Editing Clayton, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = City of Clayton
 | settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
 | image_skyline            = Parts Of Clayton, CA.jpg
 | imagesize                = 300px
 | image_caption            = Parts of Clayton as seen from [[Mount Diablo|Mt. Diablo]] in Summer 2005
 | image_seal               = 
| image_blank_emblem              = Clayton ca logo bw.png
| blank_emblem_type               = Logo
 | image_map                = File:Contra Costa County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Clayton Highlighted 0613882.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = Location of Clayton in Contra Costa County, California.
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | pushpin_map              = USA
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
 | pushpin_relief           = 1
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]]
 | established_title        = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date         = March 18, 1964<ref>{{Cite web
   |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
   |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
   |format=Word 
   |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
   |access-date=March 26, 2013 |url-status=dead 
   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
   |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name              = Julie Pierce<ref>{{Cite web
   |url=http://www.ci.clayton.ca.us/index.php?section=30
   |title=Clayton City Council
   |access-date=March 27, 2013
   |publisher=City of Clayton}}</ref>
 | leader_title1            = [[California's 7th State Senate district|State Senator]]
 | leader_name1             = {{Representative|casd|7|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators
 |title=Senators
 |access-date=March 21, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
 | leader_title2            = [[California's 14th State Assembly district|State&nbsp;Assembly]]
 | leader_name2             = {{Representative|caad|15|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
   |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
   |title=Members Assembly
   |access-date=March 21, 2013
   |publisher=State of California}}</ref>
 | leader_title3            = [[California's 10th congressional district|U. S. Congress]]
 | leader_name3             = {{Representative|cacd|10|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|10|access-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 3.84
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 3.84
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
 | area_total_km2           = 9.95
 | area_land_km2            = 9.95
 | area_water_km2           = 0.00
 | area_water_percent       = 0
 | area_note                = 
 | elevation_ft             = 394
 | elevation_m              = 120
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_total         = 11070
 | population_metro         = 
 | population_density_km2   = 1113.09
 | population_density_sq_mi = 2882.81
 | timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
 | utc_offset               = -8
 | coordinates              = {{coord|37|56|28|N|121|56|09|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
 | timezone_DST             = PDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -7
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 | postal_code              = 94517
 | area_code                = [[Area code 925|925]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 06-13882
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
 | blank1_info              = {{GNIS4|277488}}, {{GNIS4|2409474}}
 | footnotes                = 
 | website                  = {{URL|http://www.ci.clayton.ca.us/}}
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
}}

'''Clayton''' (formerly '''Clayton's''' and '''Claytonville'''<ref>{{gnis|277488}}</ref>) is a city in [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]], [[California]], United States. The population was 11,585 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
In 1857, the town of Clayton was laid out and founded by Joel Henry Clayton (1812–1872) and his two younger brothers. Clayton was born in Bugsworth, now [[Buxworth]], in the [[United Kingdom]], and emigrated to the United States in 1837. After years in other states he settled down with his wife Margaret (1820–1908) at his town at the foot of Mount Diablo, where he and his family prospered. Clayton was named after Joel Henry Clayton, although only by the flip of a coin. Joel Clayton and Charles Rhine cofounded the town, and each wanted to name it after himself. If Charles had won it would have become Rhinesville, but Joel Clayton won. Joel and his wife Margaret both died in Clayton, and were buried in Live Oak Cemetery in what is now [[Concord, California|Concord]], CA.<ref>[http://claytonhistory.org/joelclayton.aspx "Joel Clayton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725175752/http://claytonhistory.org/joelclayton.aspx |date=July 25, 2011 }} from the Clayton Historical Society</ref>

Clayton prospered during the coal mining boom in eastern Contra Costa County. The post office opened in 1861.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|617}}</ref> Following a previous incorporation attempt in 1960, Clayton incorporated in 1964 <ref name=CGN /> in order to stave off an annexation attempt in 1963 of the Cardinet Glen neighborhood by nearby Concord. After steady expansion during the 1970s to the east and west from its original boundaries, Clayton's land area more than doubled in 1987 to near its present-day boundaries with the annexations of the Dana Hills/Dana Ridge and Clayton Wood subdivisions, as well as the former Keller Ranch property that was developed during the 1990s with the Oakhurst Country Club.

===Fires===

Wildfires have been a common occurrence in recent years as California had a major drought from [[2011–2017 California drought|2011-2017.]]

