Clayton, New Mexico (1904)
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Clayton is a
town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...
and
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of Union County,
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,980.


History


Early History

Native Americans were present in the area of Clayton for at least 10,000 years, as evidenced by the findings at the
Folsom site Folsom site or Wild Horse Arroyo, designated by the Smithsonian trinomial 29CX1, is a major archaeological site about west of Folsom, New Mexico. It is the type site for the Folsom tradition, a Paleo-Indian cultural sequence dating to between ...
about 55 miles northwest of Clayton, near the village of
Folsom Folsom may refer to: People * Folsom (surname) Places in the United States * Folsom, Perry County, Alabama * Folsom, Randolph County, Alabama * Folsom, California * Folsom, Georgia * Folsom, Louisiana * Folsom, Missouri * Folsom, New Jersey * ...
. Later the area was part of
Comancheria The Comancheria or Comanchería (Comanche: Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ, 'Comanche land') was a region of New Mexico, west Texas and nearby areas occupied by the Comanche before the 1860s. Historian Pekka Hämäläinen has argued that the Comancheria ...
. The Cimarron Cutoff of the
Santa Fe Trail The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri, with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, who departed from the Boonslick region along the Missouri River, th ...
brought some of the first Americans through the Clayton region. The Santa Fe Trail was first established in 1821 after Spanish rule was evicted from Mexico which opened up trade between Santa Fe and the United States. William Becknell, also known as the Father of the Santa Fe Trail, became the first person to utilize the Santa Fe Trail as a trade route between the state of Missouri and Santa Fe. He established the Cimarron Cutoff, also known as the Cimarron Route, as a faster route between countries as the Cimarron Route shortened the Trail by more than 100 miles. The Cimarron Cutoff went straight through the Clayton region where travelers used the Rabbit Ear Mountain as a guiding landmark. Eventually travelers along the trail began to appreciate the rich soil around Clayton and the rolling green hills which were perfect for raising livestock. The Goodnight-Loving Trail also passed through the area (bringing cattle north from Texas) starting in the late 1860s, but eventually cattle ranchers and sheepherders established ranches in the Clayton area itself, though they were large and far apart. That changed when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad came to the area in 1888Myrick, David, ‘’New Mexico’s Railroads, A Historic Survey’’, University of New Mexico Press 1990. and Stephen Dorsey, a nearby rancher, received the rights to the area where the railroad ran. He soon laid out a town site. In 1892, the saloon of what would later become the Hotel Eklund was built, and by 1894 the saloon featured a front and back bar, pool and carom tables, monte game tables, a crap table, and a poker table. By 1898, the building was further expanded to add a hotel. Clayton is named for a son of
U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...
Stephen W. Dorsey Stephen Wallace Dorsey (February 28, 1842March 20, 1916) was a Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who represented Arkansas in the United States Senate from 1873 to 1879, during the Reconstruction era in the United States, Re ...
, an
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, originally from
Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, who served during
Reconstruction Reconstruction may refer to: Politics, history, and sociology *Reconstruction (law), the transfer of a company's (or several companies') business to a new company *'' Perestroika'' (Russian for "reconstruction"), a late 20th century Soviet Unio ...
. The town was established in 1887. The town was a
livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animals ...
shipping center for herds from the
Pecos River The Pecos River ( es, Río Pecos) originates in north-central New Mexico and flows into Texas, emptying into the Rio Grande. Its headwaters are on the eastern slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County north of Pecos, New Mexico ...
and the
Texas Panhandle The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a square-shaped area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. It is adjacent to ...
.


Twentieth Century

US President
Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
visited Clayton on April 14, 1905. In 1928 the main street of Clayton was paved and street lighting was added. Clayton and the rest of Northeastern New Mexico was hit hard by the
Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s. The phenomenon was caused by a combination of both natural factors (severe drought) an ...
of the 1930s; however, the era was also a time of renewal and rebuilding in the community, in large part due to the work of the
Works Project Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, i ...
in the community. Clayton was hit by a "black roller" (giant dust cloud) that measured 1500 feet high and a mile across on May 28, 1937. In 1999, the dining room and saloon of the old Eklund Hotel was reopened.


