National Register Record for GRAND TOWN SITE

Historic Name: GRAND TOWN SITE
Current Name: SAME
Address: 11 MILES SOUTH OF ARNETT
City: ARNETT VICINITY            County: ELLIS
Section: 6           Township: 17N           Range: 24E          
Description of significance: THE TOWN OF GRAND WAS FORMED SHORTLY AFTER THE CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO RESERVATION AREA WAS OPENED FOR SETTLEMENT IN 1892. FROM 1896 TO 1906, GRAND WAS THE COUNTY SEAT OF DAY COUNTY. AFTER STATEHOOD IN 1907, DAY COUNTY WAS SPLIT INTO ELLIS COUNTY AND ROGER MILLS COUNTY. GRAND BECAME PART OF ELLIS COUNTY. AN ELECTION TO MOVE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT TO NEARBY ARNETT RESULTED IN THE RAPID DECLINE OF THE TOWN OF GRAND. WITH NO RAIL SERVICE AND NO LONGER THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, GRAND FADED INTO A GHOST TOWN. ONLY THE REMAINS OF A FEW BUILDINGS CAN BE SEEN TODAY. AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS A COURTHOUSE, A JAIL, TWO SALOONS, SEVERAL STORES AND OTHER BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS HOMES FOR THE TOWNS APPROXIMATELY 200 RESIDENTS. LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER 6/5/72.

Type: SITE
Historic Function: DOMESTIC: VILLAGE SITE
Current Function: AGRICULTURE/SUBSISTENCE
Area of Significance 1: POLITICAL
Area of Significance 2: 1892
Architectural Style: None
Architect: None
Year Built: None            Original Site: YES
Condition: DETERIORATED
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: JANUARY 1972