Grafton, North Dakota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Grafton, North Dakota is a small city located in Walsh County, North Dakota. It is situated on the banks of the Red River, which serves as a natural border between North Dakota and Minnesota. With a population of just under 4,000 people, Grafton is the county seat for Walsh County.

The area was first settled by European immigrants in 1881 and was named after Grafton County in New Hampshire. The city was officially incorporated in 1883 and quickly developed into an important regional hub for commerce and transportation. The Northern Pacific Railway arrived in 1888 and began transporting goods to the city from other parts of the state and beyond.

Grafton has long been known as an agricultural center due to its location near the Red River Valley. The fertile soil here produces abundant crops of wheat, corn, soybeans, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers and other vegetables. In addition to farming activities in the area, Grafton also has several manufacturing companies that produce food products such as potato chips and popcorn.

The city also has a vibrant downtown area that features many historic buildings from its early days as a railroad town. There are several antique stores scattered throughout downtown that offer unique items from the past for shoppers to browse through. One of Grafton’s most popular attractions is its annual Potato Bowl Festival which takes place every October at nearby Riverside Park on the banks of the Red River.

The city also has many recreational opportunities available for residents such as golfing at one of two courses nearby or fishing on one of several local lakes including Lake Alice or Lake Williams. There are also plenty of trails throughout town that provide great opportunities for hiking or biking along with camping sites available at nearby state parks like Turtle River State Park or Sheyenne National Grassland which offers scenic views along with fishing and hunting activities during certain seasons.

Grafton has something to offer everyone who visits it whether they are looking for outdoor recreation activities or wanting to explore its rich history through its downtown shops and attractions such as its annual Potato Bowl Festival. Its friendly atmosphere makes it an ideal place to live or visit while exploring all that North Dakota has to offer.

Population: 4,516. Estimated population in July 2024: 4,248 (-5.9% change)
Males: 2,167 (48.0%), Females: 2,349 (52.0%)

Walsh County

Zip code: 58237

Demographics

Median resident age: 39.9 years
Median household income: $33,231
Median house value: $61,400

Population by Race

Races in Grafton:

  • White Non-Hispanic (87.9%)
  • Hispanic (9.6%)
  • Other race (4.7%)
  • American Indian (1.8%)
  • Two or more races (1.3%)
  • Black (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Norwegian (39.4%), German (19.8%), French (8.9%), Polish (8.7%), Czech (8.3%), Irish (7.4%).

Elevation: 826 feet

Land area: 3.4 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Grafton

  • High school or higher: 73.6%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.2%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.1%
  • Unemployed: 10.3%
  • Mean travel time to work: 13.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Grafton city

  • Never married: 23.3%
  • Now married: 57.3%
  • Separated: 1.2%
  • Widowed: 9.2%
  • Divorced: 9.1%

2.3% Foreign born (1.2% Latin America, 0.8% North America, 0.3% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -420 (-8.5%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Grafton:

  • UNITY MEDICAL CENTER – CAH (164 WEST 13TH STREET)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Grafton:

  • FIRST CARE HEALTH CENTER – CAH (about 26 miles; PARK RIVER, ND)
  • PEMBINA COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL – CAH (about 33 miles; CAVALIER, ND)
  • KITTSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 41 miles; HALLOCK, MN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Grafton:

  • GRAND FORKS INTL (about 38 miles; GRAND FORKS, ND; Abbreviation: GFK)
  • THIEF RIVER FALLS REGIONAL (about 89 miles; THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN; Abbreviation: TVF)
  • DEVILS LAKE MUNI (about 106 miles; DEVILS LAKE, ND; Abbreviation: DVL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Grafton:

  • GRAFTON MUNI (about 4 miles; GRAFTON, ND; Abbreviation: GAF)
  • MINTO MUNI (about 11 miles; MINTO, ND; Abbreviation: D06)
  • ST THOMAS MUNI (about 14 miles; ST THOMAS, ND; Abbreviation: 4S5)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Grafton:

  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA-MAIN CAMPUS (about 42 miles; GRAND FORKS, ND; Full-time enrollment: 9,935)
  • NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 106 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)
  • MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MOORHEAD (about 123 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 6,400)
  • CONCORDIA COLLEGE AT MOORHEAD (about 123 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,771)
  • NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 158 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)
  • NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE-BEMIDJI (about 187 miles; BEMIDJI, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,761)
  • BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 187 miles; BEMIDJI, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,562)

Schools

Public high school in Grafton:

  • GRAFTON HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 301; Location: 1548 SCHOOL RD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Grafton:

  • CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 375; Location: 830 W 15TH ST; Grades: KG – 05)
  • GRAFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL (Students: 231; Location: 725 GRIGGS AVE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • UPPER VALLEY SPEC ED UNIT (Location: 701 W 6TH ST; Grades: 00 – 00)
  • NORTH VALLEY AREA CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER (Location: 1540 SCHOOL RD; Grades: 00 – 00)

Libraries

Library in Grafton:

  • CARNEGIE REGIONAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $131,630; Location: 49 WEST 7TH STREET; 46,736 books; 2,352 audio materials; 2,279 video materials; 34 serial subscriptions)