Clay County, Nebraska

Summary

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,104.[1] Its county seat is Clay Center.[2] The county was formed in 1855,[3] and was organized in 1871.[4][5] It was named for Henry Clay, a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky, who went on to become United States Secretary of State.[6]

Clay County
Clay County courthouse in Clay Center
Clay County courthouse in Clay Center
Map of Nebraska highlighting Clay County
Location within the U.S. state of Nebraska
Map of the United States highlighting Nebraska
Nebraska's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°31′N 98°03′W / 40.52°N 98.05°W / 40.52; -98.05
Country United States
State Nebraska
Founded1855 (authorized)
1871 (organized)
Named forHenry Clay
SeatClay Center
Largest citySutton
Area
 • Total574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water1.2 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,104
 • Density11/sq mi (4.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.claycounty.ne.gov

In the Nebraska license plate system, Clay County is represented by the prefix 30 (it had the 30th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography edit

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 572 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[7]

Major highways edit

Adjacent counties edit

Protected areas edit

  • Alberding Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area[8]
  • Bluewing Wildlife Management Area[9]
  • Eckhardt Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area[10]
  • Green Wing State Wildlife Management Area[11]
  • Hansen Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area[12]
  • Harms Federal Waterfowl Production Area[13]
  • Hultine Federal Waterfowl Production Area[14]
  • Kissinger Basin State Wildlife Management Area[15]
  • Lange Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area[16]
  • Massie Federal Waterfowl Production Area[17]
  • Meadowlark Federal Waterfowl Production Area[18]
  • Moger Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area[19]
  • Sandpiper Federal Waterfowl Production Area[20]
  • Schuck Federal Waterfowl Production Area[21]
  • Smith Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area[22]
  • White Front Wildlife Management Area[23]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860165
187054−67.3%
188011,29420,814.8%
189016,31044.4%
190015,735−3.5%
191015,7290.0%
192014,486−7.9%
193013,571−6.3%
194010,445−23.0%
19508,700−16.7%
19608,7170.2%
19708,266−5.2%
19808,106−1.9%
19907,213−11.0%
20007,039−2.4%
20106,542−7.1%
20206,104−6.7%
US Decennial Census[24]
1790-1960[25] 1900-1990[26]
1990-2000[27] 2010[28]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[29] there were 7,039 people, 2,756 households, and 1,981 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 3,066 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.57% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.24% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 3.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 49.4% were of German, 7.2% English, 7.2% American, 5.4% Swedish and 5.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 2,756 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county population contained 27.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,259, and the median income for a family was $39,541. Males had a median income of $28,321 versus $19,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,870. About 8.50% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities edit

Cities edit

Villages edit

Census-designated place edit

Unincorporated communities edit

Townships edit

Politics edit

Clay County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Nebraska[30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,848 79.78% 632 17.70% 90 2.52%
2016 2,422 79.02% 477 15.56% 166 5.42%
2012 2,232 75.74% 667 22.63% 48 1.63%
2008 2,177 71.78% 780 25.72% 76 2.51%
2004 2,543 76.21% 743 22.27% 51 1.53%
2000 2,326 72.35% 774 24.07% 115 3.58%
1996 1,982 59.86% 880 26.58% 449 13.56%
1992 1,824 50.84% 802 22.35% 962 26.81%
1988 2,352 67.78% 1,097 31.61% 21 0.61%
1984 2,920 77.74% 811 21.59% 25 0.67%
1980 2,739 71.63% 840 21.97% 245 6.41%
1976 2,254 60.87% 1,369 36.97% 80 2.16%
1972 2,542 74.70% 861 25.30% 0 0.00%
1968 2,273 66.58% 935 27.39% 206 6.03%
1964 1,879 48.43% 2,001 51.57% 0 0.00%
1960 3,005 69.30% 1,331 30.70% 0 0.00%
1956 3,099 71.42% 1,240 28.58% 0 0.00%
1952 3,559 76.14% 1,115 23.86% 0 0.00%
1948 2,511 61.24% 1,589 38.76% 0 0.00%
1944 3,375 68.81% 1,530 31.19% 0 0.00%
1940 3,576 66.98% 1,763 33.02% 0 0.00%
1936 2,856 48.26% 2,932 49.54% 130 2.20%
1932 2,320 36.39% 3,878 60.82% 178 2.79%
1928 4,105 69.27% 1,767 29.82% 54 0.91%
1924 2,758 50.32% 1,716 31.31% 1,007 18.37%
1920 3,392 67.73% 1,466 29.27% 150 3.00%
1916 1,737 45.46% 1,975 51.69% 109 2.85%
1912 557 15.23% 1,694 46.31% 1,407 38.46%
1908 1,891 47.80% 1,939 49.01% 126 3.19%
1904 2,118 59.48% 701 19.69% 742 20.84%
1900 1,932 50.46% 1,826 47.69% 71 1.85%

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Clay County, Nebraska". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p. 42. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  4. ^ "Clay County Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved December 14, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Andreas, A. T. (1882). "Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska". The Kansas Collection. Archived from the original on May 7, 2003. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 83.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Alberding Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  9. ^ Bluewing Wildlife Management Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  10. ^ Eckhardt Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  11. ^ Green Wing State Wildlife Management Area, Schickley NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  12. ^ Hansen Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Sutton NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  13. ^ Harms Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  14. ^ Hultine Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Saronville NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  15. ^ Kissinger Basin State Wildlife Management Area, Fairfield NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  16. ^ Lange Lagoon National Wildlife Mgt Area, Sutton NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  17. ^ Massie Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  18. ^ Meadowlard Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  19. ^ Moger Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  20. ^ Sandpiper Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Saronville NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  21. ^ Schuck Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  22. ^ Smith Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  23. ^ White Front Wildlife Management Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)
  24. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  25. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  27. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  28. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  29. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  30. ^ Election Results

External links edit

  • Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Clay County

40°31′N 98°03′W / 40.52°N 98.05°W / 40.52; -98.05