Clay County, West Virginia

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 344 sqmi, of which 342 sqmi is land and 1.9 sqmi (0.6%) is water.

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts. Clay County was divided into four districts: Buffalo, Henry, Pleasant, and Union. A fifth district, Otter, was created from part of Henry in 1876. Between 1990 and 2000, these districts were consolidated into Districts A, B, and C. The county has access to Interstate 79 at the Big Otter and Wallback exits. In 2025, the Mountain Transit Authority began providing public transportation services to Clay County.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-79 (WV).svg|20px]] Interstate 79
• [[Image:WV-4.svg|20px]] West Virginia Route 4
• [[Image:WV-16.svg|20px]] West Virginia Route 16
• [[Image:WV-36.svg|20px]] West Virginia Route 36

Adjacent counties

• Calhoun County (north)
• Braxton County (northeast)
• Nicholas County (southeast)
• Kanawha County (west)
• Roane County (northwest)

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 8,051. Of the residents, 21.5% were under the age of 18 and 21.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.6% of the population.

There were 3,224 households in the county, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,907 housing units, of which 17.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.2% were owner-occupied and 18.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,386 people, 3,728 households, and 2,566 families living in the county. The population density was 27.5 PD/sqmi. There were 4,572 housing units at an average density of 13.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 98.8% white, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.6% were Irish, 14.7% were English, 13.2% were German, 11.0% were American, and 5.0% were Dutch.

Of the 3,728 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 41.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,789 and the median income for a family was $40,634. Males had a median income of $42,269 versus $24,402 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,205. About 22.4% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,330 people, 4,020 households, and 2,942 families living in the county. The population density was 30 /mi2. There were 4,836 housing units at an average density of 14 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.22% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,020 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,120, and the median income for a family was $27,137. Males had a median income of $30,161 versus $16,642 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,021. About 24.40% of families and 27.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.00% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Town

• Clay (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Adonijah
• Avoca
• Bentree (partly in Nicholas County)
• Bickmore
• Big Otter
• Bomont
• Booger Hole
• Clay Junction
• Cressmont
• Dille
• Dink
• Dorfee
• Duck
• Dundon
• Eakle
• Elkhurst
• Enoch
• Floe
• Fola
• Glen
• Harrison
• Hartland
• Independence
• Indore
• Ivydale
• Kidtown
• King
• Little Italy
• Lizemores
• Marne
• Maysel
• Morocco
• Mountain Home
• Nebo
• O'Brion
• Odessa
• Ossia
• Ovapa
• Paxton
• Porter
• Procious
• Queen Shoals
• Rouzer
• Spread
• Swandale
• Triplett
• Two Run
• Valley Fork
• Varneytown
• Wallback (partly in Roane County)
• Whetstone
• Widen

Politics

Like most of West Virginia, Clay County was reliably Democratic throughout the 20th century, but it has shifted to being sharply Republican in recent years.

In popular culture

Clay County is also the birthplace of the Golden Delicious Apple. The original tree was found on the Mullins' family farm in Clay County, West Virginia, United States and was locally known as Mullin's Yellow Seedling and Annit apple.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Clay County history sources".
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, ''West Virginia: A History'', 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
6. [[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census. U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
7. (18 June 2025). "‘This is great’: Public transportation coming to rural county". WSAZ.
8. Whang, Oliver. (September 19, 2022). "A Rural Doctor Gave Her All. Then Her Heart Broke.". The New York Times.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Clay County, West Virginia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Clay County, West Virginia".
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Clay County, West Virginia".
18. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".