Clayton County, Georgia

History

The county was established in 1858 and named in honor of Augustin Smith Clayton (1783–1839), who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1832 until 1835.

Clayton County was a battle site during the American Civil War, with the Battle of Jonesborough and the Battle of Lovejoy's Station taking place in the area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 144 sqmi, of which 142 sqmi is land and 2.8 sqmi (1.9%) is water. It is the third-smallest county by area in Georgia.

The eastern portion of Clayton County, between Forest Park and Lovejoy, is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. The western portion of the county is located in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).

Adjacent counties

• DeKalb County (northeast)
• Henry County (east)
• Spalding County (south)
• Fayette County (west)
• Fulton County (northwest)

Communities

Cities

• College Park (part)
• Forest Park
• Jonesboro
• Lake City
• Lovejoy
• Morrow
• Riverdale

Census-designated places

• Bonanza
• Conley
• Irondale

Unincorporated communities

• Ellenwood
• Mountain View
• Rex
• Hampton

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 297,595. The median age was 34.3 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.2 males age 18 and over. 99.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.5% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 10.3% White, 69.9% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.8% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.3% of the population.

There were 106,200 households in the county, of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 40.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 114,038 housing units, of which 6.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 49.5% were owner-occupied and 50.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.

2010 census

In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 66.1% Black or African American, 18.87% non-Hispanic white, 5.0% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 7.1% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.66% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 4.9% were "American".

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $43,311, and the median income for a family was $48,064. Males had a median income of $36,177 and $32,460 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,958. About 13.6% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13063 |title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025855/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13063 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}

2000 census

In 2000, it had a population of 236,517.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $42,697, and the median income for a family was $46,782. Males had a median income of $32,118 versus $26,926 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,079. About 8.20% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The unemployment rate in Clayton County was 3.4% as of November 2019. Future job growth over the next ten years was predicted to be at 29.90%. Clayton County's sales tax rate is 8.00%. The income tax is 6.00%. Clayton County's income and salaries per capita is $18,735, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $39,699.

ValuJet Airlines was headquartered in northern, unincorporated Clayton County, near Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the 1990s.

Education

Main article: Clayton County Public Schools

2008 de-accreditation

The 50,000-student school system was the first in the nation to lose accreditation since 1969. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) revoked the school district's accreditation on August 28, 2008. It was only the second system in the nation to do so since 1960. A grand jury investigated and considered possible criminal indictments against the Clayton County School Board. At issue was whether the school board committed malfeasance in ignoring the shortcomings of the school system and violating its own rules concerning the awarding of bids of contracts.

School Board Chairwoman Ericka Davis announced her resignation on April 2, 2008, amidst the allegations. Clayton County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell called for the resignations of all Clayton County School Board members. Amid controversy and orders for the police to quiet citizens, the Clayton County School Board hired a new temporary superintendent on April 26, 2008. This was despite the fact that the new superintendent did not meet the qualifications set forth by SACS.

The Clayton County Public School System was re-accredited by SACS on May 1, 2009.

Higher education

Clayton State University is located in Morrow.

Media

• Clayton Crescent: news about Clayton County and adjoining areas, part of the Institute for Nonprofit News
• Clayton News (formerly Clayton News-Daily): county legal organ, part of the Southern Community Newspapers, Inc. chain
• South Atlanta Magazine: lifestyle and profiles magazine focusing on Clayton County
• CCTV23: Clayton County government access television (Ch. 23 on Xfinity, Ch. 99 on AT&T UVerse)

Crime and policing

The Clayton County Police Department has an authorized strength of 525 personnel headed by Chief Kevin Roberts. Other law enforcement services (courts, jail, warrants) are provided by the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.

