Clay County, Missouri

History

Clay County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Clay was one of several counties settled mostly by Southerners to the north and south of the Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as Little Dixie. In 1860, enslaved persons made up 25% or more of the county's population.

The 1828 execution of Annice, a slave owned by Jeremiah Prior, was the first to occur in Clay County. She was also the first female slave executed in the state of Missouri.

Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found refuge in Clay County in November 1833 after they were driven from Jackson County, Missouri. In 1836, mobs and the Missouri State militia viciously drove the members of the church from the county. Leaders of this church, most notably Joseph Smith, were imprisoned for some months in Clay County in the jail at Liberty. In May 2012, the LDS Church built the Kansas City Missouri Temple six miles southwest of the Liberty Jail site at 7001 Searcy Creek Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 sqmi, of which 397 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (2.8%) is covered by water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Missouri by area.

Adjacent counties

• Clinton County (north)
• Ray County (east)
• Jackson County (south)
• Wyandotte County, Kansas (southwest)
• Platte County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 253,335. The median age was 37.3 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 78.4% White, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 8.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.4% of the population.

91.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 100,254 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 105,619 housing units, of which 5.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.6% were owner-occupied and 32.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 221,939 people, 72,558 households, and 50,137 families resided in the county. The population density was 558 /mi2. The 93,918 housing units averaged 236 /mi2.

The racial makeup of the county was 87.46% White, 5.18% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.05% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. About 5.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 72,558 households, 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were not families. About 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

In 2010 the median income for a household in the county was $48,347, and for a family was $56,772. Males had a median income of $40,148 versus $27,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,144. About 3.80% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

2015 estimate

In 2015 the median income for a household in Clay County was $62,099. The income per capita in Clay County was $29,793.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 23.3% were of German, 14.5% American, 11.0% English, 10.8% Irish, and 5.6% Italian ancestry.

Registered voters

Registered voters number 151,042.

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

• Excelsior Springs 40 School District
• Kearney R-I School District
• Lawson R-XIV School District
• Liberty 53 School District
• North Kansas City 74 School District
• Platte County R-III School District
• Clinton County R-III School District
• Smithville R-II School District

Elementary-only district:

• Missouri City 56 School District

Public schools

• Excelsior Springs School District No. 40 – Excelsior Springs
  • Lewis Elementary School (PK–5)
  • Cornerstone Elementary School (K–5)
  • Elkhorn Elementary School (K-5)
  • Excelsior Springs Middle School (6–8)
  • Excelsior Springs High School (9–12)
  • Excelsior Springs Technical High School (12) – Alternative/Technical School
• Kearney R-I School District – Kearney
  • Dogwood Elementary School (K–5)
  • Hawthorne Elementary School (K–5)
  • Kearney Elementary School (K–5)
  • Southview Elementary School (K–5)
  • Kearney Middle School (6–7)
  • Kearney Junior High School (8–9)
  • Kearney High School (10–12)
• Liberty School District No. 53 – Liberty
  • Liberty Early Childhood Education Center (PreK)
  • Alexander Doniphan Elementary School (K–5)
  • Franklin Elementary School (K–5)
  • Kellybrook Elementary School (K–5) – Kansas City
  • Lewis & Clark Elementary School (K–5)
  • Liberty Oaks Elementary School (K–5) – Kansas City
  • Lillian Schumacher Elementary School (K–5)
  • Manor Hill Elementary School (K–5)
  • Ridgeview Elementary School (K–5)
  • Shoal Creek Elementary School (K–5)
  • Warren Hills Elementary School (K–5)
  • Liberty Middle School (6–8)
  • South Valley Middle School (6–8)
  • Heritage Middle School (6–8)
  • Discovery Middle School (6–8)
  • Liberty High School (9–12)
  • Liberty North High School (9–12)
• Missouri City School District No. 56 – Missouri City
  • Missouri City Elementary School (K–8)
• North Kansas City School District No. 74 – North Kansas City
  • Bell Prairie Elementary School (K–5)
  • Briarcliff Elementary School (K–5)
  • Chapel Hill Elementary School (K–5)
  • Chouteu Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
  • Clardy Elementary School (2–5)
  • Crestview Elementary School (K–5)
  • Davidson Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
  • Fox Hill Elementary School (K–5)
  • Gashland Elementary School (K–1)
  • Gracemor Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
  • Lakewood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
  • Linden West Elementary School (K–5) – Gladstone
  • Maplewood Elementary School (K–5)
  • Meadowbrook Elementary School (K–5)
  • Nashua Elementary School (K–5)
  • Northview Elementary School (K–5)
  • Oakwood Manor Elementary School (K–5)
  • Ravenwood Elementary School (K–5)
  • Rising Hill Elementary School (K-5)
  • Topping Elementary School (K–5)
  • West Englewood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
  • Winnwood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
  • Antioch Middle School (6–8)
  • Eastgate 6th Grade Center (6)
  • Gateway 6th Grade Center (6)
  • Maple Park Middle School (6–8)
  • New Mark Middle School (6–8)
  • Northgate Middle School (6–8)
  • North Kansas City High School (9–12)
  • Oak Park High School (Kansas City) (9–12)
  • Staley High School (9–12)
  • Winnetonka High School (9–12)
• Smithville R-II School District – Smithville
  • Smithville Maple Elementary School (Pre-K–6)
  • Smithville Horizon Elementary School (Pre-K-6)
  • Smithville Eagle Heights Elementary School (Pre-K-6)
  • Smithville Middle School (7–8)
  • Smithville High School (9–12)

