Clayton County, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clayton County
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Clayton County Courthouse in Jonesboro
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Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
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 Georgia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| Founded | November 30, 1858 |
| Named for | Augustin Smith Clayton |
| Seat | Jonesboro |
| Largest city | Forest Park |
| Area | |
| • Total | 144 sq mi (370 km2) |
| • Land | 142 sq mi (370 km2) |
| • Water | 2.8 sq mi (7 km2) 1.9%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2020)
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292,646 |
| • Density | 2,011/sq mi (776/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 5th, 13th |
Clayton County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 259,424. The county seat is Jonesboro.
Clayton County is included in the Atlanta metropolitan area, and is the sixth most-populous county in the state. It is the home of most of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world from 1998 to 2020.
Contents
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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 144 square miles (370 km2), of which 142 square miles (370 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (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 (southwest)
- Fulton County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 4,466 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,477 | 22.6% | |
| 1880 | 8,027 | 46.6% | |
| 1890 | 8,295 | 3.3% | |
| 1900 | 9,598 | 15.7% | |
| 1910 | 10,453 | 8.9% | |
| 1920 | 11,159 | 6.8% | |
| 1930 | 10,260 | −8.1% | |
| 1940 | 11,655 | 13.6% | |
| 1950 | 22,872 | 96.2% | |
| 1960 | 46,365 | 102.7% | |
| 1970 | 98,043 | 111.5% | |
| 1980 | 150,357 | 53.4% | |
| 1990 | 182,052 | 21.1% | |
| 2000 | 236,517 | 29.9% | |
| 2010 | 259,424 | 9.7% | |
| 2020 | 297,595 | 14.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 25,902 | 8.7% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 205,301 | 68.99% |
| Native American | 601 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 13,491 | 4.53% |
| Pacific Islander | 119 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 9,635 | 3.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42,546 | 14.3% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 297,595 people, 97,030 households, and 62,746 families residing in the county.
2019 ACS Estimates
| Population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group | Estimate | Percent |
| Total Population | 292,256 | |
| Population by Sex | ||
| Group | Estimate | Percent |
| Male | 135,978 | 48.5% |
| Female | 156,278 | 54.5% |
| Sex ratio (males per 100 females) | 87.0 | |
| Population by Age | ||
| Group | Estimate | Percent |
| Under 5 years | 22,220 | 7.6% |
| 5 to 9 years | 19,796 | 7.8% |
| 10 to 14 years | 25,828 | 8.8% |
| 15 to 19 years | 21,335 | 7.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 21,389 | 7.3% |
| 25 to 29 years | 23,673 | 8.1% |
| 30 to 34 years | 21,055 | 7.2% |
| 35 to 39 years | 20,269 | 6.9% |
| 40 to 44 years | 19,574 | 6.7% |
| 45 to 49 years | 17,919 | 6.1% |
| 50 to 54 years | 18,249 | 6.2% |
| 55 to 59 years | 17,475 | 6.0% |
| 60 to 64 years | 15,415 | 5.3% |
| 65 to 69 years | 10,559 | 3.6% |
| 70 to 74 years | 8,639 | 3.0% |
| 75 to 79 years | 3,640 | 1.2% |
| 80 to 84 years | 3,491 | 1.2% |
| 85 years and over | 1,730 | 0.6% |
| Median age (years) | 33.0 | |
| Population by Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Group | Estimate | Percent |
| Black or African American | 203,719 | 71.7% |
| White | 49,935 | 17.1% |
| --- White, not Hispanic or Latino | 26,584 | 8.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 39,195 | 13.9 |
| --- Mexican | 26,940 | 9.8 |
| Asian | 14,986 | 5.1% |
| Some other race | 11,168 | 3.8% |
| Two or more races | 9,274 | 3.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | 1,237 | 0.4% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 103 | 0.0% |
| Population by Nativity and Citizenship Status | ||
| Group | Estimate | Percent |
| Native (born in the United States) | 250,690 | 85.8% |
| --- Born in Georgia | 148,575 | 50.8% |
| --- Born in other U.S. state | 98,506 | 33.7% |
| ------ Southern state | 54,282 | 18.6% |
| ------ Northeastern state | 19,235 | 6.6% |
| ------ Midwestern state | 17,878 | 6.1% |
| ------ Western state | 7,111 | 2.4% |
| --- Native born outside U.S. states | 3,609 | 1.2% |
| Foreign Born | 41,566 | 14.2% |
| --- Not a U.S. citizen | 21,705 | 7.4% |
| --- Naturalized U.S. citizen | 19,861 | 6.8% |
2010 Census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 259,424 people, 90,633 households, and 62,389 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,832.5 inhabitants per square mile (707.5/km2). There were 104,705 housing units at an average density of 739.6 per square mile (285.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.1% black or African American, 18.87% 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, and 4.9% were "American".
