Clayton County celebrated its 157th birthday this week. The county was created Nov. 30, 1858 from land previously part of Fayette and Henry counties. The county was named after Judge Augustin S. Clayton who won a seat in the Georgia Congress for his opposition to tariffs. Then-Gov. Joseph E. Brown signed legislation making Clayton Georgia’s 127th county. Ironically, Brown died 36 years later on Nov. 30 at the age of 73.
Clayton is now home to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport and about 265,000 residents.