Groton dates to 1655, and 17% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 83% of U.S. towns · #204 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
7 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 7 buildings. Below: 12 old photos and papers, maps from 1893 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1835.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Groton’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Groton is more historic than 83% of U.S. towns, #204 of 283 in Massachusetts. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Groton’s overall grade.
Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Groton’s 13.2 sits below most of its state (29% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 15 historic buildings outnumber those of 78% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1655.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.5 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). 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 Groton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The area surrounding modern-day Groton has, for thousands of years, been the territory of various cultures of indigenous peoples. They settled along the rivers, which they used for domestic tasks, fishing and transportation. Historic tribes were the Algonquian-speaking Nipmuc and Nashaway Indians, who established trails connecting the area to Massachusetts Bay.
The European presence in the era began when John Tinker established a trading post with the Nashaway tribe at the confluence of Nod Brook and the Nashua River. The Nashaway called the area Petapawag, meaning "swampy land." Over the years, more European settlers moved to the area, as it was productive for fishing and farming.
Passages that mention Groton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The natural history and topography of Groton, Massachusetts1912 · page 128Read the page →
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Court at their present Session, have shewed forth, that there is a Great Bridge erected over Concord- River, in the Township of Billerica, and that the said Bridge was built by the Totvns of Billerica, Chelmsford and Groton ; and according to a fortner Settlement made by a Committee appointed for the Settlement of the Charge of the Bridges in the County 6/ Middlesex. But the Town of Groton, upon Application to this Court in 1699, d*d obtain a Discharge from either building or repairing for the future, without further Order from this Court. And
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Facts relating to the history of Groton, Massachusetts1912Read the page →
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Court at their present Session, have shelved forth, that there is a Great Bridge erected over Concord-River, in the Totvnship of Billerica, and that the said Bridge 7eias built by the Towns of Billerica, Chelmsford and Groton ; and according to a former Settlement made by a Committee appointed for the Settlement of the Charge of the Bridges in the County of Middlesex. But the Town of Groton, upon Application to this Court in 1699, did obtain a Discharge from either building or repairing for the future, tvithout further Order from this Court. And
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Facts relating to the history of Groton, Massachusetts1912 · page 109Read the page →
Read the text
Also from Groton in the County of Middlesex, that on [Wednesday] the 1 6th Instant, there was a very great Flood, such as has not been known for several Years past, and that many Hundred Pounds Damage has been done thereby to the Bridges, &c. it took the Bridge which stood a cross Lancaster-River, so called, intirely off; which is the fourth Bridge the Town of Groton has built in about 28 years last past.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The natural history and topography of Groton, Massachusetts1912 · page 109Read the page →
Read the text
Also from Groton in the County of Middlesex, that on [Wednesday] the 1 6th Instant, there was a very great Flood, such as has not been known for several Years past, and that many Hundred Pounds Damage has been done thereby to the Bridges, &c. it took the Bridge which stood a cross Lancaster-River, so called, intirely off; which is the fourth Bridge the Town of Groton has built in about 28 years last past.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Groton, decade by decade
4 decades in the archive, from the 1890s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1655, according to Wikidata. Groton’s post office opened in 1835, and the first U.S. census counted 1,840 people here in 1790.
How does Groton rank for history?
Groton is more historic than 83% of U.S. towns, #204 of 283 in Massachusetts. 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.
What is on the National Register in Groton?
7 listings: 6 buildings, among them the Groton Inn (listed 1976, the first), and 1 historic district, the Groton Leatherboard Company, with 7 contributing buildings. 15 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Groton?
17% of Groton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.5 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1988.
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 Wikimedia Commons (12), Wikidata (6), the National Register of Historic Places (7), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) 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.
![Also from Groton in the County of Middlesex, that on [Wednesday] the 1 6th Instant, there was a very great Flood, such as has not been known for several Years past, and that many Hundred Pounds Damage has been done thereby to the Bridges, &c. it took the Bridge which stood a cross Lancaster-River, …](https://images.townratings.com/story/24016/bk-6ad60a20c552390b-l.jpg)
![Also from Groton in the County of Middlesex, that on [Wednesday] the 1 6th Instant, there was a very great Flood, such as has not been known for several Years past, and that many Hundred Pounds Damage has been done thereby to the Bridges, &c. it took the Bridge which stood a cross Lancaster-River, …](https://images.townratings.com/story/24016/bk-8a950f2f62c1b223-l.jpg)
1899
1901–1907
c. 1905
1907–1915
1907
1915–1930
1918
1932
