Clayton, California
| City of Clayton | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Parts of Clayton as seen from Mt. Diablo in Summer 2005
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 Location in Contra Costa County and the state of California |
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 City of Clayton
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| Coordinates: 37°56′28″N 121°56′09″W / 37.94111°N 121.93583°WCoordinates: 37°56′28″N 121°56′09″W / 37.94111°N 121.93583°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 California
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| County | Contra Costa |
| Incorporated | March 18, 1964 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jim Diaz |
| • State Senator | Steve Glazer (D) |
| • State Assembly | Tim Grayson (D) |
| • U. S. Congress | Mark DeSaulnier (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.836 sq mi (9.935 km2) |
| • Land | 3.836 sq mi (9.935 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 394 ft (120 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 10,897 |
| • Density | 2,800/sq mi (1,100/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 94517 |
| Area code(s) | 925 |
| FIPS code | 06-13882 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277488, 2409474 |
| Website | www |
Clayton (formerly Clayton's and Claytonville) is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 10,897 as of the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2), all land.
Clayton is located at the foot of Mt. Diablo State Park.
This region experiences hot and dry summers. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Clayton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
In 1857, the town of Clayton was laid out and founded by Joel Henry Clayton (1812–1872) and his two younger brothers. Clayton was born in Bugsworth, now Buxworth, in the United Kingdom, and emigrated to the United States in 1837. After years in other states he settled down with his wife Margaret (1820–1908) at his town at the foot of Mount Diablo, where he and his family prospered. Clayton was named after Joel Henry Clayton, although only by the flip of a coin. Joel Clayton and Charles Rhine cofounded the town, and each wanted to name it after himself. If Charles had won it would have become Rhinesville, but Joel Clayton won. Joel and his wife Margaret both died in Clayton, and were buried in Live Oak Cemetery in what is now Concord, CA.
Clayton prospered during the coal mining boom in eastern Contra Costa County. The post office opened in 1861. Following a previous incorporation attempt in 1960, Clayton incorporated in 1964 in order to stave off an annexation attempt in 1963 of the Cardinet Glen neighborhood by nearby Concord. After steady expansion during the 1970s to the east and west from its original boundaries, Clayton's land area more than doubled in 1987 to near its present-day boundaries with the annexations of the Dana Hills/Dana Ridge and Clayton Wood subdivisions, as well as the former Keller Ranch property that was developed during the 1990s with the Oakhurst Country Club.
On December 7, 2009, it snowed in Clayton and Concord for the first time since the 1970s.
On September 8, 2013, fire broke out on Mount Diablo. Called the Morgan Fire, it started at the mercury mine area of Morgan Territory Road. The fire grew quickly and threatened homes and livestock. Evacuations were ordered for several areas, including Oak Hill Lane and Curry Canyon. It took over 1000 firefighters and eight aircraft to extinguish it. Full containment was announced on September 14, 2013, having burned 1,259 ha (3,111 acres).
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