Clayton, Michigan

The community was first settled in 1836 and named East Dover due to its location in eastern Dover Township. A post office began operating in East Dover on March 8, 1837, with Levi Soper serving as the first postmaster. Rueben Bird platted the community in 1843, and he had the post office name changed to Clayton on July 17, 1849, after his friend Reverend Clayton from New York. Clayton was incorporated as a village in 1870.{{cite book |first1=Walter |last1=Romig |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |series=Great Lakes Books Series |type=Paperback |orig-date= 1973 |date=October 1, 1986 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn = 978-0-8143-1838-6 |location=Detroit, Michigan| pages=119–120}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village has a total area of {{convert|0.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 25, 2012 }}

• {{jct|state=MI|MI|34|name1=West Carleton Road}} runs east–west near the southern boundary of the village.
• {{jct|state=MI|MI|156|name1=Morey Highway}} has its northern terminus at M-34.

{{US Census population

|1880= 368

|1900= 370

|1910= 372

|1920= 306

|1930= 372

|1940= 375

|1950= 467

|1960= 470

|1970= 505

|1980= 396

|1990= 384

|2000= 326

|2010= 344

|2020= 311

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 25, 2012}} of 2010, there were 344 people, 118 households, and 90 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|484.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 131 housing units at an average density of {{convert|184.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 93.6% White, 1.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population.

There were 118 households, of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.7% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.34.

The median age in the village was 31.5 years. 30.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.4% were from 25 to 44; 17.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 52.0% male and 48.0% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 326 people, 113 households, and 83 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|428.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 120 housing units at an average density of {{convert|157.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 96.63% White, 0.31% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.23% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.

There were 113 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $46,172. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,941. About 5.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

The village of Clayton is served by Hudson Area Schools to the west in the city of Hudson.{{cite web|last=Michigan Geographic Framework|url=http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_LENAWEE%20COUNTY.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820210843/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_LENAWEE%20COUNTY.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2014 |url-status=live|title=Lenawee County School Districts|date=November 15, 2013|accessdate=June 18, 2022}}

File:Clayton, MI welcome sign.jpg|{{center|Signage along Morey Highway}}

File:Clayton,_MI_post_office_2022.jpg|{{center|U.S. Post Office in Clayton}}

File:Clayton,_MI_town_hall_and_library.jpg|{{center|Clayton Town Hall and Library}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Lenawee County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Villages in Michigan

Category:Villages in Lenawee County, Michigan

Category:1836 establishments in Michigan Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1836