Feature Property $123,900 Raleigh, NC (Click Here)

Clayton, North Carolina Profile

Like Fuquay Varina, Clayton has become a very popular relocation spot because it can provide a more affordable housing market plus a variety of quality home choices! Communities like Riverwood & Flowers Plantation offer top amenities that would cost a great deal more in the Cary & Raleigh Communities. The trade off is the distance from Raleigh, RDU Airport, shopping centers and Research Triangle Park.

Clayton is located near two interstate highways: I-40 and I-95, on the western edge of Johnston County. Clayton is convenient to several major cities: Raleigh (20 minutes to the west); Research Triangle Park (35 minutes west); and Durham (40 minutes west) and is also close to the North Carolina mountains (approximately 3 hours) and the North Carolina beaches (approximately 2 hours). Because of the soil and climate conditions in Clayton, agriculture is a mainstay of the community. Several research farms and laboratories have been established in the area because of Clayton's proximity to North Carolina State University, the NC Department of Education.

All schools in Johnston County operate under the public school system. The Johnston County school system is made up of 29 schools serving approximately 18,500 students from kindergarten through grade 12. In the Clayton area: RiverDell Elementary, West Clayton, East Clayton, Riverwood and Cooper Elementary Schools serve grades K-5, the Clayton Middle School serves 6-8; and Clayton High School serves 9-12.

All schools are accredited by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. For more information call the Johnston County School Administrative Office in Smithfield at 919-934-6031.

Johnston Community College, located about 10 miles east of Clayton in Smithfield, is part of the North Carolina Community College system. JCC has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 and offers students a wide variety of programs. The college also houses the Small Business Center for Johnston County. For more information, contact Johnston Community College. at 919-934-3051.

Healthcare

Johnston Memorial Hospital located on Brightleaf Boulevard in Smithfield is a 175-bed hospital (145 beds med/surg) that has served the citizens of Johnston County since 1951.

The hospital sponsors a variety of activities that promote community education and well-being for all ages. Other agencies under the JMH umbrella include Johnston Memorial Home Care & Hospice, QuikMed Urgent Care Center, Johnston Cancer Center, Summit Surgical Center in Clayton, the Johnston Medical Mall in Smithfield and satellite practices in Kenly and at McGees Crossroads. For more information about the hospital, call 919-934-8171 or write to: Johnston Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577, e-mail: sphillips@johnstonmemorial.org, website: http://www.johnstonmemorial.org.

The Johnston County Mental Health Center occupies a modern facility and is supported by federal, state, and county funds. The Center's paid staff includes psychiatrists, social workers, clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, alcoholism counselors, and administrative personnel. The Center's services include inpatient and outpatient care, partial hospitalization, emergency services, consultations, and educational programs.

Through clinics and home visits, the Johnston County Health department offers health services for infants, preschoolers, school children, and mothers. The department emphasizes the control and prevention of communicable diseases through sanitation, clinics, tuberculin testing, general immunization clinics, and health education. The Health Department conducts pap tests, venereal disease tests, breast checks, and limited laboratory services. They also keep records of births, deaths, and communicable diseases.

The Johnston County Health Department visits Clayton on Wednesdays of each month at the Civitan Building on McCuller Street. The building is open for children's immunizations from 8:30 - 11:30 on 2nd & 4th Wednesday mornings. WIC pick-up is from 8:30 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 4:00 on the 2nd Wednesday. WIC certifications are scheduled on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month by appointment only. For more information call the Health Department at 919-989-5200.

History

The Town of Clayton was built on the road that was cut by Governor Tyrnn's troops as they marched from New Bern to Hillsborough against the Regulators around 1770. The community was first known as Stallings' Station, a depot for the North Carolina Railroad in the home of Mrs. Sarah Stallings. The first post office was located just southeast of the present site, under the name of Gulley's Store. On January 30, 1856, the name was officially changed to Clayton named for a senator from Delaware.

The Town of Clayton was incorporated in 1869. Today it is a thriving community and the second largest town in Johnston County.

Libraries

The Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is located at 100 S. Church Street in Clayton. The library is owned and operated by the Town of Clayton and has an excellent collection of books, magazines, and news. Because of its affiliation with the Johnston County Library System and the North Carolina inter-Library Loan Program for films and books, any printed material can be obtained.

The Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is open Mon. - Tues, Wed. & Fri. 10 - 5:30 p.m.; Thurs. 1 -8 p.m.; and Sat. 9 - 12 noon. For more information, call 919-553-5542.

The Johnston County Public Library is located at 305 East Market Street in Smithfield and is open Mon., Tues. & Thurs. 9 - 9 p.m.; Wed. & Fri. 9 - 5:30 p.m.; and Sat. 9 - 5 p.m. A book- mobile travels throughout the county each week. For more information, call 919-934-8416.

Media

Newspapers that serve Clayton include The Clayton News-Star, the Smithfield Herald and The News and Observer. The Clayton News-Star is a weekly community newspaper published every Tuesday with a paid circulation of approximately 4,200. The News-Star also publishes a free shopper with a circulation of approximately 6,800. The Smithfield Herald is the county-seat newspaper published bi-weekly with a circulation of approximately 13,300. The Raleigh News and Observer is published everyday with a circulation of approximately 152,414).

Parks

The Town of Clayton has several parks. Clayton Municipal Park on Stallings Street offers a volleyball court and horseshoe pits as well as a playground, basketball court, tennis court, and ball field as well as a picnic & shelter area. Legend Field, located on City Road, provides a baseball and softball field. Front Street Park (located on Front Street) has a playground area and basketball court. Tennis courts are also located at Clayton High School.

Clemmons Educational State Forest is located on old Highway 70 West and offers nature trails, camping, hiking, and picnic facilities. The Talking Tree Trail features "talking trees,: each with recorded messages about itself. A Forest Geology Trail with "talking rocks: explains the geology and soils of the forest. The Forest Demonstration Trail offers timely information and examples of actual forestry practices. Clemmons offers educational programs to schools and organized groups of 10 or more. The Forest Season is Mid-March to Mid-November and is closed on Mondays. For more information or to learn the hours of operation call 919-553-5651.

Recreation

The Clayton Parks and Recreation Department is financed by local taxes to promote recreation in the Town of Clayton and to assist civic, neighborhood, and service groups in their recreation needs and interests. The Parks and Recreation Department offers programs for children, adults, and senior citizens throughout the year. For information about these programs, call 919-553-1550. The 24-Hour Information Line is 919-553-1552.

Clayton has three (3) 18-hole golf courses, the Neuse in Glen Laurel subdivision, Riverwood Golf Course (18-hole), Pine Hollow Golf Course (18-hole), and River Ridge (18-hole).

Within a fifteen minute drive from Clayton is the ballpark for the MudCats minor league baseball team.

Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, Harris Lake, and Kerr Lake are nearby for fishing, boating, and water skiing. The North Carolina coast offers salt-water fishing only two hours away from Clayton.

Taxes

Property taxes are assessed at the current tax rates for Town, County, and special districts (if any) on property owned on January 1 of each year, as listed by the taxpayer during the month of January each year. Property taxes become payable August 31 and are payable without penalty through January 5. After January 5, penalties and interest begin to accrue. The property tax rate for Johnstony Count is $0.8 per $100 valuation.

Annual property tax bills are payable to Johnston County by mail to: Johnston County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 451 Smithfield, NC 27577. You can pay in person at the Johnston County Tax Office in the Johnston County Courthouse, on Market Street in Smithfield.

The property tax rate for Clayton is $0.61 per $100 valuation. The Town of Clayton accepts payments by mail at P. O. Box 451 Smithfield, NC 27577.

For information on your property evaluation, call the County Assessor's Office at 989-5130.

Transportation

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is approximately 40 minutes west of Clayton off of interstate I-40. The airport services seven major airlines with an average of 240 departures daily.

The Johnston County Airport is located approximately 5 minutes east of Clayton. Its 4,400 foot runway and taxiways are paved and lighted. Charter service is available.

AMTRAK can be boarded in Selma or in Raleigh. Bus service is available from Smithfield and from Raleigh.

Chris Edwards Group RE/MAX United Raleigh-Cary 51 Kilmayne Dr., Ste. 100 Cary, NC 27511 Office: (919) 469-6540 Cell: (919) 244-0702 FAX: (919) 469-8444 Email: chris@chrisedwardsgroup.com