Grafton's agricultural atmosphere and sports culture
Grafton’s gridlock streets give way to farms and crop fields, creating a strong agricultural feeling in the town. “We’re a really big farming community,” says Shirley Burns, secretary and treasurer with the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce. “We raised sugar beets, potatoes, wheat and beans, but sugar beets and potatoes are the bigger crops.” While the agricultural influence bleeds into the town’s culture through the seasonal farmers market and the area’s setting, but Grafton is also a big sports town. Between school sports and local leagues, Burns explains that sports are a great way people meet each other in Grafton, often seeing each other again and again at games and matches throughout the season.
Ranging housing styles and homeownership grants
Nationals, Cape Cods, split levels and ranch-style homes sit along blocks lined with sidewalks. Young trees cast small bouts of shade over the sidewalks while older trees rise over the rooftops. Lampposts are on the street corners. Homes typically range from $75,000 to $390,000. The city is trying to boost home ownership and their population, so the government started a housing incentive where people can receive grants to go to homeownership and maintenance costs. For new properties and construction, homebuyers can receive up to $20,000, while existing properties qualify for $10,000. Some properties can also qualify for tax exemptions and waived utility hookup fees.
Community parks supporting hockey, skating and fitness
Leistikow Park is the city’s largest green space, offering basketball, tennis and volleyball courts and a disc golf course. In the summer, residents can cool off in the outdoor pool. A walking trail opens for cross-country skiing in the winter. Just after Thanksgiving, the outdoor ice-skating rink typically opens for the winter. “The city actually has two different skating rinks,” Burns says, stating how one is predominantly used for local hockey leagues. “The other is just for skating — no pucks or sticks allowed.” The Collette Community Fitness Center provides indoor recreation options, including a weight room, gym and indoor pool. Right in the center of town is the Walsh County Heritage Village. “It’s our historical site, where we all kinds of buildings with memorabilia and a working carousel, which a lot of places don’t have anymore,” Burns says.
Grafton's local restaurants and grocery store options
For a casual diner experience, locals head to Granny’s Family Restaurant. While it has a similar name. Shenanigan’s Family Restaurant is a bit more upscale than Granny’s, with more expensive pork and chicken entrée options. Roma’s Italian Bistro serves pizza and pasta that patrons can enjoy in a dining room with red-painted brick walls decorated with pictures of Italy. For groceries, Hugo’s Family Marketplace is the city’s grocery store, though people can also stop in Family Dollar and Dollar General for other convenience needs.
Summer festivals and seasonal farmers markets in Grafton
In late June, Summerfest celebrates the middle of the summer with a parade, live music, foot trucks and fireworks. On Tuesday afternoons from July to September, the Grafton Farmer’s Market takes place at the Walsh County Heritage Village, featuring local producers and vendors. “Residents can bring their wares if they have big gardens or jarred goods,” Burns says.
Public schools sharing the same building and offering CTE classes
From prekindergarten through second grade, students attend Century Primary School, while third through sixth graders go to Century Intermediate School. However, both schools are technically in the same building, but students head through different entrances and have different teachers and administrators. Grafton Junior High and High School also share the same building. The high school partners with the North Valley Career and Technical Center, so students can get education and experience in fields like business, construction and agriculture. All schools are unrated on Niche and GreatSchools.
Getting around via East 12th Street and Hill Avenue
East 12th Street goes down the center of the city, lined with businesses and Unity Medical Center. Hill Avenue is another major thoroughfare through Grafton, becoming U.S. Highway 81 outside of the city. Residents can use the highway to get to bigger North Dakota cities like Grand Forks, about 41 miles south. Grand Forks International Airport is about 44 miles away.
Written By
Caroline Ernst
