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Clay County, Missouri facts for kids

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Clay County
U.S. county
South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty
South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty
Flag of Clay County
Flag
Map of Missouri highlighting Clay County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Missouri
Founded January 2, 1822
Named for Henry Clay
Seat Liberty
Largest city Kansas City
Area
 • Total 409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land 397 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 253,335 Increase
 • Density 620/sq mi (240/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 5th, 6th

Clay County is a county in the state of Missouri, USA. It is part of the larger Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 253,335 people lived here. This makes it the fifth-most populated county in Missouri.

The main city and government center of Clay County is Liberty. The county was started on January 2, 1822. It was named after Henry Clay, a famous American politician from Kentucky. Clay County includes many northern towns that are part of the Kansas City area. It also has a big part of Kansas City, Missouri itself. The county also runs the Midwest National Air Center near Excelsior Springs.

History of Clay County

Clay County was first settled by people who moved from states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. These settlers brought with them people they had enslaved. They started growing crops like hemp and tobacco, similar to what was grown in their home states.

Because many settlers came from the Southern states, this area, including Clay County, became known as Little Dixie. In 1860, about one-fourth of the people living in Clay County were enslaved.

In November 1833, many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came to Clay County. They were looking for safety after being forced out of Jackson County, Missouri. However, by 1836, they were also driven from Clay County. Important leaders of this church, like Joseph Smith, were held in the jail in Liberty for several months. In 2012, the LDS Church built the Kansas City Missouri Temple not far from the old Liberty Jail site.

Geography of Clay County

Clay County covers about 409 square miles. Most of this area, 397 square miles, is land. About 11 square miles, or 2.8%, is covered by water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Missouri by land area.

Neighboring Counties

Main Roads

  • I-29 (MO).svg Interstate 29
  • I-35 (MO).svg Interstate 35
  • I-435 (MO).svg Interstate 435
  • US 69.svg U.S. Route 69
  • US 71.svg U.S. Route 71
  • US 169.svg U.S. Route 169
  • MO-1.svg Route 1
  • MO-9.svg Route 9
  • MO-10.svg Route 10
  • MO-33.svg Route 33
  • MO-92.svg Route 92
  • MO-152.svg Route 152
  • MO-210.svg Route 210
  • MO-291.svg Route 291

People of Clay County

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 5,338 —
1840 8,283 55.2%
1850 10,382 25.3%
1860 13,023 25.4%
1870 15,564 19.5%
1880 15,571 0.0%
1890 19,856 27.5%
1900 18,903 −4.8%
1910 20,302 7.4%
1920 20,455 0.8%
1930 26,811 31.1%
1940 30,417 13.4%
1950 45,221 48.7%
1960 87,474 93.4%
1970 123,322 41.0%
1980 136,488 10.7%
1990 153,411 12.4%
2000 184,006 19.9%
2010 221,939 20.6%
2020 253,335 14.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

In 2010, about 221,939 people lived in Clay County. There were 72,558 households. The population density was about 558 people per square mile.

Most people in the county were White (87.46%). Other groups included Black or African American (5.18%), Asian (2.05%), and Native American (0.53%). About 5.90% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Many people had German, American, English, or Irish backgrounds.

In 2015, the average household income in Clay County was about $62,099. The income per person was around $29,793. About 5.50% of the population lived below the poverty line. There are 151,042 registered voters in the county.

2020 Census Data

Clay County Racial Composition
Race Number Percent
White (Non-Hispanic) 193,282 76.3%
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) 17,853 7.04%
Native American (Non-Hispanic) 1,009 0.4%
Asian (Non-Hispanic) 6,059 2.4%
Pacific Islander (Non-Hispanic) 1,004 0.4%
Other/Mixed (Non-Hispanic) 15,278 6.03%
Hispanic or Latino 18,850 7.44%

Education in Clay County

Clay County has several school districts that serve its students.

School Districts

  • 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
  • Missouri City 56 School District (Elementary only)

Colleges and Universities

  • Maple Woods :: Metropolitan Community College—Kansas City—This is a two-year public college.
  • William Jewell College – Liberty – This is a private, four-year college.

Libraries, Archives, and Museums

Libraries

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

Archives

  • Clay County Archives

Museums

  • Clay County Museum
  • Jesse James Bank Museum

Communities in Clay County

Cities and Towns

Unincorporated Communities

Notable People from Clay County

  • Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor
  • Wallace Beery (1885–1949), actor
  • Obediah Summers (1844–1896), a formerly enslaved person who became a minister and Civil War veteran.
  • Frank James (1843–1915), a famous outlaw.
  • Jesse James (1847–1882), a famous outlaw.
  • John Ellis Martineau (1873–1937), who became the Governor of Arkansas.
  • Jesse Sexton (1885–1948), a state senator.

Images for kids

  • Clay County Missouri Courthouse 20191027-7046

    South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Clay (Misuri) para niños

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