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 10.5 mi 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 13 mi to Interstate 95 at Smithfield. Downtown Raleigh is 16 mi 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 35.05 sqkm, of which 34.99 sqkm were land and 0.06 sqkm, 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 107 F on August 18, 1988, while the coldest temperature recorded was -10 F on January 21, 1985.

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 1,192.8 PD/sqmi with an inventory of 6,648 housing units at an average density of 492 /sqmi. 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.

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 President of University of Maryland, Baltimore County
 * 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