[21] Jacob Fisler purchased much of the area that is now Clayton, acquiring 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) of land after the American Revolutionary War.

[22] A glass factory was established in Clayton in the 1850s by one of Fisler's descendants, which contributed to Fislertown's growth.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Silver Lake.

[9][10] The 2010 United States census counted 8,179 people, 2,916 households, and 2,105 families in the borough.

[36][37] Parkland covers about a third of the borough and includes both municipal and state parks.

[6] The borough form of government used by Clayton is a weak mayor/strong council government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[44][45][46] In March 2019, the borough council selected Christina Moorhouse from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat vacated by Vonzora Jackson's resignation.

[47] As of 2024[update], the mayor is Democrat Thomas Bianco, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2027.

[3][48][49][50][51][52] Clayton describes itself in its motto as "a great place to live and play, work and pray."

The seal, which has been used since the late 1960s, features an image of a factory, a house, a figure fishing off a boat, and with a church with a cross, which was challenged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in March 2016 as "unmistakably religious" and unconstitutional.

[56][57][58] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[60] For the 2024-2025 session, the 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and in the General Assembly by David Bailey (D, Woodstown) and Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro).

[101] In September 2014, voters approved a referendum that covered $9.7 million to upgrade all three schools in the district.

[102] Students in Gloucester County are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education programs.

[104][105] The former St. Catherine of Siena Regional School in Clayton merged with St. Michael in 2008.

[108] Route 55 traverses the borough's southwestern edge, but the closest interchanges are in neighboring communities.

[109] A sliver of County Road 553 clips the borough's western edge.