Clay County, Kansas

Clay County
County
Clay County Courthouse in Clay Center (2006)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N97°10′W / 39.350°N 97.167°W / 39.350; -97.167
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 20, 1857
Named for	Henry Clay
Seat	Clay Center
Largest city	Clay Center
Area
• Total	656 sq mi (1,700 km2)
• Land	645 sq mi (1,670 km2)
• Water	10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	8,117
• Density	12.6/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	785
Congressional district	1st
Website	ClayCountyKansas.org

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Clay Center. ^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,117. ^[1] The county was named for Henry Clay, an influential U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

History

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1857, Clay County was established.

When the first counties were created by the Kansas legislature in 1855, the territory within the present limits of the county was attached to Riley County for all revenue and judicial purposes. Subsequently, Clay was attached to Geary County. In 1857, Clay was created and named in honor of the famous American statesman Henry Clay, ^[3] a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.

In 1887, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled, but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Clay County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs). ^{[4] [5]} A pumping station named Riley was built along the pipeline.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) (1.6%) is water. ^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Washington County (north)
• Riley County (east)
• Geary County (southeast)
• Dickinson County (south)
• Ottawa County (southwest)
• Cloud County (west)

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas, ^[7] U.S. Census Bureau ^[8]

• U.S. Route 24
• Kansas Highway 15
• Kansas Highway 82

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	163		—
1870	2,942		1,704.9%
1880	12,320		318.8%
1890	16,146		31.1%
1900	15,833		−1.9%
1910	15,251		−3.7%
1920	14,365		−5.8%
1930	14,556		1.3%
1940	13,281		−8.8%
1950	11,697		−11.9%
1960	10,675		−8.7%
1970	9,890		−7.4%
1980	9,802		−0.9%
1990	9,158		−6.6%
2000	8,822		−3.7%
2010	8,535		−3.3%
2020	8,117		−4.9%
2023 (est.)	8,007	[9]	−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the 2000 census, ^[14] there were 8,822 people, 3,617 households, and 2,517 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). There were 4,084 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.72% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 3,617 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,965, and the median income for a family was $41,103. Males had a median income of $28,817 versus $17,760 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,939. About 6.80% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Kansas ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,177	75.97%	894	21.38%	111	2.65%
2016	2,891	74.94%	677	17.55%	290	7.52%
2012	2,788	75.64%	834	22.63%	64	1.74%
2008	2,998	73.95%	1,009	24.89%	47	1.16%
2004	3,174	79.15%	793	19.78%	43	1.07%
2000	2,998	73.34%	951	23.26%	139	3.40%
1996	2,793	66.87%	963	23.05%	421	10.08%
1992	2,198	47.89%	947	20.63%	1,445	31.48%
1988	2,997	72.10%	1,112	26.75%	48	1.15%
1984	3,559	78.76%	919	20.34%	41	0.91%
1980	3,449	73.90%	932	19.97%	286	6.13%
1976	3,085	63.85%	1,610	33.32%	137	2.84%
1972	3,562	78.42%	887	19.53%	93	2.05%
1968	3,335	71.95%	926	19.98%	374	8.07%
1964	3,030	62.18%	1,806	37.06%	37	0.76%
1960	3,937	75.33%	1,246	23.84%	43	0.82%
1956	4,378	80.17%	1,034	18.93%	49	0.90%
1952	5,059	84.87%	831	13.94%	71	1.19%
1948	3,763	65.89%	1,804	31.59%	144	2.52%
1944	4,101	74.01%	1,391	25.10%	49	0.88%
1940	4,699	68.74%	2,067	30.24%	70	1.02%
1936	3,525	50.45%	3,441	49.25%	21	0.30%
1932	3,115	47.26%	3,289	49.90%	187	2.84%
1928	4,457	73.74%	1,515	25.07%	72	1.19%
1924	3,767	62.93%	1,417	23.67%	802	13.40%
1920	3,521	72.69%	1,155	23.84%	168	3.47%
1916	2,692	47.70%	2,632	46.63%	320	5.67%
1912	843	22.69%	1,373	36.96%	1,499	40.35%
1908	1,858	52.96%	1,495	42.62%	155	4.42%
1904	2,262	68.57%	403	12.22%	634	19.22%
1900	2,001	51.47%	1,826	46.97%	61	1.57%
1896	1,655	45.55%	1,929	53.10%	49	1.35%
1892	1,666	43.67%	0	0.00%	2,149	56.33%
1888	1,914	50.80%	920	24.42%	934	24.79%

Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Clay County is overwhelmingly Republican. When Lyndon B. Johnson became in 1964 the last Democrat to carry the state's electoral votes, Clay County was his weakest in the state, giving over 62 percent of its votes to Barry Goldwater. The solitary Democrat to win a majority of Clay County's votes has been William Jennings Bryan in 1896, although Woodrow Wilson in a four-way race in 1912, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 both obtained slim pluralities. Roosevelt in 1936, when he lost to Kansan Alf Landon by eighty-four votes, remains the last Democrat to win forty percent of the county's vote, and Jimmy Carter in 1976 is the last to pass thirty percent.

