FOUNDING FAMILIES & TOWN CHRONOLOGY
Joel Clayton's second Clayton house, circa 1972
| 1812-20 | Joel Henry Clayton and Margaret Ellen McLay are born. |
| 1839 | Clayton & McLay families move to America. |
| 1841 | Joel & Margaret marry. |
| 1846 | Bolbone Indians are living in Diablo Valley |
| 1847 | Joel & brother Charles live in Oregon. |
| 1848 | Gold is discovered in California. Joel & Charles move to California |
| 1850 | Prospector Francis Such discovers gold, quick silver and copper near Mt. Diablo. |
| 1853-1857 | Joel purchases 40 acres at the confluence of Mitchell and Mt. Diablo creeks. Builds home in 1855. Lays out town of Clayton in 1857. Two hotels are operating in Clayton. |
| 1859 | Farmer William Israel discovers coal east of Clayton. Noah Norton (Nortonville) establishes 'Black Diamond Mines'. |
| 1861 | Joel purchases 1200 acres in Clayton and 3/5 interest in Black Diamond Mines. Town opens first post office. |
| 1863 | Joel plants grapes on 28 acres and Methodist Church is constructed (Endeavor Hall - Oak Street). |
| 1864 | Clayton Hotel burns (site of Stagecoach Inn) Shadrack Jones opens Blacksmith shop on Main Street. |
| 1872 | Joel Clayton dies. DeMartini purchases Clayton vineyards. |
| 1878 | Saklan Indians credited with naming Mt. Diablo (Devil's Mountain). |
| 1890's | Coal mining at Black Diamond discontinued, miners move to Washington. |
| 1900's | Clayton becomes an agricultural center. |
| 1964 | City of Clayton is incorporated. |
| 1975 | Clayton Home (Museum) presented to Clayton Historical Society. |
| 1979 | January 10th , Museum opens to the public. |
| 1996 | Bugsworth, England and Clayton, California become twin (sister) cities. |
| 1997 | Clayton Historical Society Home Page is founded on the Internet. |