Private schools

• Northland Christian School - Kansas City (Preschool-12) - Independent Christian
• Kalos Christian Academy - Kansas City (K–12) - Nondenominational Christian
• Outreach Christian Early Education Center – Avondale (Pre-K–12) – Nondenominational Christian
• Oakhill Day School – Gladstone (Pre-K–7) – Nonsectarian – (Special Programs Emphasis)
• St. Andrew the Apostle Parish School – Gladstone (K–9) – Roman Catholic
• Northern Hills Christian Academy – Holt (K–9) – Baptist
• Prairie Church School – Holt (K–6)
• Covenant Memorial Baptist Day School – Kansas City (K) – Baptist
• Eagle Heights Christian School – Kansas City (Pre-K–12) – Baptist
• Faith Academy – Kansas City (Pre-K–12) – Nondenominational Christian
• Refine KC School - Kansas City (K-12)
• St. Charles Borromeo School – Kansas City (K–9) – Roman Catholic
• St. Gabriel Catholic School –Kansas City (K–9) – Roman Catholic
• St. Patrick School – Kansas City (NS/Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic
• St. Pius X High Schoo l – Kansas City (9–12) – Roman Catholic
• Liberty Montessori Center – Liberty (K–1) – Montessori
• St. James School – Liberty (K–9) – Roman Catholic

Postsecondary

• Maple Woods :: Metropolitan Community College—Kansas City—A public, two-year Liberal Arts college
  • MCC has a service area that includes all of the county, though only the portions in the Liberty and North Kansas City school districts are in the community college district's in-district taxation zone.
• William Jewell College – Liberty – A private, four-year Liberal Arts college.

Libraries, archives, museums

Libraries

• Mid-Continent Public Library
• North Kansas City Public Library

Archives

• Clay County Archives

Museums

• Clay County Museum
• Jesse James Bank Museum

Communities

Cities and towns

• Avondale
• Birmingham
• Claycomo
• Excelsior Estates (mostly in Ray County)
• Excelsior Springs (small part in Ray County)
• Gladstone
• Glenaire
• Holt (partly in Clinton County)
• Independence (mostly in Jackson County)
• Kansas City (partly in Jackson and Platte Counties and a small part in Cass County)
• Kearney
• Lawson (partly in Ray County)
• Liberty (county seat)
• Missouri City
• Mosby
• North Kansas City
• Oaks
• Oakview
• Oakwood
• Oakwood Park
• Pleasant Valley
• Prathersville
• Randolph
• Smithville (small part in Platte County)
• Sugar Creek (mostly in Jackson County)

Census-designated place

• Paradise

Unincorporated communities

• Arley
• Chandler
• Claysville
• Clevenger
• Ectonville
• Miltondale
• Roosterville
• Stockdale
• Winner

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 US census of Clay County.

† County seat †† Partly within adjacent counties

Notable people

• Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor
• Wallace Beery (1885–1949), actor
• Obediah Summers (1844–1896), formerly enslaved, AME minister, and Civil War veteran; born in Clay County
• Frank James (1843–1915), outlaw, Confederate States guerrilla, and train robber; born in Clay County
• Jesse James (1847–1882), outlaw, born in Clay County
• John Ellis Martineau (1873–1937), Governor of Arkansas from 1927 to 1928, born in Clay County
• Jesse Sexton (1885–1948), state senator 1936 to 1948

Politics

Clay County, like the rest of Missouri, has swung to the Republican Party in the 21st century, though the margins have been very close. In 2000, Al Gore famously won the county by one vote. The county, holding Kansas City, is mainly suburban in culture and remains competitive. In 2016, Donald Trump won the county while Hillary Clinton failed to improve on Barack Obama's percentages with only 41% of the vote. Joe Biden, however, did improve on those margins, winning nearly 47% of the vote in 2020; Trump still carried the county by 4%.

References

References

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5. T. J. Stiles, ''Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War'', New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp.10-11
6. "In 1828 a slave woman named Annice drowned two of her small children in a stream; she was put upon trial, convicted, and was hung in Liberty, August 23rd following, this being the first legal execution in the county." [http://genealogytrails.com/mo/clay/hist_county.htm County History: Clay County, Missouri]. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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8. Jenson, Andrew. ''Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 144-145
9. "Kansas City Missouri LDS (Mormon) Temple". Ldschurchtemples.com.
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21. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Clay County, Missouri".
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Missouri".
23. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Missouri".
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. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
29. "Archived copy".
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31. IT, Missouri Secretary of State -. "Registered Voters in Missouri".
32. Geography Division. (January 12, 2021). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clay County, MO". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
33. "MCC SERVICE AREAS". [[Metropolitan Community College (Missouri).
34. Breeding, Marshall. "North Kansas City Public Library". Libraries.org.
35. "2023-2024 Official Manual of the State of Missouri".
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37. (April 11, 1892). "Freed from Debt, Bethel Church Pays Off a Mortgage".
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