Editing Clayton, Oklahoma

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Clayton, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Clayton.PNG
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|map_caption              = Location of Clayton, Oklahoma
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<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma|Pushmataha]]

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|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 555
|population_density_km2   = 127.54
|population_density_sq_mi = 330.36

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|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 74536
|area_code                = [[area codes 539 and 918|539/918]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-14900<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
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'''Clayton''' is a town in northern [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma|Pushmataha County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. The population was 555 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Clayton%20town,%20Oklahoma  |title=Clayton (town), Oklahoma|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 2, 2024}}</ref>

== 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]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.58% is water.

Clayton, located in the [[Kiamichi River]] valley, is framed on its west by Flagpole Mountain (1,562&nbsp;ft.) and to its east by unnamed mountains topping 1,600 feet in elevation. Within a few miles of Clayton is scenic McKinley Rocks, a collection of massive boulders strewn across a mountain top. South of Clayton is Clayton Lake State Park which is surrounded by a pine tree forest. Northwest of town is [[Sardis Lake (Oklahoma)|Sardis Lake]], a [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] dam which impounds the water of Jack's Fork Creek. The Pushmataha Wildlife Refuge is also nearby.

== Utilities ==
* Telephone, Internet, and Digital TV Services is provided by Hilliary Communications.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 612
|1960= 615
|1970= 718
|1980= 833
|1990= 636
|2000= 719
|2010= 821
|2020= 555
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 719 people, 335 households, and 191 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|424.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 404 housing units at an average density of {{convert|238.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 74.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 19.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 6.26% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 335 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,516, and the median income for a family was $23,009. Males had a median income of $13,750 versus $17,556 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,530.  Below the [[poverty line]] were 8.8% of people, 31.3% of families, 49.4% of those under 18 and 37.0% of those over 64.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CL008.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Clayton]

{{Pushmataha County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Towns in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma]]