Clayton, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clayton, Indiana
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Town Hall
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Location of Clayton in Hendricks County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Hendricks |
| Township | Liberty |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.65 sq mi (1.68 km2) |
| • Land | 0.65 sq mi (1.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 876 ft (267 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 908 |
| • Density | 1,396.92/sq mi (539.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (EST) |
| ZIP code |
46118
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| Area code(s) | 317 |
| FIPS code | 18-13366 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396652 |
Clayton is a small town located in Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. It is part of Liberty Township. In 2010, about 972 people lived there. This was a jump from 693 people in 2000, showing the town is growing!
Contents
History of Clayton
In 1829, a small settlement in Liberty Township was first called "Clayville." This name honored Henry Clay, a famous politician from Kentucky. By 1835, Clayville had ten houses and 43 residents.
The town was officially planned out in 1851 by George W. Wills. In 1858, its name was changed to "Clayton." This happened because there was already another town named Clayville in Dubois County.
The first two houses in Clayton were built by Thomas Potts and Lewis T. Pounds. The first store was opened by Parker & Foote. George Wills built the town's first hotel. John Miles and James Worrell started the first flour mill. The first train came through Clayton in 1852. By the early 1900s, the town even had electricity! It was supplied by the Danville Light, Heat and Power Co.
The first schoolhouse in Clayton was built in 1867. In 1868, Howard Mitchell began teaching there. The first high school for the area was built in nearby Cartersburg in 1897. However, in 1901, the high school moved to Clayton. This made it closer to the center of the township and where most students lived.
In 1909, Clayton officially became an incorporated town. At that time, its population was 497 people.
Where is Clayton?
Clayton is in the southern part of Hendricks County. Indiana State Road 39 is the main road that goes through the town. This road leads north about 5 miles to Danville, which is the county seat. It also goes southeast about 2 miles to U.S. Route 40 at Belleville.
From US-40, Plainfield is about 7 miles east of Clayton. Interstate 70 is a big highway that passes about 6 miles south of Clayton. You can get to it from State Road 39. Downtown Indianapolis is about 24 to 28 miles east of Clayton, depending on the route you take.
According to the 2010 census, Clayton covers an area of about 0.76 square miles (1.97 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Fun in Clayton
Clayton is known for its yearly Fall Festival. The Clayton Community Association puts on this festival every September. It's a big event with horse pulls, tractor pulls, and live bands playing music. There's also lots of food, games for kids, and bingo. A parade is a big highlight of the festival!
Clayton also hosts the "Triple F Ride" each June. This is a bike rally that starts at Lambert Park. It's a non-profit event, meaning it helps raise money for good causes. Lambert Park is also where you can enjoy "Movies in the Park" on Friday evenings.
Education in Clayton
The Mill Creek School Corporation is a highly-rated school system. It has earned a "four-star" rating. Three of its four schools are located right in Clayton:
- Mill Creek East Elementary
- Cascade Middle School
- Cascade High School
Cascade High School is home to the "Cadets" sports teams. In 2018, Cascade High School won a special award called the National Blue Ribbon School for Exemplary Performance. It was the only high school in Indiana to win this award that year!
The town also has a public library where you can borrow books and other materials. It's called the Clayton-Liberty Township Public Library.
Population of Clayton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 145 | — | |
| 1910 | 497 | — | |
| 1920 | 493 | −0.8% | |
| 1930 | 561 | 13.8% | |
| 1940 | 558 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 598 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 653 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 736 | 12.7% | |
| 1980 | 703 | −4.5% | |
| 1990 | 610 | −13.2% | |
| 2000 | 693 | 13.6% | |
| 2010 | 972 | 40.3% | |
| 2020 | 908 | −6.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 972 people living in Clayton. There were 358 households, and 255 families. The town had about 1279 people per square mile. The average age of people in Clayton was 34.3 years old. About 29% of residents were under 18.
See also
In Spanish: Clayton (Indiana) para niños
