Clayton Celebrates 70 Years of Opening Doors to a Better Life

Clayton marks seven decades of innovation in attainable housing, and looks toward its next chapter

MARYVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, a leading factory-built housing and financial services company, is celebrating its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades of helping individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership. The anniversary is a reflection of the people, purpose and values that have shaped Clayton's journey since 1956 and continue to guide its future.

"Seventy years gives us a chance to celebrate how far Clayton has come, but what excites me most is how much opportunity is still ahead," said Kevin Clayton, CEO. "My dad founded this company around a simple belief that hardworking families deserve a quality home they can afford. That belief hasn't changed. What has changed is what we're capable of building, how efficiently we can build it and the number of families we can serve. Our job now is to keep innovating and opening doors to a better life for the next generation."

Since Jim Clayton founded the company in 1956, Clayton has remained focused on its purpose of opening doors to a better life for hardworking families across the U.S. From its first store in Knoxville, Tennessee to serving hometowns nationwide, Clayton's journey has been shaped by a commitment to building quality homes families can afford to buy and afford to own – year after year. That purpose continues to drive the company's culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

"From the day that first Clayton home was sold, our team actively searched for a better way," said Jim Clayton, Founder. "That became a key part of our cultural foundation. Seventy years later, the Clayton team is still asking, 'How can we build a better home, improve the customer experience and make homeownership achievable for more families?' I'm so proud to see that spirit continue from generation to generation."

Clayton's 70th anniversary also coincides with an important milestone for the housing industry. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 HUD Code, a federal building standard that helped transform manufactured  housing by establishing consistent construction and safety standards nationwide while enabling greater efficiency and innovation.

To commemorate its 70th anniversary, Clayton recently unveiled the latest evolution of its brand, building on its long-standing identity as a builder of quality homes families can afford. A newly branded website offers prospective homeowners a streamlined way to explore home options across the country.

As Clayton looks toward its next chapter, the company remains grounded in the purpose, values and relationships that have defined its culture from the beginning - while continuing to innovate to make homeownership possible for more families.

About Clayton

Founded in 1956, Clayton is a factory-built housing and financial services company committed to delivering a world-class experience for customers and team members. The company's purpose is "opening doors to a better life" by providing attainable, sustainably built homes with a lower cost of homeownership. Its portfolio includes a comprehensive range of modern manufactured, Tiny, CrossMod®, and modular housing. In 2025, Clayton built more than 59,000 homes nationwide. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

CrossMod is a registered certification mark of the Manufactured Housing Institute.

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SOURCE Clayton