| Clayton, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Courthouse Square in Clayton | |
| Location in Barbour County and the state of Alabama | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Barbour |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.5 sq mi (14.1 km2) |
| • Land | 5.5 sq mi (14.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 591 ft (180 m) |
| Population (2000[1]) | |
| • Total | 1,475 |
| • Density | 268.2/sq mi (104.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 36016 |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-15376 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0116206 |
Clayton is a town in and the county seat of Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.[1]
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County Seat of Barbour County Clayton has been the county seat since 1834, two years after the creation of Barbour County. Clayton is located geographically in the center of the county. The town was located at the headwaters of the Pea and Choctawhatchee rivers on the historic road from Hobdy's Bridge over the Pea River to Eufaula on the Chattahoochee River. By 1818, there were a few settlers in the area around Clayton but settlement began in earnest around 1823. The town was named for Augustine S. Clayton, a Georgia jurist and congressman. Clayton became the county seat of Barbour County in 1833 and was laid out on a central courthouse square plan. The first Circuit Court was held in Clayton on September 23, 1833. The Clayton post office was established in September 1835 with John F. Keener as postmaster. Clayton, with a population of 200, was incorporated on December 21, 1841 by the Alabama Legislature. Its first mayor, after incorporation, was John Jackson.
Clayton has a rich heritage with four properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Clayton is also known for its Whiskey Bottle Tombstone, which was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!. [2]
Governor George Wallace was born in nearby Clio, Alabama and began his legal and political career in Clayton.
Clayton is located at 31°52'39.014" North, 85°26'56.486" West (31.877504, -85.449024).[3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), all of which is land.[4]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,475 people, 593 households, and 393 families residing in the town.[1] The population density was 270.5 inhabitants per square mile (104.4 /km2). There were 704 housing units at an average density of 129.1 per square mile (49.8 /km2). The racial makeup of the town was 63.93% Black or African American, 34.85% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[1]
There were 593 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.[1]
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.[1]
The median income for a household in the town was $18,750, and the median income for a family was $25,750. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,791. About 29.3% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.5% of those under age 18 and 29.8% of those age 65 or over.[1]
Clayton is served by Barbour County Schools. Barbour County High School, Clayton Elementary School, and Barbour County Primary School are located in the town of Clayton.
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