On April 26, 2021, Sheriff Victor Hill was indicted on charges of federal civil rights violations. On June 2, 2021, he was suspended by Governor Brian Kemp following a review of the indictment. On October 26, 2022, Sheriff Victor Hill was found guilty of violating civil rights of jail detainees.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Clayton County is a strongly Democratic county, voting 83.6% for Kamala Harris in 2024. For most of the 1960s to the 1980s, Clayton County was a swing county. It voted for Governor Jimmy Carter in 1976 with around 65 percent of the vote, but then voted for Ronald Reagan with over 70 percent of the vote in 1984. However, due to extensive in-migration by Democratic-voting African-Americans from surrounding areas, starting in 1992, Clayton County has swung heavily Democratic and is now one of the most Democratic counties in the country. In every presidential election since 2004, Clayton County has been the most Democratic county in Georgia.

For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Clayton County is mostly part of Georgia's 13th congressional district. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Clayton County is a part of districts 17, 34 and 44. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Clayton County is represented by districts 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 and 79.

Transportation

Airports

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Major highways

• [[File:I-75.svg|20px]] Interstate 75
• [[File:I-85.svg|20px]] Interstate 85
• [[File:I-285.svg|25px]] Interstate 285
• [[File:I-675.svg|25px]] Interstate 675
• [[File:US 19.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 19
• [[File:US 23.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 23
• [[File:US 29.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 29
• [[File:US 41.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 41
• [[File:Georgia 3.svg|20px]] State Route 3
• [[File:Georgia 3 Connector.svg|20px]] State Route 3 Connector
• [[File:Georgia 42.svg|20px]] State Route 42
• [[File:Georgia 54.svg|20px]] State Route 54
• [[File:Georgia 85.svg|20px]] State Route 85
• [[File:Georgia 138.svg|20px]] State Route 138
• [[File:Georgia 138 Spur.svg|20px]] State Route 138 Spur
• [[File:Georgia 139.svg|20px]] State Route 139
• [[File:Georgia 314.svg|20px]] State Route 314
• [[File:Georgia 331.svg|20px]] State Route 331
• [[File:Georgia 401.svg|20px]] State Route 401 (unsigned designation for I-75)
• [[File:Georgia 403.svg|20px]] State Route 403 (unsigned designation for I-85)
• [[File:Georgia 407.svg|20px]] State Route 407 (unsigned designation for I-285)
• [[File:Georgia 413.svg|20px]] State Route 413 (unsigned designation for I-675)

Mass transit

Bus

MARTA and Xpress GA / RTA commuter buses serve the county.

Rail

Commuter rail service is proposed to serve Clayton County along the Norfolk Southern line, with proposed stations in Forest Park, Morrow, Jonesboro, and initially ending at Lovejoy.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's Airport station is located in Clayton.

Pedestrians and cycling

• Jesters Creek Trail
• Morrow Trail
• Clayton Connects

In popular culture

Gone with the Wind

Rural Home, the real life plantation house that Tara in the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind was based on was in Clayton County where Annie Fitzgerald Stephens, the model of the character Scarlet O'Hara grew up. This meant that large parts of Margaret Mitchell's epic 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and the famous 1939 motion picture Gone with the Wind were set in Clayton County, including the location of the fictional plantation Tara. Tara Boulevard was named for the plantation; it is the main north–south road through the county, carrying U.S. 41 and lesser-known State Route 3.

Parts of the novels Rhett Butler's People and Scarlett and the Scarlett television miniseries also took place in Clayton County. Rhett Butler's People is a prequel, sequel, and companion to Gone with the Wind. Scarlett is a sequel to Gone with the Wind, taking place briefly in Clayton County. The fictional Twelve Oaks Plantation and others mentioned in these novels are located in and around Clayton County.

Other Films

The 2012 film Flight features Clayton County throughout the film.

Parts of the film Smokey and the Bandit were shot in and around Clayton County, namely in Jonesboro, as evidenced by a sign in the background of one of the scenes. Although this particular scene was supposed to be set in Arkansas, a "Willow Bend" sign advertising brick homes in Clayton County can be spotted behind Sheriff George Branford. Many back roads and the movie town of Texarkana are the roads and the town of Jonesboro.

References

References

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35. "Home Page".
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38. Hannah Sarisohn and Travis Caldwell. "Georgia governor suspends sheriff indicted on federal civil rights charges".
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44. (December 6, 2018). "MARTA approves plans for Clayton County commuter train". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
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