Groton is more than 100 years old and has weathered changes of the times and the challenges of nature. Groton grew 13.6% in the last census, beating the odds of shrinking rural areas. The Groton Chamber of Commerce sponsors many activities annually including Summer Festival, the Groton Triathlon, the Chamber Best Ball Golf Tournament, a Main Street Celebration as well as awarding Outstanding Community Awards. An active group of 28 individuals formed the Groton Development Partnership. The group purchased a 135-acre tract of land for economic development purposes. Besides its link to both state and federal highways, Groton is served by the Burlington Northern Railroad, bus and truck transportation services are available, as well as the airport close by in Aberdeen- 18 minutes west of Groton.
History
Groton was established by the railroad. The town prospered along the tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. Groton, like many other prairie railroad stations, was named after one of the New England towns familiar to railroad officials. In this case, Groton received its name from Groton, Mass. The town was platted and registered in 1881, even though settlement of the area began much earlier. Embracing a strong agricultural area and expanding to meet the needs of the citizens, it has survived and faces the future with positive and progressive attitude.
Recreation / Community Activities
The city offers educational, cultural and recreational opportunities to its residents, both young and old. For the young, a strong consolidated public school system provides a solid education with about 550 students enrolled in K-12.
Groton offers a great variety of outdoor recreation. A beautiful park for picnics, camping, and play as established in the early 1900s. A new swimming pool opens in 2009. The Olive Grove Golf Course offers nine challenging holes of play. The baseball complex has hosts teams from from ages 4 to adult and provides a perfect setting for the national pass time. Besides the school football and track, the Groton Soccer Association has worked with the City to set up several soccer fields. Just minutes away are hunting, fishing opportunities and the Granary Gallery, which offers art and music programs.
The Granary Rural Cultural Center is a unique place for people to celebrate the culture and art of the Dakotas. The Granary Campus consists of the Memorial Gallery, five display rooms set in a restored wooden granary; Putney Town Hall, a multi-use center, and a large wooden gazebo for outdoor activities. The facilities sits on 2.3 acres of parkland amid shelter belts and fields in the heart of the fertile James River Valley. Located nearby is the site of the old Yorkville trading post and Tacoma Park, a summertime gathering place. The Granary hosts two major festivals annually. The All Dakota High School Fine Arts Exhibition in May celebrates the achievements of junior and senior high students from North and South Dakota. Young artists gather for intensive workshops, entertainment, awards and public art exhibition. The All Dakota Fine Arts Festival is in June displays the best in original art produced by regional visual artists. Visitors see artists doing work-in-progress, view a professional art exhibition, and be entertained in a family-oriented atmosphere.
Groton’s Carnival of Silver Skates was started in 1938. Back then, it was a mid-winter activity featuring a hockey game between two Aberdeen teams — the Canuks and Esquimox. Since then, it has blossomed into a local event for figure skating with at least 100 young skaters participating each year. Parents put much time into the annual event, making costumes and getting everything ready. The young snowflakes and former skaters make it an event that helps to break up the winter. It is indeed a pride and joy of Groton as it is the longest running amateur ice skating show in the United States.
Contact Information
- Groton City Hall, 209 N. Main, Groton, SD 57445
- Phone: 605-397-8422
- E-mail: grotonsd@grotonsd.net
- Website: grotonsd.gov
Source: City of Groton
