Clay County, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clay County
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Clay County courthouse in Manchester
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Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
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 Kentucky's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1807 |
| Named for | Green Clay |
| Seat | Manchester |
| Largest city | Manchester |
| Area | |
| • Total | 471 sq mi (1,220 km2) |
| • Land | 469 sq mi (1,210 km2) |
| • Water | 1.8 sq mi (5 km2) 0.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,345 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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19,648  |
| • Density | 43.20/sq mi (16.678/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,345. Its county seat is Manchester. The county was formed in 1807 and named in honor of Green Clay (1757–1826). Clay was a member of the Virginia and Kentucky State legislatures, first cousin once removed of Henry Clay, U.S. Senator from Kentucky and Secretary of State in the 19th century.
Contents
History
Clay County was established in 1807 from land given by Floyd, Knox and Madison counties. The courthouse burned in January 1936.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 471 square miles (1,220 km2), of which 469 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Owsley County (north)
- Perry County (northeast)
- Leslie County (east)
- Bell County (southeast)
- Knox County (southwest)
- Laurel County (west)
- Jackson County (northwest)
Watercourses
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 2,398 | — | |
| 1820 | 4,393 | 83.2% | |
| 1830 | 3,548 | −19.2% | |
| 1840 | 4,607 | 29.8% | |
| 1850 | 5,421 | 17.7% | |
| 1860 | 6,652 | 22.7% | |
| 1870 | 8,297 | 24.7% | |
| 1880 | 10,222 | 23.2% | |
| 1890 | 12,447 | 21.8% | |
| 1900 | 15,364 | 23.4% | |
| 1910 | 17,789 | 15.8% | |
| 1920 | 19,795 | 11.3% | |
| 1930 | 18,526 | −6.4% | |
| 1940 | 23,901 | 29.0% | |
| 1950 | 23,116 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 20,748 | −10.2% | |
| 1970 | 18,481 | −10.9% | |
| 1980 | 22,752 | 23.1% | |
| 1990 | 21,746 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 24,556 | 12.9% | |
| 2010 | 21,730 | −11.5% | |
| 2020 | 20,345 | −6.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,648 | −9.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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As of the census of 2010, there were 21,730 people, 8,556 households, and 6,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 9,439 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 8,556 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.
The age distribution was 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.6 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $16,271, and the median income for a family was $18,925. Males had a median income of $24,164 versus $17,816 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,716. About 35.4% of families and 39.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.6% of those under the age of 18 and 31.3% of those age 65 or over.
The county's per-capita income and median household income make it one of the poorest counties in the United States. Among counties whose population contains a non-Hispanic white majority, Clay County was once the poorest by per-capita income and second to another county in the same Kentucky region, Owsley County, by median household income. However, in recent years the economic status of Clay County, Kentucky has improved relative to other lower income counties.
Communities
City
- Manchester (county seat)
Census-designated places
Unincorporated towns and villages
- Big Creek
- Fall Rock
- Garrard
- Goose Rock
- Hubbardsville
- Sibert
Post offices
Many former post offices were, and some current ones are, located along the waterways, which are paralleled by modern roads. Arrows denote renamings.
- Alger
- Bernice
- Barcreek
- Barger
- Bessie → Mill Pond
- Big Creek
- Bluehole
- Botto
- Brightshade
- Brutus
- Bullskin
- Bullskin Creek
- Burning Springs
- Caution
- Cedral
- Chesnut Hill → Chesnut
- Chesnutburg
- Potters Choice → Choice
- Cottongim
- Disappoint
- Eriline
- Eros
- Ethal → Ethel
- Fall Rock
- Garrard
- Goose Rock
- Grace
- Hacker → Hensley
- Hollingsworth
- Hooker
- Crawfish → Hima
- Laurel Creek
- Lincoln
- Lipps
- Lockards
- Malcom
- Marcum
- Martins Creek
- Mount Welcome
- Adela → Murray → Muncie Fork
- Ogle
- Annalee → Redbird River → Peabody
- Panco
- Pancone
- Pigeonroost
- Plank
- Rockgap
- Seth
- Sibert
- Sory
- Spurlock
- Tanksley
- Tinker
- Treadway
- Wildcat
- Sacker Gap
- Seeley
- Sextons Creek
- Smallwood
- Sourwood
- Urban
- Vine
- Wages
Other places
There are also places named in early censuses, some still identifiable today: Ammie, Ashers Fork, Creekville, Deer Lick, Felty, Gardner, Jacks Creek, McWhorter, Portersburg, Queendale, Shepherdtown, Sidell, Spring Creek, Teges, and Trixie.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Clay (Kentucky) para niños
