Clayton County, Georgia

2025-09-25T17:02:38Z

2600:1008:B07B:9FDC:CC02:C6E2:7149:4812: Yeah, it was this county.

{{Short description|County in Georgia, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Clay County, Georgia|Clayton, Georgia}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Clayton County
| state = Georgia
| seal = Seal of Clayton County.png
| seal size = 85px
| logo = Logo of Clayton County.png
| logo size = 105px
| founded year = {{start date and age|1858}}
| founded date = November 30
| seat wl = Jonesboro
| largest city wl = Forest Park
| area_total_sq_mi = 144
| area_land_sq_mi = 142
| area_water_sq_mi = 2.8
| area percentage = 1.9%
| census yr = 2020
| pop = 297595
| pop_est_as_of = 2024
| population_est = 297703 {{gain}}
| density_sq_mi = 2101
| time zone = Eastern
| district = 5th
| district2 = 13th
| ex image = Clayton County, Georgia Courthouse.jpg
| ex image cap = [[Clayton County Courthouse (Jonesboro, Georgia)|Clayton County Courthouse]] in [[Jonesboro, Georgia|Jonesboro]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.claytoncountyga.gov/|claytoncountyga.gov}}
| named for = [[Augustin Smith Clayton]]
}}

'''Clayton County''' is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the 2020 census, the population was 297,595 by the U.S. Census Bureau.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Georgia|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/claytoncountygeorgia,GA/PST045221|work=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division|access-date=July 31, 2022}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Jonesboro, Georgia|Jonesboro]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

Clayton County is one of the core counties of the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]], and it is the fifth most-populous county in the state. It is the home of most of [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KATL |title=Hartsfield-Jackson Intl Airport Overview and FBOs (Atlanta, GA) [KATL/ATL] |website=FlightAware |language=en |access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref> [[List of busiest airports by passenger traffic|the busiest airport in the world]] by total passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-busiest-airports-2021/index.html|title=This US airport has reclaimed its title as the world's busiest|website=CNN.com|first=Marnie|last=Hunter|date=April 11, 2022}}</ref>

The county was the defendant in the landmark LGBT rights case of ''[[Bostock v. Clayton County]]'' (2020).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/man-won-gay-rights-case-scotus-agrees-settlement-rcna55959|title=Man who won gay rights case at Supreme Court agrees to settlement|date=November 7, 2022|website=NBC News}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite book| url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/c.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030710215157/http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/c.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2003 |url-status=live| title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins| publisher=Winship Press| last=Krakow| first=Kenneth K.| year=1975| location=Macon, GA| page=45| isbn=978-0-9154-3000-0}}</ref>

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 {{convert|144|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|142|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.8|sqmi}} (1.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is the third-smallest county by area in Georgia.

The eastern portion of Clayton County, between [[Forest Park, Georgia|Forest Park]] and [[Lovejoy, Georgia|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 (Georgia)|Flint River]] sub-basin of the [[ACF River Basin]] (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |title=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience |publisher=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission |access-date=November 19, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003004639/http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]] (northeast)
* [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry County]] (east)
* [[Spalding County, Georgia|Spalding County]] (south)
* [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette County]] (west)
* [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]] (northwest)

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[College Park, Georgia|College Park]] (part)
* [[Forest Park, Georgia|Forest Park]]
* [[Jonesboro, Georgia|Jonesboro]]
* [[Lake City, Georgia|Lake City]]
* [[Lovejoy, Georgia|Lovejoy]]
* [[Morrow, Georgia|Morrow]]
* [[Riverdale, Georgia|Riverdale]]

