Clayton (village), New York
Encyclopedia
Clayton is a village
located in the Town of Clayton
in Jefferson County
, New York
, USA. The population was 1,821 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the name of the town.
The Village of Clayton is on the northern edge of the town and is north of Watertown
,
Clayton is the home of the Antique Boat Museum and Clayton Opera House. The village is a year-round community, but is a summer resort, offering galleries, boutiques and quality services to summer visitors.
tribes, but they were driven out by the Iroquois
.
The community was formerly called "French Creek" and "Cornelia." By 1853, the population of the village was 426.
Clayton incorporated as a village, by vote of its citizens, in 1872.
The arrival of the railroad in 1873 marked a major turning point in the local tourist industry.
, the village has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.6 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (36.72%) is water.
Clayton is located on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River. To the west is French Creek Bay where French Creek enters the St. Lawerence. Opposite the village in the St. Lawrence is Grindstone Island
, one of the large islands of the Thousand Islands
.
New York State Route 12
intersects New York State Route 12E
in the village.
of 2000, there were 1,821 people, 828 households, and 492 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,123.8 people per square mile (434.0/km²). There were 1,049 housing units at an average density of 647.4 per square mile (250.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.83% White, 1.26% Black or African American
, 0.55% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 828 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,354, and the median income for a family was $42,208. Males had a median income of $31,094 versus $28,375 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $18,247. About 6.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
, which turns east from its northward course in the village. The northern terminus of Route 12E
is in the same location. From Interstate 81
, it can be reached by taking Exit 50S to Route 12.
Beginning in 1873, the village was served by the Clayton Division of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
(RW&O), which later became a part of the New York Central
network. At its peak, twelve trains per day ran up from locations such as New York City and Boston to bring passengers and freight to Clayton's ferry terminal, which was the gateway to the Thousand Islands region. Facilities included a train yard and locomotive shed. Passenger service ceased in 1951; freight service continued until 1972, after which the tracks were torn out. The station and ferry terminal was converted into Frink Park, a public venue for performances and mooring for visiting ships, while the rail yards were incorporated into the property of the Frink-America snowplow factory, which has since closed and been converted into public space pending redevelopment.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located in the Town of Clayton
Clayton (town), New York
Clayton is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 5,153 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John M. Clayton, a federal political leader from Delaware.The Town of Clayton contains a village named Clayton...
in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. The population was 1,821 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the name of the town.
The Village of Clayton is on the northern edge of the town and is north of Watertown
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
,
Clayton is the home of the Antique Boat Museum and Clayton Opera House. The village is a year-round community, but is a summer resort, offering galleries, boutiques and quality services to summer visitors.
History
Originally, the area was held by AlgonquianAlgonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
tribes, but they were driven out by the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
.
The community was formerly called "French Creek" and "Cornelia." By 1853, the population of the village was 426.
Clayton incorporated as a village, by vote of its citizens, in 1872.
The arrival of the railroad in 1873 marked a major turning point in the local tourist industry.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.6 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (36.72%) is water.
Clayton is located on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River. To the west is French Creek Bay where French Creek enters the St. Lawerence. Opposite the village in the St. Lawrence is Grindstone Island
Grindstone Island
Grindstone Island is the fourth largest of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River and the second largest American island. The island lies near Lake Ontario and is part of the United States of America. In particular, the island is in the Town of Clayton in Jefferson County, New York...
, one of the large islands of the Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U.S. border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for about downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario, the...
.
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
intersects New York State Route 12E
New York State Route 12E
New York State Route 12E is a state highway located entirely within the northwestern part of Jefferson County in northern New York, USA. Officially, the southern terminus of NY 12E is at NY 12 in the city of Watertown; however, its signed terminus is at NY 12F in the village of...
in the village.
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 1,821 people, 828 households, and 492 families residing in the village. 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 1,123.8 people per square mile (434.0/km²). There were 1,049 housing units at an average density of 647.4 per square mile (250.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.83% White, 1.26% Black 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...
, 0.55% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.77% 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 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 828 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,354, and the median income for a family was $42,208. Males had a median income of $31,094 versus $28,375 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 village was $18,247. About 6.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
Transport
Clayton is accessible by automobile via New York State Route 12New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
, which turns east from its northward course in the village. The northern terminus of Route 12E
New York State Route 12E
New York State Route 12E is a state highway located entirely within the northwestern part of Jefferson County in northern New York, USA. Officially, the southern terminus of NY 12E is at NY 12 in the city of Watertown; however, its signed terminus is at NY 12F in the village of...
is in the same location. From Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
, it can be reached by taking Exit 50S to Route 12.
Beginning in 1873, the village was served by the Clayton Division of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad
The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad, commonly known as The Hojack Line, operated along the south shore of Lake Ontario, from Niagara Falls, New York to Oswego, New York. Different segments of the line were abandoned at different times...
(RW&O), which later became a part of the New York Central
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
network. At its peak, twelve trains per day ran up from locations such as New York City and Boston to bring passengers and freight to Clayton's ferry terminal, which was the gateway to the Thousand Islands region. Facilities included a train yard and locomotive shed. Passenger service ceased in 1951; freight service continued until 1972, after which the tracks were torn out. The station and ferry terminal was converted into Frink Park, a public venue for performances and mooring for visiting ships, while the rail yards were incorporated into the property of the Frink-America snowplow factory, which has since closed and been converted into public space pending redevelopment.