Of the 90,633 households, 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.37. The median age was 31.6 years.
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 versus $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.
Transportation
Airports
Major highways
Interstate 75
Interstate 85
Interstate 285
Interstate 675
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 23
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 41
State Route 3
State Route 3 Connector
State Route 42
State Route 54
State Route 85
State Route 138
State Route 138 Spur
State Route 139
State Route 314
State Route 331
State Route 401 (unsigned designation for I-75)
State Route 403 (unsigned designation for I-85)
State Route 407 (unsigned designation for I-285)
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
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Arrowhead District
- Botany Woods
- Clayton Panhandle
- Ellenwood
- Flint River District
- Flintwoods
- Lake Harbin
- Lake Spivey
- Mountain View
- North Jonesboro
- Old Dixie
- Old South
- Rex
- Valley Hill
In popular culture
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, and 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 TV Mini-Series 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, also and also takes place briefly in Clayton County. In the above-mentioned novels, the fictional Twelve Oaks Plantation and others mentioned in the novels above, are located in and around Clayton County.
The 2012 film Flight features Clayton County throughout the film, with Hall's Flying Ranch in Hampton, Georgia, doubling as Denzel Washington's character's childhood home.
Parts of the film Smokey and the Bandit were also shot in and around Clayton County, namely in Jonesboro, as evidenced by a sign in the background of one of the scenes. Even though 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 actually the roads and the town of Jonesboro.
Trinidad James filmed his music video for the song "All Gold Everything" in Clayton County
Rap artist Waka Flocka Flame is also from Clayton County as he resides in Riverdale, Georgia.
Economy
The unemployment rate in Clayton County, GA, is 3.4% as of November 2019. Future job growth over the next ten years is 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
Clayton County Public Schools is the fifth largest school system in Georgia. On August 28, 2008, the district lost its accreditation, citing a 'dysfunctional' school board.
The district currently has 53,000 students enrolled in its 63 schools. Under the current Superintendent Dr. Morcease J. Beasley, the district has a strategic plan that includes the vision and mission statements. Clayton County has twenty-two elementary and five middle schools that have been deemed by the Georgia Department of Education as Distinguished Schools. This is based on the number of consecutive years of making AYP. Clayton County is fully accredited, April 2013
Special schools and programs
Lovejoy High School hosts the district International Baccalaureate Program (IB). The IB Diploma Program is designed as an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final exams that prepare students for success at the university level and life beyond.
CCPS has two charter schools. Unidos Dual Language, Georgia's first public dual language school is a model of excellence in language education. Unidos serves students in Pre-kindergarten through sixth grades. The second charter school is the Elite Scholars Academy; the school serves grades 6-10 and will be expanding to the twelfth grade by 2014. The school operates on a year-round calendar. Any student in the district may apply to enroll. Selection is based on a random lottery.
Clayton County also has a Math and Science Magnet and 3 fine arts magnet programs at Jackson Elementary, MD Robert's Middle, and Martha Ellen Stilwell. Enrollment is based on application and/or audition.
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. This makes 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 has 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
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Clayton (Georgia) para niños
