Layton is a city located in Davis County, Utah, in the western United States. It is part of a larger metropolitan area that includes Ogden and Clearfield. In 2020, about 81,773 people lived there. By 2024, the population was estimated to be around 87,392. Layton is the biggest city in Davis County and the ninth largest in Utah.

The city offers easy travel to major places like Salt Lake City and Ogden. It also has good connections to the Salt Lake City International Airport and the FrontRunner train. Layton is important for business in its area. It is close to Hill Air Force Base, which is a large employer. The city also has many hotels, a conference center, the Layton Hills Mall, and lots of shops and restaurants. Weber State University has a campus here too.

Layton is a busy place for shopping. In 2014, it had the second-highest amount of retail sales north of Salt Lake City. It was also the seventh-largest shopping area in all of Utah.

History of Layton

How Layton Began

Layton was first settled in the 1850s. It grew out of a nearby town called Kaysville. The city is named after Christopher Layton, an early settler and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When Kaysville became a city in 1868, Layton was part of it.

However, by the 1880s, many people in Layton wanted to be separate. They felt they were not getting city services for the taxes they paid. This argument even went to the United States Supreme Court in 1894. The court decided that Layton property owners were right. In 1902, Layton became its own independent area. It grew more and became an official town in 1920.

Layton's Growth Over Time

Layton's population grew slowly at first. By 1940, only about 600 people lived there. But then, Hill Air Force Base was built nearby in 1940. Soon after, the United States entered World War II. These events caused Layton's population to grow very quickly. Many people moved there for war jobs. By 1950, the city had 3,456 people. Layton changed from a small farming town to a place where many people lived.

After the war, growth slowed down. But Layton kept growing as a commuter town. This means people lived in Layton but traveled to work in Salt Lake City or Ogden. The city also grew by adding more land. It took in nearby towns like Laytona and East Layton. In 1985, Layton became the most populated city in Davis County, passing Bountiful.

Where is Layton Located?

Layton is in the northern part of the Wasatch Front. This area is about 25 miles (40 km) north of Salt Lake City. It is also about 15 miles (24 km) south of Ogden.

Layton shares borders with several other places:

Clearfield to the northwest.
Hill Air Force Base to the north.
South Weber to the northeast.
The Wasatch Mountains to the east.
Kaysville to the south.
Great Salt Lake wetlands to the southwest.
Syracuse to the west.

The United States Census Bureau says Layton covers about 22.16 square miles (57.4 km²). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Layton's Climate

Layton has hot summers and cold winters. In winter, it often gets snow caused by the Great Salt Lake effect. This happens when cold air moves over the warmer lake water, creating snow.

People Living in Layton

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	597	—
1940	646	8.2%
1950	3,456	435.0%
1960	9,027	161.2%
1970	13,603	50.7%
1980	22,862	68.1%
1990	41,784	82.8%
2000	58,474	39.9%
2010	67,311	15.1%
2020	81,773	21.5%
2022 (est.)	82,601	22.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

What is Layton's Population Like?

In 2020, Layton had 81,773 people. The table below shows the different groups of people living in Layton. It includes information on race and ethnicity. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic group, and people from any race can be Hispanic/Latino.

**Layton, Utah – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	50,820	55,215	62,699	86.91%	82.03%	76.67%
Black or African American alone (NH)	907	1,067	1,126	1.55%	1.59%	1.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	255	251	421	0.44%	0.37%	0.51%
Asian alone (NH)	1,178	1,353	1,796	2.01%	2.01%	2.20%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	141	342	526	0.24%	0.51%	0.64%
Other race alone (NH)	61	99	345	0.10%	0.15%	0.42%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	1,044	1,473	3,533	1.79%	2.19%	4.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,068	7,511	11,327	6.96%	11.16%	13.85%
Total	58,474	67,311	81,773	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Schools and Learning in Layton

Layton is part of the Davis School District. It also has a branch campus of Weber State University. The city has many schools for students of all ages.

High Schools in Layton

Layton High School (opened 1966)
Northridge High School (opened 1992)
NUAMES—Northern Utah Academy of Math, Engineering & Science (opened 2004). This is a special charter high school that works with Weber State University.
Layton Christian Academy (opened 1993). This is a private Christian school.

