is water.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 876 people, 338 households, and 252 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 16.2 people per square mile (6.3/km²). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 10.9 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.46%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.26% Native American, 0.23% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.05% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 0.34% of the population. There were 338 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were couples living together and joined in either

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

civil union A civil union (also known as a civil partnership) is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a means to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage ...

, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.99. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $36,719. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $18,269 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $14,659. Below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

were 10.5% of people, 6.8% of families, 11.9% of those under 18 and 9.1% of those over 64.

Infrastructure

Roads

* U.S. Route 302 passes through the southern part of the town, leading east

Wells River, Vermont Wells River is a village in the town of Newbury in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 431 at the 2020 census. The village center is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 5 and 302. The village center (the portion near ...

, and

Woodsville, New Hampshire Woodsville is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest village in the town of Haverhill in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States, along the Connecticut River at the mouth of the Ammonoosuc River. The population was 1,431 at the 2 ...

, and west to

Barre Barre or Barré may refer to: * Barre (name) or Barré, a surname and given name Places United States * Barre, Massachusetts, a New England town ** Barre (CDP), Massachusetts, the central village in the town * Barre, New York, a town * Barre (c ...

and Montpelier. * Vermont Route 232 leads north from US-302 through Groton State Forest to Marshfield.

Recreation

Groton is home to five state parks in

: Big Deer State Park, Boulder Beach State Park,

Ricker Pond State Park Ricker Pond State Park is a state park in Groton, Vermont in the United States. It is one of seven state parks located in Groton State Forest. The park is just off Vermont Route 232. The park provides public access to Ricker Pond, a lake in ce ...

, Seyon Lodge State Park and Stillwater State Park, as well as the Groton Nature Center. Activities in the parks include hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, boating, picnicking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The Groton Fall Festival and the Fall Foliage Chicken Pie are annual traditions.

Notable people

* Bristol Bill, infamous burglar and counterfeiter, lived in Groton and was captured there after a multi-year crime spree * William Scott,

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

soldier pardoned by

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

; known as "The Sleeping Sentinel" was born in Groton

References

External links

Town of Groton official website

Groton Historical Society
{{authority control Towns in Vermont Towns in Caledonia County, Vermont