Clayton, IN

Clayton is a Hendricks County town in Liberty Township, five miles south of Danville and two miles from U.S. 40 at Belleville. It began as Clayville in 1829, was platted in 1851, and took the name Clayton in 1858 after another Clayville caused confusion. The first train arrived in 1852; a store, hotel, flour mill, schoolhouse, and later electric service built the town around that rail connection.

Clayton incorporated in 1909, and the township high school moved into town in 1901, placing school life near the middle of the local map. Mill Creek Community Schools now has three of its four buildings in Clayton: Mill Creek East Elementary, Cascade Middle School, and Cascade High School. The annual Fall Festival adds horse and tractor pulls, bands, food, games, bingo, and a parade, while Movies in the Park gives the town a Friday-night summer routine. State Road 39 is the road most people use to place Clayton. The town's railroad past still shows in its street plan.