Clay County, Kansas

History

Early history

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, 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). 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 sqmi, of which 645 sqmi is land and 10 sqmi (1.6%) is water.

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, U.S. Census Bureau

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,117. The median age was 44.6 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.2 males age 18 and over. 50.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 49.1% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.

There were 3,388 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,933 housing units, of which 13.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 8,822 people, 3,617 households, and 2,517 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 /mi2. There were 4,084 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. 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

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:

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

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Clay County.

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

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

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

• 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.

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. William H. Avery was the 37th Governor, from January 11, 1965, until January 9, 1967.

References

;Notes

References

1. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "QuickFacts; Clay County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau.
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
5. [http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline - ''Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal''; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive. link. (October 22, 2011)
6. [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline - ''TransCanada inspecting pipeline''; December 10, 2010.]
7. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. [http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas] {{webarchive. link. (December 5, 2008)
9. "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files".
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clay County, KS/". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
20. (April 2008). "General Highway Map of Clay County, Kansas". [[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT).
21. (May 2, 1970). "To Seek Third Term". The Fort Scott Tribune.
22. (November 5, 2009 }}{{dead link). "Former Kan. Gov. Avery dies at the age of 98". [[Associated Press]].