Clay County, Illinois

Last updated

Clay County
County
Clay County Courthouse in Louisville from north-northwest.jpg
Clay County Courthouse in Louisville
Map of Illinois highlighting Clay County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°46′N88°29′W / 38.76°N 88.49°W / 38.76; -88.49
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg Illinois
FoundedDecember 23, 1824 (created)
March 8, 1825 (organized)
Named after Henry Clay
Seat Louisville
Largest city Flora
Area
 • Total
469.59 sq mi (1,216.2 km2)
 • Land468.32 sq mi (1,212.9 km2)
 • Water1.28 sq mi (3.3 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,288
 • Estimate 
(2024)
12,821 Decrease2.svg [1]
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 12th
Website claycountyillinois.org

Clay County is a county in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 13,288. [2] Since 1842, its county seat has been Louisville, in the center of the county's area. [3] In 1950, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in Clay County. [4]

Contents

History

The future Clay County had been inhabited for thousands of years by the Illiniwek Indians (the remains of an Indian village's burial ground are still visible west of Ingraham). White explorers used or cleared a trail between the future settlements of Saint Louis in Missouri, to Vincennes in Indiana; this became a mail route in 1805. The first white settler (McCauley, from Kentucky) built a cabin in 1809 near this road at its intersection with a trail from Vandalia to Mt. Carmel. He was driven out by the Indians, but had returned by 1819, by which time other cabins had been constructed in the area, which was originally called Habbardsville. The Indians were removed from the area in 1828. [5]

Clay County was authorized by act of the state legislature on December 23, 1824, by partitioning portions of Wayne, Crawford, and Fayette counties. [5] It was named for American statesman Henry Clay, [6] a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State. Clay was a candidate for president in 1824.

The first appointed commissioners met on March 8, 1825, to organize the county government. Land for county building purposes was donated near Habbardsville. The commissioners accepted the offer, renamed it Maysville, and had a two-room courthouse erected on the property by the end of the year. [7] The seat remained at that location (about a mile south of the present community of Clay City) through 1841, and in 1842 the county government began functioning in Louisville, being at the center of the county's area. [5]

The first railroad line through Clay County was laid between 1850 and 1854, the Ohio and Mississippi Line. [5] By 1855–56, the Illinois Central Railroad had also been constructed across the northwest corner of the county.

Geography

The low rolling hills of Clay County are devoted to agricultural production. The various drainage areas are still largely wooded. The Little Wabash River flows southeastward through the center of the county, while Muddy Creek drains the eastern portion (the meanders of Little Muddy delineate a portion of the county's east border with Richland County). Buck Creek, in the south part of the county, flows eastward and joins the Little Wabash above Clay City. Raccoon Creek flows southeastward from the lower part of the county into Wayne County. [8] The highest point on the terrain (646 feet/197 meters ASL) is a small point along the western border with Marion County. [9]

The county produced excellent timber during the nineteenth century, and some sandstone and limestone. The soil is light and not considered adapted to farming on a large scale. [5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 470 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 468 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.3%) is water. [10]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Protected areas

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Climate and weather

Louisville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel [12]
Metric conversion
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70
 
 
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21
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104
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Louisville have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 89 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1904 and a record high of 111 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.49 inches (63 mm) in February to 4.34 inches (110 mm) in June. [12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830 755—
1840 3,228327.5%
1850 4,28932.9%
1860 9,336117.7%
1870 15,87570.0%
1880 16,1922.0%
1890 16,7723.6%
1900 19,55316.6%
1910 18,661−4.6%
1920 17,684−5.2%
1930 16,155−8.6%
1940 18,94717.3%
1950 17,445−7.9%
1960 15,815−9.3%
1970 14,735−6.8%
1980 15,2833.7%
1990 14,460−5.4%
2000 14,5600.7%
2010 13,815−5.1%
2020 13,288−3.8%
2023 (est.)12,999 [13] −2.2%
US Decennial Census [14]
1790-1960 [15] 1900-1990 [16]
1990-2000 [17] 2010 [18]
2000 census age pyramid for Clay County USA Clay County, Illinois age pyramid.svg
2000 census age pyramid for Clay County

