Editing Clayton, Delaware

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Clayton, Delaware
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| etymology          = [[John Middleton Clayton]]

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = DE 6 EB past Smyrna Avenue Clayton.jpeg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Main Street in Clayton
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = ClaytonDEseal.png
| seal_size          = 110px
| image_map          = File:Kent County Delaware Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Clayton Highlighted 1015440.svg
| mapsize            = 300px
| map_caption        = Location of Clayton in Kent County, Delaware.
| pushpin_map        = Delaware#USA
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_label      = Clayton
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Delaware

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Delaware}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Delaware|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kent County, Delaware|Kent]], [[New Castle County, Delaware|New Castle]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Nick Smith
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Cargo Hub
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->1765
| 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_10.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.95
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.95
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 3961
| population_density_sq_mi = 2033.37
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 46
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|17|26|N|75|38|04|W|region:US-DE_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 19938
| area_code          = [[Area code 302|302]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 10-15440
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 213805<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|213805}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| area_total_km2     = 5.04
| area_land_km2      = 5.04
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| population_density_km2 = 785.26
}}

'''Clayton''' is a town in [[Kent County, Delaware|Kent]] and [[New Castle County, Delaware|New Castle]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Delaware]]. Located almost entirely in Kent County, it is part of the [[Dover, Delaware]] [[Dover metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 3,961 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |access-date=May 10, 2025 }}</ref>

==History==
[[Byrd's AME Church]], the [[Clayton Railroad Station]], [[Enoch Jones House]], and [[St. Joseph's Industrial School]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Clayton is located at {{Coord|39|17|26|N|75|38|04|W|type:city_region:US-DE}} (39.2906671, –75.6343727).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}}, all land. It was named after [[John Middleton Clayton]], a prominent 19th-century Delaware lawyer and politician.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 148
|1890= 540
|1900= 819
|1910= 764
|1920= 872
|1930= 824
|1940= 890
|1950= 825
|1960= 1028
|1970= 1015
|1980= 1216
|1990= 1163
|2000= 1273
|2010= 2918
|2020= 3961
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,273 people, 499 households, and 346 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,242.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 524 housing units at an average density of {{convert|511.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 90.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.08% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.47% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.34% of the population.

There were 499 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. Of all households 25.7% were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,462, and the median income for a family was $48,000. Males had a median income of $34,792 versus $25,862 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,268. About 4.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear left}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:2022-07-16 09 17 56 View east along Delaware State Route 6 (Main Street) at Hudson Street and School Lane in Clayton, Kent County, Delaware.jpg|thumb|left|DE 6 eastbound in Clayton]]
[[Delaware Route 6]] is the main east–west road in Clayton, passing through town on Main Street and heading west to [[Blackiston, Delaware|Blackiston]] and east to [[Smyrna, Delaware|Smyrna]]. In Smyrna, DE 6 intersects [[U.S. Route 13 in Delaware|U.S. Route 13]], which connects to the [[Delaware Route 1]] toll road at two interchanges on each side of town. [[Delaware Route 300]] passes through the southern part of Clayton on Wheatleys Pond Road, heading southwest to [[Kenton, Delaware|Kenton]] and northeast to Smyrna, where it joins DE 6 and follows that route to the US 13 intersection. [[Delaware Route 15]] passes through the western part of Clayton, following DE 6 from the west before heading north on Duck Creek Road toward [[Middletown, Delaware|Middletown]].<ref>{{Delaware road map|year=2008}}</ref> The Delmarva Subdivision line of the [[Delmarva Central Railroad]] passes through Clayton, with the Delmarva Central Railroad having an interchange point with the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] in the town.<ref name=dcr>{{cite web|title=Delmarva Central Railroad|publisher=Carload Express|url=http://carloadexpress.com/railroads/delmarva-central-railroad/|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Utilities===
The Public Works department provides various utility services to Clayton. The public works department provides electricity to about 1,200 customers in Clayton. The town is a member of the [[Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation]], a wholesale electric utility which provides electricity to municipal electric departments across Delaware.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electric|publisher=Town of Clayton, DE|url=http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=94|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814064058/http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=94|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The department provides water to 1,100 customers in the town, with four underwater
wells and two elevated storage tanks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Water|publisher=Town of Clayton, DE|url=http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=96|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062612/http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=96|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The public works department serves 1,100 sewer customers in Clayton, operating eight pumping stations and contracting with Kent County for wastewater treatment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sewer|publisher=Town of Clayton, DE|url=http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=201|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062212/http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=201|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The department contracts with [[Waste Industries]] for trash collection in Clayton.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trash|publisher=Town of Clayton, DE|url=http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=102|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814063634/http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=102|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Natural gas service in Clayton is provided by [[Chesapeake Utilities]], cable service is provided by [[Xfinity]], and telephone service is provided by [[Verizon]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Understanding Utilities|publisher=Town of Clayton, DE|url=http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=92|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814063821/http://www.clayton.delaware.gov/index.aspx?nid=92|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education==
The school district is [[Smyrna School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, DE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2024-11-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001_SD2MS.txt Text list] - It only includes geographical districts and does not have county-wide overlay districts.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10003_new_castle/DC20SD_C10003.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10003_new_castle/DC20SD_C10003.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: New Castle County, DE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2024-11-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10003_new_castle/DC20SD_C10003_SD2MS.txt Text list] - This listing only includes geographical school districts and not county-wide overlay districts.</ref> Its comprehensive high school is [[Smyrna High School (Delaware)|Smyrna High School]].

Clayton School District merged into the Smyrna Special School District on April 22, 1952. The Smyrna Special district was reorganized, with the Kenton School District 9, into the Smyrna School District on July 1, 1969.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mowery|first=Roger|url=https://archivesfiles.delaware.gov/ebooks/Delaware_School_Districts_1974.pdf|title=Delaware School District Organization and Boundaries|publisher=[[Delaware State Department of Instruction]]|place=[[Dover, Delaware]]|year=1974|page=14 (PDF p. 22/97)|access-date=2025-03-30}}</ref>

==References==
{{portal|Delaware}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://clayton.delaware.gov/ Official website]

{{Kent County, Delaware}}
{{New Castle County, Delaware}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Delaware]]
[[Category:Towns in Kent County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Towns in New Castle County, Delaware]]