The land that became Grafton Village was part of the of the New Connecticut Western Reserve began to be settled in 1816. By the spring of 1817 there were 42 people living in the town.

Grafton Village is located along the East Branch of the Black River. It was incorporated as the the Village of Grafton on January 1st in 1877.  population in was 5,895 in the 2020 census there were there were 2,302 people, 832 households, and 643 families living in the village. The Lorain Correctional Institution and several other prisons are located in and near Grafton.