{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Bonanza, Georgia|Bonanza]]
* [[Conley, Georgia|Conley]]
* [[Irondale, Georgia|Irondale]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Ellenwood, Georgia|Ellenwood]]
* [[Mountain View, Georgia|Mountain View]]
* [[Rex, Georgia|Rex]]
* [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 4466
| 1870 = 5477
| 1880 = 8027
| 1890 = 8295
| 1900 = 9598
| 1910 = 10453
| 1920 = 11159
| 1930 = 10260
| 1940 = 11655
| 1950 = 22872
| 1960 = 46365
| 1970 = 98043
| 1980 = 150357
| 1990 = 182052
| 2000 = 236517
| 2010 = 259424
| 2020 = 297595
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 297703
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 22, 2025}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 1790-1880<ref name=1880CensusGACty>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800 |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-08.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1930-1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1940-1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia - |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960-1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1980-2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Clayton County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}
!Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Pop 2000<ref name="2000CensusP004">{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Clayton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US13063|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Clayton County, Georgia |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US13063|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Clayton County, Georgia |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US13063|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|82,637
|36,610
| style="background: #ffffe6; " |25,902
|34.94%
|14.11%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |8.70%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|120,816
|169,020
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |205,301
|51.08%
|65.15%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |68.99%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|545
|562
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |601
|0.23%
|0.22%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |0.20%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|10,562
|12,839
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |13,491
|4.47%
|4.95%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |4.53%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|126
|103
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |119
|0.05%
|0.04%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|513
|467
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |1,800
|0.22%
|0.18%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |0.60%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|3,590
|4,376
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |7,835
|1.52%
|1.69%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |2.63%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|17,728
|35,447
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |42,546
|7.50%
|13.66%
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |14.30%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''236,517'''
|'''259,424'''
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |'''297,595'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
| style="background: #ffffe6;" |'''100.00%'''
|}

At the [[2020 United States census]], there were 297,595 people, 97,030 households, and 62,746 families residing in the county. In 2000, it had a population of 236,517.<ref name="2000CensusP004" />

In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 66.1% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 18.87% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 5.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.4% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific islander]], 7.1% from other races, and 2.5% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. Those of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] origin made up 13.66% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13063 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011840/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13063 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> In terms of ancestry, 4.9% were "American".<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13063 |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013819/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13063 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2020, its makeup was 68.99% Black or African American, 8.70% non-Hispanic white, 0.20% American Indian or Alaska Native, 4.53% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.60% some other race, 2.63% multiracial, and 14.30% Hispanic or Latino of any race. The last quarter-century has seen significant change in the racial composition of the county's population. In 1980, Clayton county's population was 150,357 — 91% white and 9% minority,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.census.gov/census_1980/d1/ |title=Index of /Census_1980/D1 |access-date=March 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011126210128/http%3A//www2%2Ecensus%2Egov/census_1980/d1/ |archive-date=November 26, 2001}} at the [[Library of Congress]] (November 26, 2001){{dead link|date=August 2020}}</ref> while in 2006 the population was approximately 271,240 — 20% white and 80% minority.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Clayton County, Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau |year=2008 |access-date=March 27, 2008}}</ref>

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.<ref name="census-dp3">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>"[http://securities.stanford.edu/1007/VJET96/015.html Civil Action No. 1-96-CV-1355-JTC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907202121/http://securities.stanford.edu/1007/VJET96/015.html |date=September 7, 2007}}." ''[[Stanford Law School]]''. Retrieved on May 19, 2009.</ref>

== Education ==
{{Main|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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Matteucci |first=Megan |date=August 28, 2008 |title=Clayton schools lose accreditation; board members ousted |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2008/08/28/clayton_schools_accreditation.html |access-date=August 28, 2008 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> It was only the second system in the nation to do so since 1960. A [[grand jury]] investigated and considered possible criminal [[Indictment|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 [[Bidding|bids]] of [[Contract|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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Matteucci |first=Megan |date=April 2, 2008 |title=Clayton school board chairwoman steps down |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2008/04/02/claytonschools_0402.html |access-date=April 5, 2008 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Matteucci |first=Megan |date=May 1, 2008 |title=Clayton signs school chief's contract amid police presence |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2008/04/26/claysuper_0427.html |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref>

The Clayton County Public School System was re-accredited by SACS on May 1, 2009.<ref>[http://gaeducation.blogspot.com/2009/05/clayton-county-public-schools-receive.html Clayton County Public Schools Receive Re-accreditation]. ''Georgia Education News'' May 1, 2009. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.</ref>

=== Higher education ===
[[Clayton State University]] is located in [[Morrow, Georgia|Morrow]].

