The town was formed from parts of the towns of Orleans and Lyme in 1833. The town was named after statesman John M. Clayton. The village of Clayton became the main railroad terminus for the Thousand Islands resort region, during its heyday at the turn of the twentieth century. The town of Clayton offered several hotels to visitors, some grand, now mostly vanished.
In 1872, the community of Clayton voted to set itself apart from the town by incorporating as a village.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 104.0 square miles (269.4 km2), of which 82.4 square miles (213.3 km2) are land and 21.7 square miles (56.1 km2), or 20.83%, are water. The town is situated on the St. Lawrence River near Lake Ontario. Across the river lies Ontario, Canada.
The northern border of the town is the Canada–US border running through the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River. The town includes the fourth largest of the Thousand Islands, Grindstone Island, along with smaller islands, such as Bluff Island, Grenell Island, Maple Island, Picton Island, and Round Island.
A ferry once connected Clayton with Gananoque in Ontario, but was discontinued due to the construction of the Thousand Islands Bridge 10 miles (16 km) northeast (down-river). This bridge now carries traffic from Interstate 81 into Canada.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 4,817 people, 1,914 households, and 1,335 families residing in the town. The population density was 58.3 inhabitants per square mile (22.5/km2). There were 3,337 housing units at an average density of 40.4 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population.
Antique wooden boats are commonly seen on the St. Lawrence River.
There were 1,914 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,805, and the median income for a family was $39,727. Males had a median income of $31,402 versus $21,091 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,947. About 4.8% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and topographic features
Aunt Janes Bay – A bay on the south shore of Grindstone Island.
Bartlett's Point – A hamlet west of Clayton village, located on a geographical feature called Bartlett Point.
Blind Bay – A small bay of the St. Lawrence River by the eastern town line.
Chaumont River – A stream flowing through the south part of Clayton; it is a tributary of Chaumont Bay in Lake Ontario.
Clayton – A village on the shore of the St. Lawrence River in the northern part of the town.
Clayton Center – A hamlet located on County Road 10 in the eastern part of the town.
Frontenac – A hamlet on the northeastern end of Round Island.
Frontenac Springs – A location in the northwestern corner of Clayton, known for its natural crystal spring water. Frontenac Crystal Spring Water is trucked all over, can be purchased in one or five-gallon jugs or filled in their self-serve area.
Grenell Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River by the eastern town line.
Grenell – A hamlet on Grenell Island.
Grindstone – A hamlet on the northern side of Grindstone Island.
Grindstone Island – The fourth largest of the Thousand Islands. It lies in the St. Lawerence River opposite Clayton village.
Gunns Corners – A hamlet in the southeastern corner of the town on NY-180 at NY-12.
Murray Isle – An island in the St. Lawrence River by the eastern town line.
Reynolds Corners – A location at the southern town line on County Road 125.
Round Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River north east of Clayton with many summer homes. Little Round Island is adjacent to it.
Schnauber Hill – An elevation by the eastern town line.
Smith Corners – A location on NY-12 between Depauville and Clayton village.
Washington Island – A small island next to Clayton village.
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