Half of Grafton Township’s homes were built after 2001
More historic than 12% of U.S. towns · #714 of 768 in Illinois. What drives it
Most of Grafton Township was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2001. Below: maps from 1925 on and old-book passages.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Grafton Township is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #714 of 768 in Illinois. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Grafton Township’s overall grade.
Few Illinois towns list much on the Register (a typical Illinois town has 0.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Grafton Township’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (28% of Illinois towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share (±0.6 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Grafton Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Grafton Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1925Elgin sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Grafton Township.
The story so far
Grafton Township, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Grafton Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Grafton Township is located in McHenry County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, its population was 53,137 and it contained 17,922 housing units. Grafton Township includes portions of Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, and Lakewood.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 53,137 to 56,446 (+6%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about Grafton Township, 1885–1922
Passages that mention Grafton Township, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of McHenry County, Illinois1922 · page 379Read the page →
Read the text
In the southwestern part of the county is found the civil township of Coral, which comprises all of congressional township 43, range 6, east, hence is six miles square. It is south of Seneca Township, west of Grafton Township, north of Kane County, and east of Riley Township. Its soil is fertile and especially well adapted for dairy purposes. The territory is well watered by Kiswaukee Creek and its small tributaries.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of McHenry County, Illinois1885 · page 638Read the page →
Read the text
There are but two cemeteries in Grafton Township, and these are both located at Huntley Village. About thirty years ago the Protestants laid out a burying ground south of the village. It contains about two acres and is one of the most beautiful cities of the dead to be found anywhere in the country. South of this cemetery a short distance is situated the Catholic Cemetery which was laid out in 1882. It contains about two acres, is beautifully located arid kept in fine order.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Grafton Township is more historic than 12% of U.S. towns, #714 of 768 in Illinois. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Grafton Township?
2% of Grafton Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 11% for an Illinois town; the median home was built in 2001.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