2020 census

Clay County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 [19] Pop 1990 [20] Pop 2000 [21] Pop 2010 [22] Pop 2020 [23] % 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)15,18914,35314,29713,42912,48199.38%99.26%98.19%97.21%93.93%
Black or African American alone (NH)041643300.00%0.03%0.11%0.31%0.23%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)22172730330.14%0.12%0.19%0.22%0.25%
Asian alone (NH)15287663770.10%0.19%0.52%0.46%0.58%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [24] x [25] 200xx0.01%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)10100180.07%0.01%0.00%0.00%0.14%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [26] x [27] 5499426xx0.37%0.72%3.21%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)4757881512230.31%0.39%0.60%1.09%1.68%
Total15,28314,46014,56013,81513,288 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 13,815 people, 5,697 households, and 3,790 families in the county. [28] The population density was 29.5 inhabitants per square mile (11.4/km2). There were 6,404 housing units at an average density of 13.7 per square mile (5.3/km2). [10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. [28] In terms of ancestry, 21.7% were German, 14.6% were American, 12.6% were Irish, and 8.6% were English. [29]

Of the 5,697 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 42.2 years. [28]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,016 and the median income for a family was $48,659. Males had a median income of $38,191 versus $27,347 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,802. About 11.2% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over. [30]

Education

Politics

As part of Upland Southern-settled Southern Illinois, Clay County is powerfully Republican. No Democratic presidential nominee has won a majority in Clay County since Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide, and typically for the region recent presidential elections have seen dramatic declines in Democratic support. [31]

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Illinois [32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 1,77445.64%1,60441.27%50913.09%
1896 2,15547.89%2,27250.49%731.62%
1900 2,35649.45%2,29548.17%1132.37%
1904 2,40853.19%1,93542.74%1844.06%
1908 2,25049.53%2,15247.37%1413.10%
1912 1,62237.36%1,92644.37%79318.27%
1916 3,87950.43%3,57446.46%2393.11%
1920 3,68359.90%2,35838.35%1081.76%
1924 3,43249.60%2,98743.17%5007.23%
1928 4,52265.16%2,41834.84%00.00%
1932 3,37341.83%4,56556.61%1261.56%
1936 4,52848.25%4,75250.64%1041.11%
1940 5,18550.72%4,93448.27%1031.01%
1944 4,48455.29%3,53143.54%951.17%
1948 3,78253.21%3,16044.46%1662.34%
1952 5,25460.38%3,43239.44%150.17%
1956 5,07958.73%3,55341.08%160.19%
1960 5,13460.13%3,39439.75%100.12%
1964 3,66544.61%4,55155.39%00.00%
1968 4,42955.46%2,87836.04%6798.50%
1972 5,28364.92%2,84434.95%110.14%
1976 3,86049.94%3,83749.64%320.41%
1980 4,44761.20%2,58735.60%2323.19%
1984 4,56264.22%2,52435.53%180.25%
1988 3,49455.65%2,76143.97%240.38%
1992 2,47137.15%2,96244.53%1,21918.33%
1996 2,70343.40%2,75044.16%77512.44%
2000 3,78961.76%2,21236.06%1342.18%
2004 4,41667.38%2,10132.06%370.56%
2008 3,92660.72%2,42537.50%1151.78%
2012 4,19070.92%1,58426.81%1342.27%
2016 5,02179.07%1,02016.06%3094.87%
2020 5,62981.59%1,12916.36%1412.04%
2024 5,61082.77%1,05415.55%1141.68%

See also

38°46′N88°29′W / 38.76°N 88.49°W / 38.76; -88.49

References

  1. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. March 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Clay County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Mean Center of Population for the United States: 1790 to 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2001. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "A History of Southern Illinois". The USGenWeb Project. 1912. pp. 439–442. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  6. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p.  83.
  7. ↑ "Larry Brant - Village of Clay City". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  8. ↑ Clay County IL (Google Maps, accessed 24 October 2020)
  9. ↑ Clay County High Point IL (PeakBagger.com, accessed 24 October 2020)
  10. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ Martin T Snyder Nature Preserve, Flora IL (Google Maps, accessed 24 October 2020)
  12. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Louisville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  14. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  18. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  19. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  20. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  21. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Clay County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  22. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  23. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  24. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  25. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  26. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  27. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  28. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  31. ↑ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, The New York Times , April 24, 2014
  32. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
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