Clayton (town), New York
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Clayton is a town located in Jefferson County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 4,817. The village is named after statesman John M. Clayton.
The Town of Clayton contains a village named Clayton. The town is on the northern border of the county, and the northern part of the town is a vacation area stretching along the adjacent river banks.
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History
The area was first settled around 1801. The town was formed from parts of the Town of Orleans and Lyme in 1833.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 269.4 km² (104.0 mi²). 213.8 km² (82.6 mi²) of it is land and 55.6 km² (21.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 20.64% water.
The northern border of the town is defined by the St. Lawrence River and is adjacent to the Thousand Islands. The town includes one of the larger Thousand Islands, Grindstone Island, along with smaller islands, such as Bluff Island, Grenell Island, Maple Island, Pictan Island, and Round Island.
The northern town line is at the United States-Canada border. A ferry once connected Clayton with Gananoque, Ontario, but was discontinued due to the construction of the Thousand Islands Bridge ten miles down-river on what is now Interstate 81.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 4,817 people, 1,914 households, and 1,335 families residing in the town. The population density is 22.5/km² (58.3/mi²). There are 3,337 housing units at an average density of 15.6/km² (40.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.24% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,914 households out of which 34.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% are married couples living together, 8.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% are non-families. 25.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.51 and the average family size is 3.00.
In the town the population is spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $35,805, and the median income for a family is $39,727. Males have a median income of $31,402 versus $21,091 for females. The per capita income for the town is $16,947. 8.0% of the population and 4.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Communities and locations in the Town of Clayton
- Clayton -- The Village of Clayton is on the shore of the St. Lawrence River in the northern part of the town.
- Bartlett's Point -- A hamlet west of Clayton village.
- Depauvlle -- A hamlet on Route 12, south of Clayton village.
- Canoe-Picnic Point State Park -- A park on Grindstone Island accessible only by boat.
- Clayton Center -- A hamlet on Route 10 in the east part of the town.
- Deferno -- A former location in the town.
- Frontenac -- A hamlet on northeast end of Round Island.
- Grenell Island -- An island in the St. Lawrence River.
- Grenell -- A hamlet on Grenell Island.
- Grindstone -- A hamlet on Grindstone Island.
- Grindstone Island -- One of the large Thousand Islands.
- Gunns Corners -- A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town.
- Round Island -- An island in the St. Lawrence River near Clayton.
- South Corners -- A hamlet between Clayton village and Depauville on Route 12.
External links
- Clayton Chamber of Commerce (http://www.1000islands-clayton.com)