Clayton Township’s deep ties to farming and Flint
Clayton Township is a rural bedroom community directly west of Flint, Michigan. Established in the mid-19th century, many people moved to the area for its nearby creeks and fertile soil. In the 1880s, a train depot opened in the village of Lennon, bringing more trade and commerce to the region. Though the railroad no longer runs through the village, agriculture continues to play a part in the township's economy, while residents enjoy easy commutes to their jobs in Flint and nearby communities.
Ranch-style homes dominate a rural landscape
Homes are scattered across acres of farmland and forest. Ranch-style is the most common kind of architecture, but buyers can also find Colonials that date to the early 1870s, plus some new, contemporary style homes on the east side of the community. Older homes that are less than 2,000 square feet typically range between $125,000 to $300,000, while bigger homes with larger lot sizes range between $300,000 and $700,000.
Local restaurants and grocery stores in nearby towns
While most people drive to surrounding communities for shopping and dining, Clayton Township does have a couple of local haunts. The Pig and The Hen is a popular brunch spot that sources local ingredients for entrees such as chicken and waffles and strawberry-stuffed French toast. The Fireside Coffee Shop has roasted its own coffee beans since 1988. Almar Orchards & Cidery has been growing their own apples since the 1950s and also offers its own honey, maple syrup and donuts inside its farm store. Lennon Café is a family-style diner that has been serving buffalo mac ‘n’ cheese, goulash and homemade apple pie for 20 years. There are a couple of Kroger grocery stores nearby, in Swartz Creek and Flushing, plus there’s a Gordon Food Service Store in Flint.
Nearby soccer complexes and canoeing in Flint River
While the area is mostly agricultural land, several recreational attractions are close to the township. The 810 Sports Complex has pickleball courts, a turf field and an ice-skating rink for hockey games. The Flushing Soccer Complex is located north of the township and has over 10 fields for kids to play soccer matches. Many also like to go kayaking and canoeing in the Flint River, which flows southeast through Flushing. There are also many houses of worship in the township, including the Flint Islamic Center, which was originally established in 1987.
B-rated schools in Swartz Creek
Clayton Township is primarily zoned for Swartz Creek Community Schools, which offers school choice and earns a B on Niche. Morrish Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade, while Elms Road Elementary School caters to third through fifth-grade students and offers accelerated reading and math programs. Swartz Creek Middle has student clubs for drama and quiz bowl and organizes field trips to Washington D.C. every year. All three schools earn B-minuses on Niche. B-rated Swartz Creek High School offers advanced placement courses and has extracurricular programs for skiing, science and esports.
An interstate and transit service for Genesee County
Interstate 69 runs along the south side of the township and leads around 8 miles east to Flint. The McLaren Flint hospital is open for 24 hours, and Bishop International Airport flew over 280,000 passengers in 2024. MTA Flint also has a service station in Swartz Creek that offers personalized transit throughout the county.