Twenty-first century

The Eklund hotel reopened on July 3, 2011.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , all land. Clayton has an elevation of approximately above sea level. It is located about northwest of
Amarillo, Texas Amarillo ( ; Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County ...
. Clayton is considered to be in the Plains region of New Mexico. This region stretches to the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains ) , country= United States , subdivision1_type= States , subdivision1= , parent= Rocky Mountains , geology= , orogeny= , area_mi2= 17193 , range_coordinates= , length_mi= 242 , length_orientation= north-south , width_mi= 120 , w ...
down to the
Guadalupe Mountains The Guadalupe Mountains ( es, Sierra de Guadalupe) are a mountain range located in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The range includes the highest summit in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, , and the "signature peak" of West Texas, El Capitan, both ...
. Clayton is located in the northeast corner of New Mexico, from the border of
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
and from the border of the Oklahoma panhandle. Clayton is also located near two parks,
Clayton Lake State Park Clayton Lake State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, featuring a recreational reservoir and a fossil trackway of dinosaur footprints. It is located north of Clayton, New Mexico, Clayton, close to New Mexico's border with Colora ...
, and
Capulin Volcano National Monument Capulin Volcano National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in northeastern New Mexico that protects and interprets an extinct cinder cone volcano and is part of the Raton-Clayton volcanic field. A paved road spirals gradually around t ...
. Not far away is
Black Mesa State Park Black Mesa State Park is an Oklahoma state park in Cimarron County, near the western border of the Oklahoma panhandle and New Mexico. The park is located about away from its namesake, Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma ( above sea leve ...
in
Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
. A carbon dioxide field called Bravo Dome can be found near Clayton and stretches nearly 1 million acres.


Climate

Clayton has a typical New Mexico cool semi-arid climate (
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
''BSk'') with hot summers and cool, dry winters. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in December to in July; on average, annually, there are 41 days with a maximum at or above , 13 days with a maximum that remains at or below freezing, and 2.2 days with a minimum at or below . Precipitation is low and usually confined to the monsoon season from June to September when thunderstorms are frequent; the annual mean precipitation is . Winter weather can vary greatly from warm and windy due to the influence of the chinook, to frigid and snowy when Arctic air moved southward from Canada. The seasonal (July through June of the following year) normal total snowfall accumulation is , mostly occurring from November to March, occasionally in April, and very rarely does measurable snowfall occur in September, October or May. Record temperatures range from on January 4, 1959 to on July 30, 1934 and June 27, 1924; the record cold maximum is on January 11, 1963 and the day preceding the all-time record low, while, conversely, the record warm minimum is on July 26, 1917. ;Notes:


Demographics

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 2,980 people, 1,025 households (only 77.8% of the population was living in households), and 623 family households residing in the town. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 535.7 people per square mile (206.9/km). There were 1,289 housing units at an average density of 273.6 per square mile (105.7/km). The racial makeup of the town was 75.9%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
(43.5% non-Hispanic white), 2.7% Native American, 2.6% black or African American, 0.5%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 15.6% from some other races, and 2.6% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 51.1% of the population. As of the 2000 census, there were 1,079 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $25,600, and the median income for a family was $30,109. Males had a median income of $26,554 versus $17,054 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the town was $13,967. About 14.2% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.


Economy

Clayton has a rich history of commerce dating back to its founding in the 1800s. The railroad and nearby ranches caused Clayton to become a major livestock shipping center. A Dr. Pepper bottling plant was in town for a short time before moving back out. The town still thrives as a ranching and farming community, but has expanded its commerce to include multiple eating establishments, numerous shops, several dollar stores, two convenience stores, and multiple motels and campgrounds. The Ranch Market is the town's grocery store which has served the community faithfully for many years. Main Street and First Street are lined with shops including two flower stores and the town's western wear store: Ropes Western Wear and Casual. The town still maintains its small-town, country charm as the historic Hotel Eklund and the Luna Theater have been in operation for more than one hundred years, standing as a reminder to the town's earlier, simpler days.


