Clayton, North Carolina

Clayton, North Carolina
Clayton is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States, and is considered a satellite town of Raleigh. As of 2010, Clayton's population was 16,116, up from 6,973 at the 2000 census. By 2019 the town's estimated population was 24,887. Much of that growth can be attributed to the town's proximity to the Research Triangle area and access to major highways such as I-40 and US 70.
Geography
Clayton is in northern Johnston County, with a small portion extending northwest along US 70 Business into Wake County. In 2006, construction began on the Highway 70 Clayton Bypass, a stretch from Interstate 40 along the southern portion of Clayton to Highway 70 business southeast of town. It was completed in June 2008. US 70 leads southeast to Interstate 95 at Smithfield. Downtown Raleigh is northwest of Clayton via US 70 Business and Interstate 40. Many local unincorporated communities outside of the town limits use Clayton mailing addresses, including Cleveland, Powhatan, and Flowers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2010 census the town had an area of , of which were land and , or 0.16%, were water. The town is part of the Neuse River watershed. The town limits now extend northeast to the Neuse River and beyond.
Town Hall is located at 111 East Second Street and is shared with The Clayton Center, a performing arts and conference center.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Clayton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Clayton was on August 18, 1988, while the coldest temperature recorded was on January 21, 1985.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,307 people, 7,488 households, and 5,294 families residing in the town.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 16,116 residents living within the Town of Clayton. There were 5,944 households, with an average of 2.57 persons per household. The population density was with an inventory of 6,648 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 69.5% White, 21.8% African American, 10.7% Hispanic or Latino 0.4% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander.
Of the 5,944 households in the 2010 census, 44% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30% were non-families. 25.4% of non-family households were made up of householders living alone. 16.3% of households had individuals 65 years of age or older.
The age demographics of the 2010 census determined that 32.9% were under the age of 19, 4.9% were aged 20 to 24, 32.8% aged 25 to 44, 20.8% aged 45 to 64, and 8.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.9 years. Females made up 52.5% of the population while males made up 47.5% of the population.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,101, and the median income for a family was $64,856. Males had a median income of $46,108 versus $40,839 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,234. These figures put Town of Clayton well ahead of the North Carolina averages for the same categories.
Arts and culture
Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:
Clayton Banking Company Building
Clayton Graded School and Clayton Grammar School-Municipal Auditorium
Clayton Historic District
Cleveland School
Ellington-Ellis Farm
Walter R. and Eliza Smith Moore House
Sanders-Hairr House
Stallings-Carpenter House
Parks and recreation
East Clayton Community Park features soccer and baseball fields, a disc golf course, picnic areas, a walking trail, and a playground.
Government
Town Council
Education
Clayton High School
Cleveland High School
Clayton Middle School
Cooper Academy
Cleveland Elementary School
East Clayton Elementary School
Powhatan Elementary School
River Dell Elementary School
Riverwood Elementary School
Riverwood Middle School
West Clayton Elementary School
American Leadership Academy Johnston
Notable people
Chris Archer, Major League Baseball player
Valerie Ashby, chemist and university professor
Sam Beddingfield, test pilot and a pioneering aerospace engineer
Gary Clark, NBA player
William Dodd (1869–1940), historian and United States Ambassador to Germany from 1933 to 1937
Vern Duncan, former Major League Baseball player
Douglas Ellington, architect noted for his work in the Art Deco style
Eric Ellington, pioneer of military aviation and namesake of Ellington Field in Houston, Texas
Kendra "Keni" Harrison, set the world record in the women's 100 metres hurdles at the London Grand Prix
Jaylee Burley Mead (1929–2012), astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Rodney Rowe, track and field sprinter
James Talacek, professional aquanaut
Kodi Whitley, Major League Baseball pitcher
References
External links
Clayton Chamber of Commerce
1869 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1869
Populated places on the Neuse River
Towns in Johnston County, North Carolina
Towns in Wake County, North Carolina
Towns in North Carolina