=== Media ===

* ''Clayton Crescent'':<ref>[https://claytoncrescent.org/ ''Clayton Crescent'']</ref> news about Clayton County and adjoining areas, part of the [[Institute for Nonprofit News]]
* ''Clayton News''<ref>[http://news-daily.com ''Clayton News'']</ref> (formerly ''Clayton News-Daily''): county legal organ, part of the Southern Community Newspapers, Inc. chain
* ''South Atlanta Magazine'':<ref>[https://southatlantamagazine.com/ ''South Atlanta Magazine'']</ref> lifestyle and profiles magazine focusing on Clayton County
* CCTV23:<ref>[http://www.claytontv23.com/ CCTV23]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Page |url=http://www.claytonpolice.com/ |access-date=March 19, 2018 |website=Clayton County Police Department |language=en-US}}</ref> Other law enforcement services (courts, jail, warrants) are provided by the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Page |url=http://www.claytonsheriff.com/ |access-date=March 19, 2018 |website=Clayton County Sheriff's Office}}</ref>

On April 26, 2021, Sheriff Victor Hill was indicted on charges of federal civil rights violations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2021 |title=Clayton Co. Sheriff Victor Hill Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Violations. |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/clayton-county-sheriff-victor-hill-indicted-federal-civil-rights-violations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427195055/https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/clayton-county-sheriff-victor-hill-indicted-federal-civil-rights-violations |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |website=US Department Of Justice (DOJ)}}</ref> On June 2, 2021, he was suspended by Governor [[Brian Kemp]] following a review of the indictment.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Hannah Sarisohn and Travis Caldwell |title=Georgia governor suspends sheriff indicted on federal civil rights charges |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/02/us/georgia-sheriff-victor-hill-suspended/index.html |access-date=July 31, 2021 |website=CNN}}</ref> On October 26, 2022, Sheriff Victor Hill was found guilty of violating civil rights of jail detainees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Sheriff Victor Hill found guilty of civil rights violations in federal trial and sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/clayton-county/sheriff-victor-hill-found-guilty-civil-rights-violations-federal-trial/SFEBPO5ZO5GF5FA4PXZ6PU4P6M/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta |language=en}}</ref>

== Politics ==
For most of the 1960s to the 1980s, Clayton County was a swing county. It voted for Governor [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election in Georgia|1976]] with around 65 percent of the vote, but then voted for [[Ronald Reagan]] with over 70 percent of the vote in [[1984 United States presidential election in Georgia|1984]]. However, due to extensive in-migration by Democratic-voting African-Americans from surrounding areas, starting in [[1992 United States presidential election in Georgia|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 United States presidential election in Georgia|2004]], Clayton County has been the most Democratic county in Georgia.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Clayton County, Georgia|source=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |last=Leip |first=David |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>}}

{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|148|382|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|279|505|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|224|604|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|335|518|361|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|472|516|29|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|179|346|34|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|59|333|170|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|223|248|111|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3|443|113|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3|517|75|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|34|475|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|46|273|75|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|619|612|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|35|1,361|7|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|175|1,352|3|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|161|1,382|2|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|245|1,828|1|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|339|2,192|765|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,230|4,058|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,593|5,522|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,953|5,892|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|10,488|5,869|10|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|8,256|3,517|11,665|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|23,681|3,740|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|12,905|21,432|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|19,160|17,540|1,351|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|31,553|11,763|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|28,225|14,689|223|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|23,965|25,890|8,134|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|20,625|30,687|3,930|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|19,966|40,042|1,394|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|23,106|56,113|424|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|16,506|82,527|481|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|14,164|81,479|587|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|12,645|78,220|2,715|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|15,811|95,466|1,114|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|16,877|94,203|1,571|Georgia}}
{{PresFoot}}

{|class=wikitable
|-
!colspan=3| Board of Commissioners
|-
! District
! Commissioner
!Party
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| CHAIR (at-large)
| Dr. Alieka Anderson- Henry (chairwoman)
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 1
| Alaina Reaves
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 2
| Gail Hambrick
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 3
| Tashe’ Allen
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 4
| DeMont Davis
|Democratic
|}