Education

Unified school districts that serve portions of the county include: ^[16]

• Clay County USD 379
• Clifton-Clyde USD 224
• Southern Cloud USD 334

Communities

2005 KDOT map of Clay County (map legend)

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

• Clay Center (county seat)
• Wakefield
• Clifton‡
• Morganville
• Green
• Longford
• Vining‡
• Oak Hill

Unincorporated communities

• Idana†
• Industry‡
• Ladysmith

Ghost towns

• Broughton
• Browndale
• Athelstane
• Bateham
• Broughton, razed when Milford Lake was built
• Browndale
• Exeter
• Fact
• Fancy Creek
• Garfield Center
• Gatesville
• Northern
• Republican City
• Lovejoy
• Powellsburgh
• Delavan
• Riverdale
• Uniondale
• Stitt
• Chapmanville
• Wilson
• Hebron
• Lund
• Peach Grove
• Mulberry
• Morgan City
• Madura
• Fayetteville
• Otter Creek
• Mount Pleasant
• Fancy Creek
• Oberg
• Carter Creek
• Tabor
• Morena
• Bachelder
• Lima
• Iwacura

Townships

Clay County is divided into eighteen townships. The city of Clay Center is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km2 (/sq mi)	Land area km2 (sq mi)	Water area km2 (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Athelstane	02950		144	2 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	39°10′17″N97°12′35″W / 39.17139°N 97.20972°W / 39.17139; -97.20972
Blaine	07050		259	2 (6)	109 (42)	1 (0)	0.94%	39°20′38″N97°11′11″W / 39.34389°N 97.18639°W / 39.34389; -97.18639
Bloom	07325		125	1 (3)	122 (47)	1 (0)	0.53%	39°26′29″N97°16′51″W / 39.44139°N 97.28083°W / 39.44139; -97.28083
Chapman	12525	Longford	202	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%	39°10′21″N97°19′35″W / 39.17250°N 97.32639°W / 39.17250; -97.32639
Clay Center	13650		368	4 (10)	98 (38)	1 (1)	1.46%	39°21′30″N97°6′17″W / 39.35833°N 97.10472°W / 39.35833; -97.10472
Exeter	22100		81	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	39°15′24″N97°11′36″W / 39.25667°N 97.19333°W / 39.25667; -97.19333
Five Creeks	23475		159	2 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	39°21′22″N97°18′14″W / 39.35611°N 97.30389°W / 39.35611; -97.30389
Garfield	25500		107	1 (3)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0.05%	39°31′55″N97°7′5″W / 39.53194°N 97.11806°W / 39.53194; -97.11806
Gill	26250		140	2 (5)	78 (30)	0 (0)	0.04%	39°10′10″N97°6′3″W / 39.16944°N 97.10083°W / 39.16944; -97.10083
Goshen	27025		92	1 (3)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0%	39°31′4″N97°0′14″W / 39.51778°N 97.00389°W / 39.51778; -97.00389
Grant	27500		132	2 (5)	74 (29)	13 (5)	14.83%	39°16′12″N96°59′27″W / 39.27000°N 96.99083°W / 39.27000; -96.99083
Hayes	30875		206	2 (6)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	39°26′9″N97°5′58″W / 39.43583°N 97.09944°W / 39.43583; -97.09944
Highland	31825	Green	310	3 (9)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.07%	39°25′28″N97°0′1″W / 39.42444°N 97.00028°W / 39.42444; -97.00028
Mulberry	49000	Clifton (part)	331	3 (9)	97 (38)	2 (1)	1.99%	39°32′19″N97°16′23″W / 39.53861°N 97.27306°W / 39.53861; -97.27306
Oakland	51725		110	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	39°15′30″N97°20′21″W / 39.25833°N 97.33917°W / 39.25833; -97.33917
Republican	59025	Wakefield	1,024	14 (36)	73 (28)	10 (4)	12.46%	39°12′7″N97°0′50″W / 39.20194°N 97.01389°W / 39.20194; -97.01389
Sherman	64850	Morganville	328	4 (10)	85 (33)	1 (0)	1.00%	39°30′15″N97°12′42″W / 39.50417°N 97.21167°W / 39.50417; -97.21167
Union	72075		140	2 (4)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.38%	39°16′16″N97°4′53″W / 39.27111°N 97.08139°W / 39.27111; -97.08139
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people

See List of people from Clay County, Kansas

Two former Kansas Governors resided in Clay County. George Docking was the 35th Governor, serving from January 14, 1957, until January 9, 1961. ^[17] William H. Avery was the 37th Governor, from January 11, 1965, until January 9, 1967. ^[18]

See also

• Kansas portal

• Dry counties

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas

References

1. "QuickFacts; Clay County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  83.
4. Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
5. Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
8. "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clay County, KS/" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 9, 2022. - Text list
17. "To Seek Third Term". The Fort Scott Tribune. May 2, 1970. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
18. "Former Kan. Gov. Avery dies at the age of 98". Associated Press. November 5, 2009.^{[ permanent dead link ]}

Notes

Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

• Standard Atlas of Clay County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 71 pages; 1918.
• Standard Atlas of Clay County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 65 pages; 1900.
• Historical Plat Book of Clay County, Kansas; Bird & Mickle Map Co; 88 pages; 1881.

External links

County

• Clay County - official
• Clay County - Directory of Public Officials

Historical

• Clay County Kansas History and Heritage Project

Maps

• Clay County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
• Clay County Mural Map