The community which has grown into the Town of Clayton was built on a road cut by Governor Tryon’s troops around 1770 as they marched North from New Bern to Hillsborough against the Regulators. Nearly 100 years later the railroad came through and the community had its first name—Stallings’ Station, since the depot for the North Carolina Railroad was in the home of Mrs. Sarah Stallings. The name lasted only three years, however before officially becoming Clayton which was incorporation in 1869.

Clayton is more than just a great location in the Triangle, there's a ton of fun things to do for families. The Parks and Recreation Department is booming with bike trails, river walks, sports and dog parks. The Clayton Center, Deep River Brewing, Revival 1869 and several more venues are alive with music, special events, and food. Check the website often for a list of things to do, community and annual events like the Clayton Harvest Festival.

Clayton is considered a satellite town of Raleigh, the state capital of NC. As of 2020, Clayton's population was over 20,000 people. Much of that growth can be attributed to the town's close proximity to the Research Triangle area and access to major highways such as I-40, U.S. 70, and NC 42.