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History · Groton

Groton dates to 1761

Most of Groton was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1984. Below: 2 old photos and papers.

1761founded
0on the National Register
7%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers

How Groton began

When was Groton founded?

1761

Groton dates its founding to 1761 (Wikidata). Its post office opened in 1811.

2020 census: 569265 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1811.The full story ↓

What stands out about Groton’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.Older than the countryEstablished in 1761, 15 years before the Declaration of Independence.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Groton’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Groton’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo2 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Timeline

Groton, 1761 to 1944

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1761
    FoundingGroton is established
  3. 19th century
  4. 1811Post officeThe Groton post office opens
  5. 1816Born hereAugustus P. Hunton is born here
  6. 1827Born hereCharles C. P. Holden is born here
  7. 1849Post officeThe North Groton post office opens
  8. 20th century
  9. 1920Post officeThe North Groton post office closes
  10. 1944Post officeThe Groton post office closes
The story

How Groton came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Groton.

Read it all →

It was originally named "Cockermouth" in honor of Charles Wyndham, Baron Cockermouth and Earl of Egremont, who was Great Britain's Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1761 to 1763. Due to non-settlement the land was regranted in 1766, then renewed in 1772. In 1796, one of the later grantees, Samuel Blood, succeeded in renaming the town after his hometown, Groton, Massachusetts.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Groton, decade by decade

Date unknown2 to date
Annual report for the Town ofDate?Annual report for the Town ofBookAnnual report for the Town ofDate?Annual report for the Town ofBook
Today4 recent
GrotonNH Library2013GrotonNH LibraryQuartz smokey New Hampshire152010Quartz smokey New Hampshire15Heterosite-Purpite Iron Manganese phosphate Palmermo Mine, North Groton, New Hampshire 29222007Heterosite-Purpite Iron Manganese phosphate Palmermo …Graftonite with Triphylite Iron manganese calcium phosphate Palermo Mine, North Groton, New Hampshire 28632007Graftonite with Triphylite Iron manganese calcium pho…
Famous people

2 famous people were born in Groton

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Augustus P. HuntonAmerican politician · b. 1816
Charles C. P. HoldenAmerican politician, Illinois · b. 1827
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Groton had its own post office from 1811 to 1944. Another post office, North Groton, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Groton
1811–1944
North Groton
1849–1920
18101920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
North Groton
1cemetery inside Groton
North Groton

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Dorchester2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townPlymouth3 historic placesARumneyIts storyB+Hebron3 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townOrangeIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townCanaan2 historic placesA+

Questions about Groton’s history

What year was Groton founded?

In 1761, according to Wikidata. Groton’s post office opened in 1811.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.