Prior to European settlement in the area, Clay was inhabited by the Onondaga Nation, part of the Iroquois Confederacy, some of whose descendants still live in the area today. Clay was within the Central New York Military Tract. The town was first settled by outsiders around 1791 and was previously known as West Cicero. The Town of Clay was formed in 1827 from the Town of Cicero, one of the original townships of the military tract.
Bayberry — A suburban residential community in the town.
Belgium — A hamlet on NY-31 near the western town line.
Cherry Estates — A hamlet near the eastern town line.
Clay — The hamlet of Clay is located on NY-31.
Country Meadow — A very large neighborhood off of Caughdenoy Rd, site of the 2008 Parade of Homes.
Elmcrest — A hamlet in the southwest part of Clay.
Euclid— A hamlet in the northern part of the town on NY-31.
Fairway East — A sprawling subdivision linking Morgan Road with Soule Road. There are many streets and approximately 500 homes.
Gatewood — A neighborhood in the eastern part of the town off of Maple Road. Consists of three streets and 72 houses.
Great Northern Mall — A large regional mall at the junction of routes NY-31 and NY-481. Built in Clay in 1988, it is one of three major enclosed malls in the Syracuse area.
Kimbrook — A suburban residential community.
Lawton Valley Hunt — A very large housing development between Caughdenoy Road, NY-31, and Lawton Road. The final phase of the development has recently been completed.
Lynelle Meadows — A suburban residential community.
Moyers Corners — A hamlet on NY-31 near the western town line, east of Belgium.
North Syracuse — The Village of North Syracuse is mostly within the Town of Clay.
The Farmstead — A new upscale neighborhood off of Maple Road, site of the 2014 Parade of Homes.
Three Rivers — A hamlet at the western town line at the junction of the Oneida, Oswego, and Seneca Rivers.
Willow Stream — A suburban residential community.
Woodard— A hamlet in the southwest part of Clay.
Youngs — A hamlet north of Clay village.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,805 people, 22,294 households, and 15,940 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,224.9 people per square mile. There were 23,398 housing units at an average density of 487.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 92.13% White, 3.50% African-American, 0.47% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.39% of the population. There were 22,294 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couplesliving together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $90,412, and the median income for a family was $97,493. Males had a median income of $40,387 versus $27,996 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,011. About 4.1% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure
Fire departments
Parts of Clay are covered by Moyers Corners Fire Department and Clay Fire Department.
