Clayton, Delaware Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Clayton, Delaware is a small town located in Kent County. It has a population of approximately 1,400 people. The area is mainly rural with rolling hills and wooded areas. The climate is humid and warm in the summer months and cold in the winter months.

The history of Clayton dates back to the early 1600s, when it was first settled by European colonists. It was incorporated as a town in 1869 and has remained an independent municipality ever since. The economy of Clayton is largely agricultural, with many local farms producing corn, wheat, soybeans, and other crops.

The town has several schools including an elementary school, middle school, and high school. There are also several private schools located nearby.

Clayton has several landmarks that make it unique including the historic First Baptist Church which was built in 1793 and is still standing today. The Johnson-Tidbury House is another landmark that dates back to 1820 and has been restored to its original condition by local historians. Additionally, there are several parks located throughout the town including Johnson Park which hosts various events throughout the year such as summer concerts and festivals.

Clayton also plays an important role in local politics as it serves as the county seat for Kent County with the county courthouse located there since 1889. Elections for political offices are held at this location each year for both state and county representatives.

Population: 1,273. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,400 (+10.0% change)
Males: 600 (47.1%), Females: 673 (52.9%)

Kent County

Zip code: 19938

Demographics

Median resident age: 35.8 years
Median household income: $43,462
Median house value: $96,000

Population by Race

Races in Clayton:

  • White Non-Hispanic (89.5%)
  • Black (8.1%)
  • Hispanic (1.3%)
  • American Indian (0.9%)
  • Two or more races (0.7%)

Ancestries: German (16.6%), English (16.0%), Irish (15.2%), United States (11.9%), Italian (6.8%), Polish (3.9%).

Elevation: 43 feet

Land area: 1.0 square miles

Map of Clayton, DE

Population by Education

Clayton is a small town located in New Castle County, Delaware. It is situated along the Christina River and has a population of 3,933 people according to the 2019 census. With a total area of 1.47 square miles, Clayton is one of the smallest towns in Delaware and is part of the Greater Wilmington Metropolitan Area. The majority of residents are White (83%), followed by Hispanic (10%), African American (3%), Asian (2%) and other races (2%).

The median household income in Clayton is $69,746, which is higher than the national average of $50,000. The unemployment rate in Clayton stands at 4%. Most people commute to work as there are few job opportunities within the town itself. The top industries providing employment in Clayton include educational services, health care and social assistance, professional scientific and technical services, retail trade and manufacturing.

Education plays an important role in Clayton with 91% of adults having at least a high school diploma or equivalent level of education. About 12% have some college experience while 3% have earned bachelor’s degrees or higher.

Clayton has an active community with many events taking place throughout the year such as parades for Memorial Day and Veterans Day along with an annual holiday parade. There are also several parks that provide recreational activities like picnicking and playgrounds for children.

For population 25 years and over in Clayton

  • High school or higher: 72.6%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.8%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.5%
  • Unemployed: 3.2%
  • Mean travel time to work: 28.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Clayton town

  • Never married: 18.5%
  • Now married: 54.4%
  • Separated: 3.5%
  • Widowed: 9.4%
  • Divorced: 14.2%

2.3% Foreign born (0.9% Latin America, 0.6% Asia, 0.6% North America).

Population change in the 1990s: +198 (+18.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Clayton:

  • BAYHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER (about 13 miles; DOVER, DE)
  • ROCKFORD CENTER (about 19 miles; NEWARK, DE)
  • MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF SALEM COUNTY (about 23 miles; SALEM, NJ)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Clayton:

  • DOVER AFB (about 18 miles; DOVER, DE; Abbreviation: DOV)
  • NEW CASTLE COUNTY (about 26 miles; WILMINGTON, DE; Abbreviation: ILG)
  • PHILADELPHIA INTL (about 49 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Abbreviation: PHL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Clayton:

  • SMYRNA (about 4 miles; SMYRNA, DE; Abbreviation: 38N)
  • DELAWARE AIRPARK (about 7 miles; DOVER/CHESWOLD, DE; Abbreviation: 33N)
  • MASSEY AERODROME (about 11 miles; MASSEY, MD; Abbreviation: MD1)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Clayton:

  • DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 13 miles; Dover, DE; Full-time enrollment: 2,641)
  • UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (about 19 miles; NEWARK, DE; Full-time enrollment: 17,786)
  • DELAWARE TECHNICAL & COMM COLL-STANTON-WILMINGTON (about 24 miles; NEWARK, DE; Full-time enrollment: 3,817)
  • WILMINGTON COLLEGE (about 27 miles; NEW CASTLE, DE; Full-time enrollment: 3,087)
  • WIDENER UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 43 miles; CHESTER, PA; Full-time enrollment: 3,646)
  • WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (about 46 miles; WEST CHESTER, PA; Full-time enrollment: 10,419)
  • ROWAN UNIVERSITY (about 46 miles; GLASSBORO, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 7,587)

Public primary/middle schools in Clayton:

  • PROVIDENCE CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL (Students: 650; Location: 355 WEST DUCK CREEK ROAD; Grades: KG – 07)
  • CLAYTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 460; Location: 510 WEST MAIN STREET; Grades: KG – 04)