Clayton, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clayton, New Jersey
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Borough
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Clayton High School in September 2012
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| Motto(s):
"A great place to live and play to work and pray!"
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Location of Clayton in Gloucester County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Clayton, New Jersey
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 Clayton, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Clayton, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Clayton, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Gloucester |
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| Incorporated | February 5, 1858 (as township) | |
| Reincorporated | May 9, 1887 (as borough) | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.26 sq mi (18.80 km2) | |
| • Land | 7.08 sq mi (18.32 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2) 2.53% | |
| Area rank | 239th of 565 in state 15th of 24 in county |
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| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,807 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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8,948 | |
| • Rank | 270th of 565 in state 12th of 24 in county |
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| • Density | 1,244.8/sq mi (480.6/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 356th of 565 in state 13th of 24 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08312
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| Area code(s) | 856 exchanges: 307, 442, 863, 881 | |
| FIPS code | 3401513360 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885185 | |
Clayton is a borough in Gloucester County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,807, an increase of 628 (+7.7%) from the 2010 census count of 8,179, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,040 (+14.6%) from the 7,139 counted in the 2000 census.
Jacob Fisler purchased much of the area that is now Clayton, acquiring 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) of land after the American Revolutionary War. A settlement named Fislertown developed and grew to 36 families by 1812. A glass factory was established in Clayton in the 1850s by one of Fisler's descendants, which contributed to Fislertown's growth.
What is now Clayton was formed as Clayton Township on February 5, 1858, from portions of Franklin Township. Portions of the township were later taken on March 11, 1878, to form Glassboro Township. Clayton was formed as a borough by the New Jersey Legislature on May 9, 1887, from portions of Clayton Township. The remainder of Clayton Township was absorbed by the Clayton on April 14, 1908, and the township was dissolved. Clayton is part of the South Jersey region of the state.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 7.26 square miles (18.80 km2), including 7.08 square miles (18.32 km2) of land and 0.18 square miles (0.48 km2) of water (2.53%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Silver Lake. Clayton borders Elk Township, Franklin Township, Glassboro, and Monroe Township.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,490 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,674 | 47.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,981 | * | −46.1% |
| 1890 | 2,299 | 16.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,989 | −13.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,926 | −3.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,905 | −1.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,351 | 23.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,320 | −1.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,023 | 30.3% | |
| 1960 | 4,711 | 55.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,193 | 10.2% | |
| 1980 | 6,013 | 15.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,155 | 2.4% | |
| 2000 | 7,139 | 16.0% | |
| 2010 | 8,179 | 14.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,807 | 7.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,948 | 9.4% | |
| Population sources: 1860–2000 1860–1920 1860–1870 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 *= Lost territory in previous decade. |
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2020 census
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population of Clayton was 8,807.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 8,179 people, 2,916 households, and 2,105 families in the borough. The population density was 1,145.5 per square mile (442.3/km2). There were 3,128 housing units at an average density of 438.1 per square mile (169.2/km2). The racial makeup was 74.83% (6,120) White, 18.01% (1,473) Black or African American, 0.37% (30) Native American, 1.80% (147) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.59% (130) from other races, and 3.39% (277) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.95% (487) of the population.
Of the 2,916 households, 34.1% had children under the age of 18; 51.4% were married couples living together; 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.1% were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.27.
26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.1 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,299 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,649) and the median family income was $70,989 (+/− $5,101). Males had a median income of $52,048 (+/− $6,973) versus $39,524 (+/− $6,308) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,437 (+/− $2,649). About 9.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
Parkland covers about a third of the borough and includes both municipal and state parks. The Glassboro Wildlife Management Area covers almost 2,400 acres (970 ha) in portions of Clayton, Glassboro, and Monroe Township.
Education
Clayton Public Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district has three schools, an enrollment of 1,463 students, and 117.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis) for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Herma S. Simmons Elementary School with 668 students in grades PreK-5, Clayton Middle School with 343 students in grades 6-8, and Clayton High School with 420 students in grades 9-12.
In September 2009, voters approved a referendum that covered a $20 million renovation and expansion project at the middle school / high school. In September 2014, voters approved a referendum that covered $9.7 million to upgrade all three schools in the district. The approved projects include a roof replacement at both the high school and middle school, an addition of a 750-seat auditorium, technology infrastructure at all three schools, a new football field stadium lighting and a new gym floor at Herma Simmons Elementary School.
Students in Gloucester County are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education programs. As a public school, students and their families do not pay tuition to attend the school.
Formed from a merger of two regional schools, St. Michael the Archangel Regional School is a K–8 school that operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The former St. Catherine of Siena Regional School in Clayton merged with St. Michael in 2008.
Transportation
_just_north_of_Gloucester_County_Route_610_(Academy_Street)_in_Clayton,_Gloucester_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 44.16 miles (71.07 km) of roadways. Of this, 33.00 miles (53.11 km) is maintained by the municipality, 8.36 miles (13.45 km) by Gloucester County and 2.80 miles (4.51 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The main thoroughfare that passes through is Route 47. Route 55 traverses the borough's southwestern edge, but the closest interchanges are in neighboring communities. A sliver of County Road 553 clips the borough's western edge.
Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is available between the borough and Philadelphia on its 313 and 408 routes.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Clayton include:
- Daniel Dalton (born 1949), politician who served as New Jersey Senate Majority Leader and as Secretary of State of New Jersey
- T. James Ferrell (1939–2020), engraver and medalist best known for his work for The Franklin Mint
- Sunny Gale (1927–2022), pop singer who had her biggest hit with a cover version of "Wheel of Fortune" in 1952
- Granger Hall (born 1962), former professional basketball player
- Earl C. Long (1883–1983), U.S. Marine Corps Major General during World War II who commanded Service Command, Fleet Marine Force Pacific
- Nick Rodriguez (born 1996), submission grappler who competes in no-gi matches
- Mel Sheppard (1883–1942), middle-distance runner who won four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics
See also
In Spanish: Clayton (Nueva Jersey) para niños
