CLAYTON IS THE TRIANGLE’S “COMEBACK KID”

On an upswing, The town of Clayton is on a positive upswing! The population is over 25,000, increased from 16,000 at the 2000 Census. But that is the way Clayton has grown - in surges, following periods of quiet stability.

In its early years, Clayton was mainly a little area of tranquil farm life until 1870, when the railroad arrived. Growth began after Clayton was incorporated as a town in 1869. As the railroad extended, businesses took notice and brought together successful farming and merchandising.

Like so many other small Southern towns the once booming cotton and tobacco industries struggled into the 1960s. Clayton fell from being one of the most prosperous communities in the area to a town in trouble. But not for long!

Fortunately, the 1970s industrial and technological upsurge buoyed Clayton, sparking a rebound. By 1990, the population surpassed 4,700. The nearby Research Triangle Park grew and needed more workers. Clayton delivered.

Clayton's easy access meant more residents, which accordingly swelled the population such that by 2019, Calyton became the largest town in Johnston County.