Community

Clayton holds a
parade A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, float (parade), floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually ce ...
each
Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...
. The Herzstein Memorial Museum, run by the Union County Historical Society, is open without charge Tuesdays through Saturdays and by appointment. An official interpretative center of the Santa Fe Trail, the Herzstein focuses upon county and regional
history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
.
Clayton Lake State Park Clayton Lake State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, featuring a recreational reservoir and a fossil trackway of dinosaur footprints. It is located north of Clayton, New Mexico, Clayton, close to New Mexico's border with Colora ...
, featuring a fishing lake and an extensive
trackway Historic roads (historic trails in USA and Canada) are paths or routes that have historical importance due to their use over a period of time. Examples exist from prehistoric times until the early 20th century. They include ancient trackway ...
of fossilized
dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is t ...
footprints, is located north of town. One of the oldest movie theaters in America stands in Clayton. Opened in 1916 as The Mission Theater, the Luna Theater is still in operation today, showing a different movie each weekend. “The Mission style exterior, and the interior, with its Art Deco style touches, has been painstakingly restored and refurbished over the years, including all new projection equipment.” Although refurbished, much of the design is original, with original seating, light fixtures, and ticket booth. "Morris Herzstein built the theater and adjacent business block in 1916 after a disastrous fire wiped out his headquarters mercantile store... Before the Great Depression, the Mission Theater flourished and provided the magic of movies in Clayton, including memorable Christmas matinees offered free to children where Santa Claus would appear and give small presents to the crowd.” In 1935, T.F. Murphy bought the Mission Theater, renamed it the Luna Theater, and added some renovations. The Luna Theater is one of the most historic theaters in the country, landing a special place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.


Transportation

Highway connections include
US Route 412 U.S. Route 412 is an east–west United States highway, first commissioned in 1982. U.S. 412 overlaps expressway-grade Cimarron Turnpike from Tulsa west to Interstate 35 and the Cherokee Turnpike from east of Chouteau, Oklahoma, to west of the ...
and
US Route 64 U.S. Route 64 (US 64) is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from Nags Head in eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 16 ...
concurrently through town running generally southwest to northeast, as well as
US Route 87 U.S. Highway 87 (US 87) is a north–south United States highway (though it is signed east–west in New Mexico) that runs for 1,998 miles (3,215 km) from northern Montana to southern Texas, making it the longest north-south roa ...
running generally northwest to southeast. Clayton Municipal Airpark two miles east of town (KCAO, or FAA Identifier CAO), opened in December of 1946, and features two runways the longer of which is 6307 x 75 feet (1922 x 23 meters). Currently there is no scheduled passenger service. Railroad freight service is provided by
BNSF BNSF Railway is one of the largest freight railroads in North America. One of seven North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 35,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and nearly 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that ...
. Passenger service ceased on September 11, 1967.


Gallery

Image:Eklund Hotel, Clayton, NM IMG 4956.JPG,
Eklund Hotel The Eklund Hotel, also known as Hotel Eklund and located at 15 Main St. in Clayton, New Mexico, United States, was built in 1892. It is an example of Early Commercial architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2 ...
(established 1905), 2010. Image:Luna Theater in Clayton, NM IMG 4954.JPG, Luna Theater, 2010. Image:Union County, NM Courthouse, Clayton, NM IMG 4953.JPG, Union County Courthouse, 2010.


See also

Rabbit Ears


References


External links


Clayton (archived)

Welcome to Clayton NM
{{authority control County seats in New Mexico Towns in New Mexico Towns in Union County, New Mexico Populated places established in 1887 1887 establishments in New Mexico Territory