Clayton’s roots trace back to horseback riding and stargazing
In the grasslands of northeastern New Mexico, Clayton is a cattle-ranching community close to the Texas border. In the 1800s, it developed into a farming area due to its location along the Santa Fe Trail, a vital trade route during westward expansion. Early settlers navigated the area on horseback by following the stars and riding toward Rabbit Ears Mountain, which led them to Clayton. Today, it has a Main Street center surrounded by ancient history, which draws newcomers to the high plains of the Wild West. "People want to move from large, congested areas to wide open spaces," says Rosie DeHerrera, an area local and real estate agent at Big Country Realty. "I see the quietness of our community attracting folks from Arizona, Colorado and California. We saw it a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has just continued. People come here for the fresh air and the night skies."
Southwestern charm with stucco homes and desert landscaping
Wide paved streets border various dry-weather plants, such as Gambel oak and Arizona cypress trees. Clayton primarily offers single-story architectural styles, such as stucco Craftsman and ranch-style homes. Some houses have a Spanish influence, with red-tile roofs and arched entryways. Single-family home prices range from $70,000 to $200,000. "We're in the middle of Texas and Colorado, so it's a central location," DeHerrera says. "We've seen Air BnBs pop up over the last few years, and they seem to be a good investment. You can buy a nice home here for much less than in the surrounding cities."
Public schools offer small classes and agriculture programs
Alvis Elementary School earns a B-plus grade from Niche, with a curriculum up to fourth grade. Kiser Elementary serves grades 5-6, with small classes and a diverse school community. About 70 students from grades 7-8 attend Clayton Junior High, which offers a performing arts program. Both Kiser Elementary and Clayton Junior High receive A-minus grades. Clayton High School scores a B and has an active Future Farmers of America organization, with agricultural projects and state conventions that students can attend.
Dark skies and boating at Clayton Lake
The area's recreational highlight is the Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways, which has campgrounds, boat launches and 500 dinosaur footprints that date back more than 100 million years. As one of New Mexico's International Dark Skies, it is also a gold-certified stargazing area. "We have an observatory with a fantastic telescope where you can see the planets and the stars. It's a big deal," DeHerrera says. The Clayton City Park Playground has picnic tables in a shady green space with a playground. Locals can also play a 9-hole round at the Clayton Golf Club.
Attractions from the Wild West and a historic movie theater
One of the landmarks on Main Street is the Luna Theater, a historic cinema showing brand-new movies in auditoriums from the early 1900s. Clayton is also the final resting place of Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum, who was part of an outlaw gang of brothers who robbed trains in the 1890s. The Herzstein Memorial Museum has historical attractions, including artifacts from the Santa Fe Trail, the Dust Bowl and evidence of dinosaurs. "Because we're on the Santa Fe Trail, history buffs come to see our museum," DeHerrera says. "It's fantastic, and people find it pretty interesting."
Tex-Mex and coffee on Clayton’s Main Street
The town center is home to many locally owned establishments for shopping and dining. Mock's Crossroads Coffee Mill serves breakfast sandwiches in a brick building that used to be an animal feed store. Also nearby is the 87 Restaurant, which serves Tex-Mex and country-style favorites like chicken-fried steak. It also has an outdoor patio decorated with local memorabilia. The community's grocery store is Ranch Market, and Dollar General is nearby.
At a highway junction within driving distance of Amarillo
Although Clayton offers some access for cyclists, it currently lacks a dependable public transportation system. The nearest emergency room is the Union County General Hospital, about 1 mile west of downtown. "We're fortunate to have a medical center with good doctors," DeHerrera says. This community sits at the intersection of U.S. Routes 412 and 87. Amarillo , Texas, is 130 miles southeast on US-87, and the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport is approximately 140 miles southeast. While it currently does not offer flights to international cities, there are direct flights to the Dallas , Houston and Denver airports. Also nearby is the Clayton Municipal Airpark, a general aviation facility for private and recreational flights.