Junior High Schools in Layton

Central Davis Junior High
Legacy Junior High
North Davis Preparatory Academy Junior High
North Layton Junior High
Shoreline Junior High
Layton Christian Academy

Elementary Schools in Layton

Sarah Jane Adams Elementary
Crestview Elementary
Ellison Park Elementary
East Layton Elementary
Heritage Elementary
E.G. King Elementary
Layton Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Mountain View Elementary
North Davis Preparatory Academy Elementary
Sand Springs Elementary
Sunburst Elementary
Vae View Elementary
E. M. Whitesides Elementary
Layton Christian Academy

Getting Around Layton

Roads and Highways

I-15 is a major highway that runs through the middle of Layton. It has three exits in the city: Antelope Drive, Hillfield Road, and Layton Parkway. U.S. 89 runs along the eastern side of Layton, near the Wasatch Mountains. It connects to I-84 to the north and merges with I-15 to the south.

Other important roads include:

Utah State Route 177: This road goes north-south through western Layton. It connects different communities in western Davis County.
Utah State Route 193: This road goes east-west through northern Layton. It passes the south gate of Hill Air Force Base and connects U.S. 89 to I-15.

Public Transportation

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides bus service in Layton. It also runs the FrontRunner commuter rail. The Layton Station for the FrontRunner train is located where an old train station used to be.

Fun Places to Visit in Layton

Layton has many interesting places to visit and things to do.

Shopping and Entertainment

The main shopping area in Layton includes the Layton Hills Mall. There are also movie theaters and the Davis Conference Center. A street nicknamed "Restaurant Row" has many national chain restaurants.

City Center Attractions

Layton's City Center is where the city offices, police station, and courthouse are located. Nearby, you can find:

Layton Commons Park
Davis Arts Council
Davis County Library Central Branch
Edward A. Kenley Centennial Amphitheater
Heritage Museum of Layton
Layton Surf 'N Swim (a swimming facility)
Layton High School

Outdoor Adventures

Adams Canyon is a popular place for hiking. It is located east of Highway 89. Along the trail, you can see plants like Gambel Oak and Douglas Fir. You might also spot chipmunks and different kinds of birds. The hiking trail is about 3.7 miles (6 km) long, going out and back.

Religious Sites

On April 1, 2018, Russell M. Nelson, the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced plans to build the Layton Utah Temple. Construction finished in June 2024, and the temple was officially opened on June 16, 2024. It is the 22nd temple in Utah.

Parks and Trails in Layton

Layton has many parks and trails for outdoor activities:

Andy Adams Park (1713 E 1000 N)
Bamberger Trail
Camelot Park (1400 W 2000 N)
Chapel Park (152 S 900 E)
Chelsie Meadows Park (1401 N 2575 W)
D&RG Trail
Ellison Park - Splash Pad & Skate Park (700 N 2200 W)
Grey Hawk Park (3500 Redtail Way)
Kays Creek Parkway (Multiple Trail Heads)
Layton Commons Park (437 N Wasatch Dr)
Legacy Park (469 N 3200 W)
Oak Forest Park (2250 E 2400 N)
Sandridge Park (2555 N Church St)
Vae View Park (1600 N Main)
Veterans Park (175 W Gentile St)
Woodward Park (1505 N 25 E)

Famous People From Layton

Many notable people have connections to Layton:

Julian Blackmon, an NFL football player
Christine Cavanaugh, a voice actress known for the movie Babe
Daniel Coats, a former NFL player
John Collins, a basketball player drafted in 2017
R Adams Cowley, a surgeon who helped create modern trauma care
Tiffany Coyne, a model on the TV show Let's Make a Deal
Chuck Ehin, an NFL player
Sherman L. Fleek, a military historian
Kevin Garn, a former leader in the Utah House of Representatives
Dayan Lake, an NFL football player
Shaun Todd McBride, an artist and social media personality
Court McGee, a mixed martial artist who fights in UFC
Ruby Timms Price, the first Black teacher in Utah
Sterling W. Sill, a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a local businessman
Calvin Lee Vail, also known as LeafyIsHere, a YouTube personality

Local Music Groups

Get Scared, a heavy metal band from Layton

Layton, Utah facts for kids

Contents