Clayton, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Clayton is a town in and the county seat
of Barbour County
, Alabama
, United States
. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.
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!
.
Governor George Wallace was born in nearby Clio
, Alabama
and began his legal and political career in Clayton.
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.
of 2000, there were 1,475 people, 593 households, and 393 families residing in the town. The population density
was 270.5 PD/sqmi. There were 704 housing units at an average density of 129.1 /sqmi. 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.
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.
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.
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.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Barbour County
Barbour County, Alabama
Barbour County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of James Barbour, who served as Governor of Virginia. As of 2010 the population was 27,457. Its county seat is Clayton.-History:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,475 at the 2000 census.
History
County Seat of Barbour CountyClayton has been the county seat since 1834, two years after the creation of Barbour County
Barbour County, Alabama
Barbour County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of James Barbour, who served as Governor of Virginia. As of 2010 the population was 27,457. Its county seat is Clayton.-History:...
. Clayton is located geographically in the center of the county. The town was located at the headwaters of the Pea
Pea River
The Pea River is a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River near Geneva, Alabama. It is a popular destination for those with canoes and other small boats, as well as fishermen seeking bass, sunfish, or mullet....
and Choctawhatchee
Choctawhatchee River
The Choctawhatchee River is a river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle of Florida before emptying into Choctawhatchee Bay in Okaloosa and Walton counties...
rivers on the historic road from Hobdy's Bridge over the Pea River to Eufaula
Eufaula, Alabama
Eufaula is a city in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 13,908.-Geography:Eufaula is located at 31°53'21.732" North, 85°9'13.586" West ....
on the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
. 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
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
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!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
.
Governor George Wallace was born in nearby Clio
Clio, Alabama
Clio is a city in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 2,206 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. It is the birthplace of former Alabama governor George C. Wallace, as well as Baseball Hall of Famer and current Atlanta Braves broadcaster, Don...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and began his legal and political career in Clayton.
Geography
Clayton is located at 31°52'39.014" North, 85°26'56.486" West (31.877504, -85.449024).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.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,475 people, 593 households, and 393 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 270.5 PD/sqmi. There were 704 housing units at an average density of 129.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 63.93% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 34.85% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.41% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.36% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 593 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
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.
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Education
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.Notable natives
- Tyrone 'Ty' Adams (born 1949) - playwrightPlaywrightA playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
(Conecuh,Wallace: The Clayton Years) - George W. AndrewsGeorge W. AndrewsFor the Canadian politician see George William Andrews George William Andrews was a U.S...
(1906–1971) - U.S. House of Representatives - Billy Beasley (born 1940)- Alabama House of RepresentativesAlabama House of RepresentativesThe Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
- Jere Beasley (born 1935)- Two term Lieutenant Governor of Alabama and acting Governor of Alabama
- Bertram Tracy ClaytonBertram Tracy ClaytonBertram Tracy Clayton was an American soldier and politician.-Biography:Born in Clayton, Alabama, he went on to attend the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1886 with John J. Pershing...
(1862–1918)- U.S. House of Representatives representing New York and U.S. ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer killed in World War I. - Henry De Lamar Clayton, Jr. (1857–1929) - U.S. House of Representatives , author of the Clayton Act regulating antitrust behavior.
- Henry DeLamar Clayton, Sr.Henry DeLamar Clayton (general)Henry DeLamar Clayton, Sr. was a prominent Alabama attorney, politician, Redeemer judge, and college president. He also served as a major general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, commanding a division in the Army of Tennessee in the Western Theater.-Early life and...
(1827–1889) - major generalMajor general (United States)In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the Confederate armyConfederate States ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
; President of the University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... - Preston C. Clayton (d. 1996)- Alabama State Senate and Associate Justice of State of Alabama Supreme CourtAlabama Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices. Each justice is elected in partisan elections for staggered six year terms. The Governor of Alabama may fill vacancies when they occur...
- Travis GrantTravis GrantTravis Grant is a retired American professional basketball player. He is most known for being the all-time leading scorer in men's college basketball history while at Kentucky State University by amassing 4,045 points. Grant was a first round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1972 NBA Draft...
(born 1950) - college and professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player - Draffus Lamar Hightower (1899–1993)- photographer, reocrded changes to Barbour County through the 20th century
- Clarence Clemet Hodge (1893–1967) - Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - John E. Horne (1908–1985) - Administrator of the U.S. Small Business AdministrationSmall Business AdministrationThe Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
- Ann LoweAnn LoweAnne Lowe was an African American fashion designer who designed the wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier when she married John F. Kennedy....
(1899–1981)- Designer of wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis for her marriage to John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. - James Sammons (1927–2001) - Chairman of the Board of Trustees and later Executive Vice Presidentof the American Medical AssociationAmerican Medical AssociationThe American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
- George WallaceGeorge WallaceGeorge Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
(1919–1998) - Governor of Alabama and U.S. President candidate - George C. Wallace, Jr. (born 1951) - Alabama State TreasurerState TreasurerIn the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
- Lurleen WallaceLurleen WallaceLurleen Brigham Wallace , born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was the 46th Governor of Alabama from 1967 until her death in 1968. She was the first wife of Alabama Governor George Wallace, whom she succeeded as governor. She succeeded her husband as he was forbidden by Alabama law to succeed himself. She...
(1926–1968) - Governor of Alabama 1926-1968 - James J. Winn (born 1907- ?) - Colonel in U.S. Army; Chief military aide to Gen. George C. Marshall during World War II