Clayton, Missouri is a unique retirement community near St. Louis.

Clayton MO History

When the City of St. Louis split from St. Louis County in 1876, the county courts housed within city limits were left without a home. After much consideration, County officials chose a site donated by two farmers, Ralph Clayton and Martin Hanley. On December 4, 1877, County residents voted to adopt Clayton and Hanley's land as the new County seat.

Over the next 25 years, Clayton slowly grew from virgin forests and farmland to a small town. The town had only a few residents, so businesses catered to the courthouse traffic that trickled in from the outlying County.

The City of Clayton was formally incorporated in February 1913. Clayton suffered with the rest of the country during the Great Depression, but the lack of manufacturing and heavy industry insulated it against the highest rates of poverty and unemployment affecting larger cities. By the late 1940s, Clayton was in the midst of a building and business boom that eventually changed the city from a quaint suburb to the hub of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Since then, Clayton has continued to grow and prosper.

Clayton Missouri – Unique Retirement Community

Today, over 81% of Clayton's real estate is either residential or city park. Martin Hanley's 129-year-old farmhouse still stands on the edge of downtown Clayton, a testament to the city's unique combination of urban flair and quiet community. It is no wonder that seniors consider Clayton, Missouri to be an ideal retirement community.