Clayton in Union County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Clayton

Population 2,968 ~ Elevation 4,969

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012

1. Clayton Marker

Inscription. Trade caravans and homesteaders traveling the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail passed near here. Clayton was founded in 1887 and named for the son of cattleman and ex-Senator Stephen W. Dorsey, one of its developers. It became a major livestock shipping center for herds from the Pecos Valley and the Texas Panhandle.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 36° 26.6′ N, 103° 12.446′ W. Marker is in Clayton, New Mexico, in Union County. It is on U.S. 412 at milepost 81, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clayton NM 88415, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

on the Southern Plains,

on the High Plains,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rabbit Ear Mountain (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Edward "Black Jack" Ketchum (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Luna Theatre Complex (approx. 1.4 miles away); Eklund Hotel (approx. 1.4 miles away); Herzstein's Store (approx. 1.4 miles away); First Methodist Episcopal Church North

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(approx. 1½ miles away); Black Jack Ketchum (approx. 1.6 miles away); Clayton Dinosaur Trackway (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clayton.

Photographed by Craig Doda, December 28, 2018

2. Clayton Marker

Clayton Marker Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, December 28, 2018

3. Clayton Marker Reverse

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012

4. Clayton Marker Reverse

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012

5. Clayton Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,167 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 9, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 2, 3. submitted on February 13, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on May 9, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.