On September 8, 2013, fire broke out on Mount Diablo. Called the Morgan Fire, it started at the mercury mine area of Morgan Territory Road. The fire grew quickly and threatened homes and livestock. Evacuations were ordered for several areas, including Oak Hill Lane and Curry Canyon. It took over 1000 firefighters and eight aircraft to extinguish it. Full containment was announced on September 14, 2013, having burned {{convert|3100|acres|sqmi+ha|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=908 | title=Morgan Fire General Information}}</ref>

On July 25, 2018, a vegetation fire broke out on Marsh Creek Rd near Morgan Territory. One home and 3 out buildings were destroyed. Evacuations were ordered for that evening. By July 28 the fire was 100% contained.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/07/25/two-alarm-fire-threatens-homes-along-marsh-creek-road-in-clayton/ | title=Marsh Creek Fire 2018}}</ref>

On August 16, 2020, Lightning strikes caused many fires across the state, one of which was another Morgan Fire which became part of the SCU Lightning Complex fires.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.8|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Clayton is located at the foot of [[Mt. Diablo]].

===Climate===

This region experiences hot and dry summers. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Clayton has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=519540&cityname=Clayton%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Clayton, California]</ref>

On December 7, 2009, snow fell in Clayton and Concord for the first time since the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://my.ktvu.com/_Clayton-CA-Snow-Storm-2009/photo/6894913/6704.html?b= |title=Photo from local newstation KTVU Channel 2 |publisher=My.ktvu.com |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=March 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320075927/http://my.ktvu.com/_Clayton-CA-Snow-Storm-2009/photo/6894913/6704.html?b= |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=60%
|location = Clayton, California
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F  =75
| Feb record high F  =80
| Mar record high F  =85
| Apr record high F  =95
| May record high F  =98
| Jun record high F  =104
| Jul record high F  =106
| Aug record high F  =108
| Sep record high F  =115
| Oct record high F  =101
| Nov record high F  =83
| Dec record high F  =77
| year record high F =112
|Jan high F = 54.2
|Feb high F = 57.4
|Mar high F = 60.1
|Apr high F = 67.1
|May high F = 75.5
|Jun high F = 84.3
|Jul high F = 90.6
|Aug high F = 88.8
|Sep high F = 85.2
|Oct high F = 71.2
|Nov high F = 61.7
|Dec high F = 54.7
|year high F =69.3
|Jan low F = 35.0
|Feb low F = 37.2
|Mar low F = 39.8
|Apr low F = 44.6
|May low F = 48.9
|Jun low F = 55.6
|Jul low F = 58.0
|Aug low F = 56.4
|Sep low F = 50.2
|Oct low F = 46.9
|Nov low F = 39.8
|Dec low F = 36.3
|year low F =46.3
| Jan record low F  =15
| Feb record low F  =23
| Mar record low F  =26
| Apr record low F  =28
| May record low F  =31
| Jun record low F  =38
| Jul record low F  =40
| Aug record low F  =41
| Sep record low F  =37
| Oct record low F  =31
| Nov record low F  =24
| Dec record low F  =17
| year record low F =15
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch = 		4.02
|Feb precipitation inch = 		3.87
|Mar precipitation inch = 		2.91
|Apr precipitation inch = 		1.24
|May precipitation inch = 		0.69
|Jun precipitation inch = 		0.14
|Jul precipitation inch = 		0.02
|Aug precipitation inch = 		0.05
|Sep precipitation inch = 		0.17
|Oct precipitation inch = 		1.02
|Nov precipitation inch = 		2.39
|Dec precipitation inch = 		3.61
|year precipitation inch = 		20.12
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11
|Feb precipitation days = 11
|Mar precipitation days =  8
|Apr precipitation days =  6
|May precipitation days =  4
|Jun precipitation days =  1
|Jul precipitation days =  0
|Aug precipitation days =  0
|Sep precipitation days =  1
|Oct precipitation days =  3
|Nov precipitation days =  6
|Dec precipitation days = 10
|year precipitation days =59
|source 1 = Western Regional Climate Center (temperature & precipitation days, 1991-present),<ref name = WRCC>{{cite web
  |url = http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca1967
  |title = General Climate Summary Tables&nbsp;– Concord Wastewater Plan, California
  |publisher= Western Regional Climate Center
  |access-date = April 23, 2020
}}</ref> PRISM Climate Group (precipitation, 1981-2010)<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|publisher=Oregon State University
|title=PRISM Climate Group
|access-date=April 23, 2020
}} Input coordinates: 37.9414 N, -121.9354 W.</ref>
|date=April 2020
}}

