Clifton was named because of its hilly location on the Ohio River valley escarpment.

The Louisville and Lexington toll pike, which is now called Frankfort Avenue, went through the heart of the area and was lined with small shops.

The area began to revitalize in the 1990s, as numerous restaurants, boutiques, and antique shops opened up along Frankfort Avenue.

As of 2000, the population of Clifton was 2,469 [1], of which whites are 87.2%, blacks are 8.1%, people listed as other are 2.2%, and Hispanics are 2%.

College graduates are 32.1% of the population, people without a high school degree are 22%.