Layton was first settled around 1800 by John Layton and was known as Centreville, the settlement is located roughly in the middle of the township at the confluence of Layton-Bevans Road (County Route 640), Tuttles Corner-Dingmans Road (CR 560), and Layton-Hainesville Road (CR 645). The Little Flat Brook, which provided a source of power for early mills, runs through the middle of the village. Simeon Fisher, a blacksmith, is noted to be the first to open a business at this site, followed by Abraham Bell, who had a carpenter's shop and a tavern. In 1835, Squire Layton established a store that served the residents of the community and travels alike. By 1860, the hamlet had significantly expanded to include a Methodist church, two stores, a post office, a tannery, a blacksmith shop, a cooperage shop, a sawmill, a small shop, a gristmill, a hotel, and more than fifteen dwellings. Shortly after that date, a one-room schoolhouse was erected in the hamlet.[9]
In 1861, John B. Layton petitioned Washington, D.C. for mail delivery. The petition was in the name of Centerville, but that name was already being used by another community in the state. The name "Laytons" was assigned to this area, named for Layton who had put forth the petition. The name was later changed by the Post Office Department by dropping the 's'.[9]
In 1906, the State Industrial Directory reported the settlement to include a gristmill, a creamery owned by Siler & Company, several residences, and population to be about one hundred. The number of residents declined to sixty by 1915. "The village occupies an exceptionally fine location with regard to healthfulness of climate and beauty of scenery. It is only two miles from the Delaware River, and a short distance from several small but fine lakes, the waters of which come from mountain streams. The elevation is 550 feet over sea level. Fish abound in all the waters about the village, and every other feature of healthful, picturesque country life, on which people who leave the cities during the summer months set a high value, are found here."[9]
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Layton has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[10]
United States
New Jersey