==Education==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2010}}
It is in the [[Mount Diablo Unified School District]].<ref name=ContraCostaSDmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06013_contra_costa/DC20SD_C06013.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Contra Costa County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=December 25, 2022}}</ref>

The public schools which the K-12 students of Clayton attend include: Mt. Diablo Elementary School, Highlands Elementary School, Diablo View Middle School, Pine Hollow Middle School, and Clayton Valley Charter High School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MDUSD Schools - Mt. Diablo Unified School District |url=https://www.mdusd.org/schools33/schools |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=www.mdusd.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Public libraries===

The Clayton branch of the [[Contra Costa County Library]] system is located in Clayton.<ref>[http://ccclib.org/locations/clayton.html Clayton Library]. [[Contra Costa County Library]]. Retrieved on April 1, 2010.</ref>

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1970= 1385
|1980= 4325
|1990= 7317
|2000= 10762
|2010= 10897
|2020= 11070
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Clayton had a population of 11,070. The population density was {{convert|2,882.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Clayton was 73.6% [[White Americans|White]], 1.6% [[African Americans|African American]], 0.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 9.4% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 2.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 12.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 11.2% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Clayton city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0613882 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

The Census reported that 99.9% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 4,089 households, out of which 31.9% included children under the age of 18, 68.6% were married-couple households, 3.2% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 20.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 7.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 17.6% of households were one person, and 11.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.70.<ref name=DP1/> There were 3,214 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (78.6% of all households).<ref name=P16>{{cite web |title=Clayton city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0613882 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 20.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% aged 18 to 24, 17.4% aged 25 to 44, 32.3% aged 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 48.6{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 4,165 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,084.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 4,089 (98.2%) were occupied. Of these, 89.9% were owner-occupied, and 10.1% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 14.1% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 85.8% spoke only English at home, 3.9% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 5.4% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 3.6% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.2% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 98.5% were high school graduates and 58.8% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clayton city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0613882 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $172,226, and the [[per capita income]] was $73,228. About 1.4% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clayton city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0613882 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

==Politics==

According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 10, 2019, Clayton has 8,078 registered voters. Of those, 3,128 (38.7%) are registered [[California Democratic Party|Democrats]], 2,685 (33.2%) are registered [[California Republican Party|Republicans]], and 1,888 (23.4%) have [[Decline to State|declined to state]] a political party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-odd-year-2019/politicalsub.pdf|title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019|website=ca.gov|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ '''Clayton vote<br/> by party in presidential elections<ref>https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/statewide-election-results/</ref>'''
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.5%''' ''4,079''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.3% ''2,787''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.2%''' ''4,605''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.7% ''2,882''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.9%''' ''3,500''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.9% ''2,479''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.5%''' ''3,210''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.6% ''3,020''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.1%''' ''3,625''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.5% ''2,862''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.7% ''2,979''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.6%''' ''3,357''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.1% ''2,653''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.6%''' ''3,161''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.2% ''2,232''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.2%''' ''2,430''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.0% ''1,781''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''40.7%''' ''1,906''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.3% ''1,277''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.0%''' ''2,421''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|28.0% ''657''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''71.5%''' ''1,680''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|24.9% ''504''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.5%''' ''1,306''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.3% ''455''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.1%''' ''684''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.9% ''210''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.5%''' ''393''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.8% ''212''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.2%''' ''299''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.6%''' ''159''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.4% ''122''
|}

==Media==

The city of Clayton is served by the daily [[newspaper]] ''[[East Bay Times]]'' published by Bay Area News Group-East Bay (part of the [[Media News Group]], Denver, Colorado), and by the local newspapers ''The Clayton Pioneer'', and the ''Diablo Gazette'', and is also served by Claycord.com, a conservative local news platform and blog covering community news and events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Claycord-com-focuses-on-nitty-gritty-local-news-3265060.php|title=Claycord.com focuses on nitty-gritty local news|website=sfgate.com|access-date=February 22, 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==

*[[Sean Farnham]], sports analyst
*[[Bob Jones (third baseman)|Bob Jones]], baseball player
*[[Kara Kohler]], Olympic rower
*[[Charlie Krueger]], football player
*[[Brandon Mull]], fantasy author
*[[Paul Napolitano]], basketball player
*[[Sam Williams (linebacker)|Sam Williams]], football player

==References==

{{reflist|30em}}

*{{gnis|277488}}

==External links==

{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}

*{{Wikivoyage inline|Clayton (California)}}
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.claytonhistory.org/ Clayton Historical Society website]

{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Contra Costa County, California}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clayton, California}}
[[Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in California]]