Clayton is a small town in the northeastern part of the state. It is not far from Folsom, or Capulin Volcano National Monument. Although today it is not close to any large population center in the state it has a history of being on important travel routes. The Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail where travelers used the Rabbit Ear Mountain as a guiding landmark brought some of the first Americans there. The Goodnight-Loving Trail also passed through the area (bringing cattle north from Texas) starting in the late 1860s. The Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad came to the area in 1888 enabling it to be a major livestock shipping center.

In the 20th century the people there were impacted by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The town was hit by a "black roller" (giant dust cloud) that measured 1,500 feet high and a mile across on May 28, 1937. Clayton evolved into a commercial center to include multiple eating establishments, numerous shops, several dollar stores, two convenience stores, and multiple motels and campgrounds.

The Herzstein Memorial Museum is a point of interest in the town. One exhibit features personal treasures from the Herzstein family's collection from world travels and items from their home. Other exhibits include artifacts from the Santa Fe Trail, Native American Artifacts, Black Jack Ketchum, the Dust Bowl era and so much more! The museum has the largest Works Progress Administration collection in the state.

---