Clay County, Mississippi

Last updated

Clay County
County
City Hall, West Point, MS 02.JPG
West Point City Hall at West Point Central City Historic District.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Clay County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi in United States.svg
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°39′N88°46′W / 33.65°N 88.77°W / 33.65; -88.77
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Mississippi.svg  Mississippi
Founded1871
Named for Henry Clay
Seat West Point
Largest cityWest Point
Area
 • Total
416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Land410 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Water5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
18,636
 • Estimate 
(2023)
18,206 Decrease2.svg
 • Density45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website www.claycountyms.com/index.php/

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,636. [1] Its county seat is West Point. [2] Its name is in honor of American statesman Henry Clay, [3] member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. J. Wesley Caradine, an African American, was the first state representative for Clay County after it was established in 1871. [4] The federal government formerly designated Clay County as the West Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, but the county lost that status in 2013. [5] It is part of the Golden Triangle region of the state. [6]

Contents

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 416 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 410 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (1.4%) is water. [7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 17,367—
1890 18,6077.1%
1900 19,5635.1%
1910 20,2033.3%
1920 17,490−13.4%
1930 17,9312.5%
1940 19,0306.1%
1950 17,757−6.7%
1960 18,9336.6%
1970 18,840−0.5%
1980 21,08211.9%
1990 21,1200.2%
2000 21,9794.1%
2010 20,634−6.1%
2020 18,636−9.7%
2023 (est.)18,206 [8] −2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2013 [13]

2020 census

Clay County Racial Composition [14]
RaceNum.Perc.
White 7,19638.61%
Black or African American 10,78557.87%
Native American 350.19%
Asian 570.31%
Pacific Islander 10.01%
Other/Mixed 3762.02%
Hispanic or Latino 1861.0%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 18,636 people, 7,618 households, and 4,841 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,634 people living in the county. 58.2% were Black or African American, 40.5% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census [15] of 2000, there were 21,979 people, 8,152 households, and 5,885 families living in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 8,810 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.33% Black or African American, 42.82% White, 0.05% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the census [15] of 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Clay County were African 56.3%, English 35% and Scots-Irish 4.5%.

There were 8,152 households, out of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% were married couples living together, 22.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.80% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,372, and the median income for a family was $35,461. Males had a median income of $30,038 versus $19,473 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,512. About 19.20% of families and 23.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.20% of those under age 18 and 21.90% of those age 65 or over.

Law enforcement

Clay County has a sheriff law enforcement system.

Education

Clay County is within the service area of the East Mississippi Community College system. [16]

Public schools

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Mississippi [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 4,01744.35%4,96054.76%800.88%
2020 4,18141.03%5,84457.36%1641.61%
2016 4,15041.49%5,72257.20%1311.31%
2012 4,29138.76%6,71260.62%690.62%
2008 4,46640.26%6,55859.12%680.61%
2004 4,34247.50%4,75352.00%460.50%
2000 3,57043.72%4,51555.30%800.98%
1996 2,94838.97%4,26756.41%3494.61%
1992 3,29738.50%4,62053.95%6467.54%
1988 3,64548.26%3,84950.96%590.78%
1984 4,11250.23%4,04649.42%290.35%
1980 3,43943.18%4,27553.68%2503.14%
1976 3,01744.13%3,51451.40%3064.48%
1972 4,03571.39%1,41024.95%2073.66%
1968 4948.97%1,51027.41%3,50563.62%
1964 2,84892.65%2267.35%00.00%
1960 45119.01%62626.39%1,29554.60%
1956 41018.25%1,22554.52%61227.24%
1952 1,07746.68%1,23053.32%00.00%
1948 221.30%593.50%1,60595.20%
1944 1098.60%1,15891.40%00.00%
1940 1037.71%1,23292.22%10.07%
1936 322.46%1,27197.54%00.00%
1932 342.42%1,37197.44%20.14%
1928 1288.08%1,45691.92%00.00%
1924 826.73%1,13693.27%00.00%
1920 485.84%77193.80%30.36%
1916 273.14%83296.74%10.12%
1912 40.60%62893.45%405.95%

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Clay County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  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. p. 83.
  4. ↑ Lowry, Robert; McCardle, William H. (October 12, 1891). A History of Mississippi: From the Discovery of the Great River by Hernando DeSoto, Including the Earliest Settlement Made by the French Under Iberville, to the Death of Jefferson Davis. R.H. Henry & Company. ISBN   9780788448218 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Golden Triangle economic development model could be emulated across state". Archived from the original on March 7, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ "CATALOG 2007-2009 Archived 2010-12-18 at the Wayback Machine ." East Mississippi Community College. 3 (3/147). Retrieved on March 1, 2011.
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

33°39′N88°46′W / 33.65°N 88.77°W / 33.65; -88.77

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