Groton is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in Caledonia County,

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

, 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 Place (United States Census Bureau), 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 counte ...

(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. An affluent bedroom community roughly 45 miles from Boston, Groton has a ...

, while others believe it was named after

Groton, Connecticut Groton ( ) is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located on the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United St ...

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; anc ...

to the northeast, and Ryegate to the east, all in Caledonia County. To the south, in Orange County, 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 juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...

(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, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, 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 into Long Isl ...

, has its headwaters in Groton.

Groton State Forest Groton State Forest covers in the towns of Danville, Groton, Marshfield, Orange, Peacham, Plainfield, and Topsham, Vermont. The forest spans across Caledonia, Orange, and Washington counties. Major roads through the forest are U.S. Rou ...

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 (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

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

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

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 chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.26% Native American, 0.23% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino 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 recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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

, 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 average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

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 ...

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 U.S. Route 302 (US 302) is an east–west spur of U.S. Route 2 in northern New England in the United States. It currently runs from Montpelier, Vermont, beginning at US 2, to Portland, Maine, at U.S. Route 1. It passes through the states of V ...

passes through the southern part of the town, leading east Wells River, Vermont, 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 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, 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 is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, 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.J ...

soldier pardoned by

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

; 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