Editing Clayton, Oklahoma (section)

== History ==

Clayton was formerly known as Dexter. A [[United States Post Office]] was established at Dexter, Indian Territory on March 31, 1894, and was named for Dexter Chapman, early-day resident.

Dexter was located in [[Wade County, Choctaw Nation]].<ref>Morris, John W. ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.</ref>
  
The official name of the post office name changed to Clayton, Indian Territory on April 5, 1907. Its name is thought to have been derived from [[Clayton, Missouri]].<ref>George H. Shirk, ''Oklahoma Place Names'', pp. 48 & 63; Post Office Site Location Reports, Record Group 28, National Archives</ref> It is also possible the town renamed itself after William H.H. Clayton, judge of the U.S. Court for the Central District of [[Indian Territory]]. Judge Clayton was prominent in the role to gain [[Oklahoma]]’s statehood.

Clayton is the largest town or community in northern Pushmataha County. It is the region's largest trading center due to its relative distance from the county seat of [[Antlers, Oklahoma|Antlers]]—36 miles.

Flagpole Mountain retains a fire tower. Built of metal and several stories tall, it was once part of a network of towers, all staffed, from which a fire watch was maintained. It is the only tower remaining in Pushmataha County, although it is no longer operational. Views from the tower offer a panorama stretching for many miles in any direction.

Clayton, as regional trading center, remains economically healthy, with a locally based economy. It is currently home to a [[Public school (government funded)|public school]], several [[Church (building)|churches]], and numerous businesses and homes.

During recent years the [[Clayton High School Auditorium (Oklahoma)|Clayton High School]] has become recognized as an architecturally and historically significant building, and has been added to the [[National Register of Historic Places|NRHP]]. The building was found to be a very unusual example of [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] architecture—one of only two known single-use auditoriums constructed by the WPA.

On February 13, 2015, approximately 5% of the town population was arrested in a methamphetamine drug sweep.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okcfox.com/story/28104082/obn-dismantles-large-drug-ring-in-southeast-oklahoma |title=OBN dismantles large drug ring in southeastern Oklahoma |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= February 13, 2015 |website=www.okcfox.com/ |publisher=KOHK-TV |access-date=February 13, 2015 }}</ref>

More information on the history of Clayton may be found in the [[Pushmataha County Historical Society]].