Welcome to Clayton
The city of Clayton was founded in 1867, though it didn’t officially incorporate until 1964. Though the city has briefly flirted with fortune as a result of the copper industry and coal mining, agricultural pursuits have been the dominant theme economically. Modern Clayton is a relaxed, out-of-the-way community known best for the quality of its schools and the consistently high standard of living its resident’s enjoy. These qualities make Clayton real estate popular in CA.
Lay of the Land
Clayton is located in central Contra Costa County along the northern slopes of Mount Diablo. Though the city lacks any direct neighbors, it is distantly ringed by several of the larger communities in the county, including Concord, Walnut Creek, Antioch, and Brentwood. Though the city does boast several parks, the area around the city is devoid of any significant open space preserves, with the exception of Lime Ridge Open Space Preserve in the west. Despite a population of just 11,505, the city’s residents have worked hard to create an extremely desirable community. This has lead to estimated median household incomes of $127,714 and estimated average home values of $613,790.
Transportation
Surprisingly, unlike the vast majority of the major county communities, Clayton is not directly located next to a major regional commuter roadway. The city is several miles away from both the major north to south roadway (Interstate 680) and the major east to west roadway (State Route 4).
When it comes to direct commuter transit access, Clayton is served by County Connections. County Connections coordinates commuter bus lines that operate throughout the central section of Contra Costa County. Tri Delta Transit also operates several bus lines which traverse the cities to the north and east of Clayton. Though Tri Delta doesn’t offer direct access to Clayton, several bus lines overlap with the coverage provided by County Connections. Finally, there are several Bay Area Rapid Transit stations located in the cities surrounding Clayton.
Local Highlights
One of the primary reasons that Clayton has been recognized as a top destination among small U.S. cities is the strength of the partnership between the city and the community. Together, the residents of Clayton work to organize citywide events and programs. These include a wide range of traditional services, including athletic programs and general enrichment classes for the youth of the community. However, it also includes several unique programs, such as the Mount Diablo Trail Ride Association and open access community emergency response training sessions.
Clayton is also home to the Oakhurst Country Club. The country club features a wide range of traditional facilities, most notably, the 18-hole championship level golf course. Designed by internationally recognized golf architect Ron Fream and sitting in the shadow of Mount Diablo, the course features numerous elevation changes as well as a design that expertly incorporates the natural flow of the surrounding terrain. The grounds also support a wide range of additional recreational activities, including four tennis courts and full size pool with accompanying fitness room.
The clubhouse portion of the country club features a traditional array of golf related amenities, including full-scale men’s and women’s locker rooms and a full service pro shop. The clubhouse also features a lounge and an elegantly arranged restaurant with numerous tables providing a view of nearby Mount Diablo. Finally, the clubhouse is equipped with a variety of large meeting rooms and banquet halls designed to support everything from corporate events to wedding celebrations.
Finally, the city is located near the Lime Ridge Open Space Preserve. Lime Ridge is a lightly developed location bordering the nearby city of Concord. The preserve is bisected by a 6 mile looping walking trail which provides fantastic views of Mount Diablo and several of the local communities. In addition to a diverse array of flora and fauna the preserve is also one of the few remaining locations of chaparral vegetation in the region.
