Groveland dates to 1639, and 17% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 77% of U.S. towns · #236 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
Its Register listings are the George Hopkinson House and the Joseph Hardy House. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1935 on, and the census since 1850.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1842.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Groveland’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Groveland is more historic than 77% of U.S. towns, #236 of 283 in Massachusetts. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Groveland’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 Groveland’s 3.0 sits below most of its state (16% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1639.
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 (±5.6 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 Groveland’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Before incorporating as a town, Groveland was previously the East Parish of Bradford, which was originally part of the town of Rowley. Before Bradford was separated from Rowley in 1672, it was called "Rowley on the Merrimack", or just "Merrimack". Bradford in turn was annexed by Haverhill in 1897. Groveland officially incorporated as a separate town on September 9, 1850. Groveland residents celebrate the anniversary of this date as Groveland Day.
Passages that mention Groveland, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Essex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men1888 · page 570Read the page →
Read the text
acres, in 1838, and of Groveland, 5230 acres, in 1850. In 1650 Ipswich contributed tlie part of Topsfield, north of the river, part of 7375 acres. The Hamlet of Ipswich, 9440 acres, was incorporated Harailton in 1793, and the Chebacco of Ipswich, 7839 acres, became Essex in 1819. In 1774, certain families of Ipswich were set off to Topsfield ; in 1784 certain others to Eowley ; and in 1846 still others to Boxford,
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Essex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men1888 · page 813Read the page →
Read the text
No highways are mentioned, therefore Mill Street, the Jacobs Road and North Street, to its junction with Tliurlow Street, at Hale's corner in Groveland, were as yet, unopened. Jonathan Harriman, in 1721, then styled Sergt., deeds to his son Leonard, forty acres of the Lambert farm, and one-eighteenth part of the saw-mill. Afterwards, perhaps on the same day, an equal area, with an eighteenth part of the saw-mill to
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
Groveland, decade by decade
One decade in the archive so far: 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.
In 1639, according to Wikidata. Groveland’s post office opened in 1842, and the census of 1850 counted 1,286 people here.
How does Groveland rank for history?
Groveland is more historic than 77% of U.S. towns, #236 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 Groveland?
Two places: the George Hopkinson House (listed 1990) and the Joseph Hardy House (1990).
How old are the homes in Groveland?
17% of Groveland’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.6 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1983.
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), the National Register of Historic Places (2), 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 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.
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