== Transportation ==

===Airports===
* [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[File:I-75.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 75 in Georgia|Interstate 75]]
* [[File:I-85.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 85 in Georgia|Interstate 85]]
* [[File:I-285.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 285 (Georgia)|Interstate 285]]
* [[File:I-675.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 675 (Georgia)|Interstate 675]]
* [[File:US 19.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 19 in Georgia|U.S. Route 19]]
* [[File:US 23.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|U.S. Route 23]]
* [[File:US 29.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 29 in Georgia|U.S. Route 29]]
* [[File:US 41.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 41 in Georgia|U.S. Route 41]]
* [[File:Georgia 3.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 3|State Route 3]]
* [[File:Georgia 3 Connector.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 3 Connector (Riverdale)|State Route 3 Connector]]
* [[File:Georgia 42.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 42|State Route 42]]
* [[File:Georgia 54.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 54|State Route 54]]
* [[File:Georgia 85.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 85|State Route 85]]
* [[File:Georgia 138.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 138|State Route 138]]
* [[File:Georgia 138 Spur.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 138 Spur (Jonesboro)|State Route 138 Spur]]
* [[File:Georgia 139.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 139|State Route 139]]
* [[File:Georgia 314.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 314|State Route 314]]
* [[File:Georgia 331.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 331|State Route 331]]
* [[File:Georgia 401.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 401|State Route 401]] (unsigned designation for I-75)
* [[File:Georgia 403.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 403|State Route 403]] (unsigned designation for I-85)
* [[File:Georgia 407.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 407|State Route 407]] (unsigned designation for I-285)
* [[File:Georgia 413.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 413|State Route 413]] (unsigned designation for I-675)
{{div col end}}

===Mass transit===

====Bus====
[[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] and [[Xpress GA]] / RTA commuter buses serve the county.

====Rail====
[[Commuter rail]] [[Clayton County commuter rail|service is proposed to serve Clayton County]] along the [[Norfolk Southern]] line,<ref name="MARTAapproves">{{cite news |last1=Wickert |first1=David |title=MARTA approves plans for Clayton County commuter train |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/marta-approves-plans-for-clayton-county-commuter-train/TGCcz6JGlUOxvzLzQTtUnJ/ |access-date=December 8, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |date=December 6, 2018}}</ref> with proposed stations in Forest Park, Morrow, Jonesboro, and initially ending at Lovejoy.

The [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority]]'s [[Airport (MARTA station)|Airport]] station is located in Clayton.

===Pedestrians and cycling===
{{div col}}
* Jesters Creek Trail
* Morrow Trail
* Clayton Connects
{{div col end}}

==In popular culture==
===Gone with the Wind===
[[Rural Home]], the real life plantation house that [[Tara (plantation)|Tara]] in the 1936 novel ''[[Gone with the Wind (novel)|Gone with the Wind]]'' was based on was in Clayton County<ref name= tomitronics>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tomitronics.com/old_buildings/fitzgerald_house/index.html|title=Fitzgerald House|website=www.tomitronics.com}}</ref> 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 (novel)|Gone with the Wind]]''<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080816121927/http://www.visitscarlett.com/|url=http://www.visitscarlett.com/|archive-date=16 August 2008|title=Official Home of Gone with the Wind}}</ref> and the famous 1939 motion picture ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' were set in Clayton County, including the location of the fictional plantation [[Tara (plantation)|Tara]]. Tara Boulevard was named for the plantation;<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/story/tara-boulevard-could-be-gone-with-the-wind {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref> it is the main north–south road through the county, carrying [[U.S. Route 41 in Georgia|U.S. 41]] and lesser-known [[State Route 3 (Georgia)|State Route 3]].

Parts of the novels ''[[Rhett Butler's People]]'' and ''[[Scarlett (Ripley novel)|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 (novel)|Gone with the Wind]]''. ''[[Scarlett (Ripley novel)|Scarlett]]'' is a sequel to ''[[Gone with the Wind (novel)|Gone with the Wind]]'', taking place briefly in Clayton County. The fictional [[Twelve Oaks|Twelve Oaks Plantation]] and others mentioned in these novels are located in and around Clayton County.

===Other Films===
The 2012 film ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'' features Clayton County throughout the film.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Parts of the film ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]]'' were shot in and around Clayton County,<ref>https://www.locationshub.com/blog/2013/10/27/the-film-industrys-impact-on-clayton-county-georgia {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2025}}</ref> 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.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Clayton County, Georgia]]
*[[List of counties in Georgia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.claytoncountyga.gov Clayton County Government]
* [http://www.visitscarlett.com Clayton County Visitors Bureau – For information on history, attractions, and events]
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/clayton/clayton-county Clayton County] historical marker

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Clayton County, Georgia
|North =
|Northeast = [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]
|East = [[Henry County, Georgia|Henry County]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[Spalding County, Georgia|Spalding County]]
|Southwest = [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette County]]
|West =
|Northwest = [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]]
}}
{{Clayton County, Georgia}}
{{Atlanta Metro}}
{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|33.54|-84.36|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Clayton County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]
[[Category:Counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area|Clayton]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1858]]
[[Category:Black Belt (U.S. region)]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Georgia]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Clayton County, Georgia