Editing Clay Center, Nebraska

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Clay Center, Nebraska
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Clay Center, Nebraska 1.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Downtown Clay Center
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Clay_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Clay_Center_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Clay Center, Nebraska
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Nebraska]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Nebraska|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Clay County, Nebraska|Clay]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = L. Wayne Johnson
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 18, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.89
|area_land_km2            = 1.89
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.73
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.73
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 735
|population_density_km2   = 388.13
|population_density_sq_mi = 1005.47

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1782
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|31|32|N|98|03|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 68933
|area_code                = [[Area code 402|402]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 31-09375<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 837923<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|837923}}</ref>
|website                  = [https://claycenterne.com/ claycenterne.com]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Clay Center''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Clay County, Nebraska|Clay County]], [[Nebraska]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |accessdate=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archivedate=2011-05-31 }}</ref> It is part of the [[Hastings, Nebraska]] [[Hastings micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 760 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==History==
Clay Center was laid out in 1879.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InM_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA104 | title=History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Volume 1 | publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Burr, George L. | year=1921 | pages=104}}</ref> The city was named after [[Henry Clay]], a statesman from Kentucky.<ref>{{cite book|author=Federal Writers' Project|author-link=Federal Writers' Project|title=Origin of Nebraska place names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3625056;view=1up;seq=14|year=1938|publisher=Works Progress Administration|location=Lincoln, NE|page=8}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Clay Center since 1879.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=OH |title=Post offices |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |accessdate=30 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013181747/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=OH |archivedate=13 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.72|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-06-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Clay Center, Nebraska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–present) 
|single line = Y
|width = auto
| Jan record high F = 76
| Feb record high F = 80
| Mar record high F = 89
| Apr record high F = 95
| May record high F = 99
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 106
| Aug record high F = 107
| Sep record high F = 102
| Oct record high F = 95
| Nov record high F = 84
| Dec record high F = 76
| year record high F = 107
| Jan high F = 35.4
| Feb high F = 40.0
| Mar high F = 51.9
| Apr high F = 62.7
| May high F = 72.8
| Jun high F = 83.7
| Jul high F = 87.2
| Aug high F = 85.1
| Sep high F = 78.4
| Oct high F = 65.5
| Nov high F = 51.0
| Dec high F = 38.7
| year high F = 62.7
| Jan mean F = 25.8
| Feb mean F = 29.6
| Mar mean F = 40.2
| Apr mean F = 50.6
| May mean F = 61.6
| Jun mean F = 72.6
| Jul mean F = 76.4
| Aug mean F = 74.2
| Sep mean F = 66.1
| Oct mean F = 53.3
| Nov mean F = 39.8
| Dec mean F = 29.3
| year mean F = 51.6
| Jan low F = 16.1
| Feb low F = 19.3
| Mar low F = 28.6
| Apr low F = 38.5
| May low F = 50.4
| Jun low F = 61.4
| Jul low F = 65.7
| Aug low F = 63.3
| Sep low F = 53.9
| Oct low F = 41.0
| Nov low F = 28.6
| Dec low F = 19.8
| year low F = 40.6
| Jan record low F = −25
| Feb record low F = −27
| Mar record low F = −15
| Apr record low F = 3
| May record low F = 24
| Jun record low F = 35
| Jul record low F = 42
| Aug record low F = 42
| Sep record low F = 21
| Oct record low F = 9
| Nov record low F = -11
| Dec record low F = −39
| year record low F = −39
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.58
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.62
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.32
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.57
| May precipitation inch = 5.34
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.20
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.15
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.85
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.25
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.36
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.37
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.97
| year precipitation inch = 29.78
| Jan snow inch = 4.5
| Feb snow inch = 5.9
| Mar snow inch = 1.5
| Apr snow inch = 1.4
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.4
| Nov snow inch = 1.5
| Dec snow inch = 3.3
| year snow inch = 18.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 2.9
| Feb precipitation days = 3.7
| Mar precipitation days = 5.1
| Apr precipitation days = 7.0
| May precipitation days = 9.7
| Jun precipitation days = 7.9
| Jul precipitation days = 8.1
| Aug precipitation days = 7.4
| Sep precipitation days = 6.0
| Oct precipitation days = 5.1
| Nov precipitation days = 3.6
| Dec precipitation days = 3.8
| year precipitation days = 70.3
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 2.3
| Feb snow days = 2.4
| Mar snow days = 1.0
| Apr snow days = 0.5
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.2
| Nov snow days = 0.8
| Dec snow days = 2.2
| year snow days = 9.4
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web 
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=gid
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = January 14, 2022}}</ref><ref name = NCEI>
{{cite web
| url =https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00251684&format=pdf
| title = Station: Clay CTR, NE
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = January 14, 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 68
|1890= 390
|1900= 590
|1910= 1065
|1920= 965
|1930= 933
|1940= 715
|1950= 824
|1960= 792
|1970= 952
|1980= 962
|1990= 825
|2000= 861
|2010= 760
|2020= 735
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-06-24}}</ref> of 2010, there were 760 people, 332 households, and 214 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1055.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 360 housing units at an average density of {{convert|500.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 332 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 42.8 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 861 people, 343 households, and 243 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,215.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 373 housing units at an average density of {{convert|526.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.17% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.93% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.02% of the population.

There were 343 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% 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 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $36,597, and the median income for a family was $45,893. Males had a median income of $30,982 versus $20,446 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,577. About 7.6% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2009}}

Accredited "A" by the State Board of Education, Clay Center High School (CCHS) has an exceptional academic reputation with test scores consistently above the state and national averages.

The K-12 system enjoys a modern high school facility and gym. In the past five years, CCHS has earned five state championships in various sports. An experienced administration and staff provide an average 1 to 10 teacher-to-pupil ratio. Community scholarships are available to graduating seniors.

Served by Educational Service Unit No. 9 of Hastings, CCHS receives resources and expertise for its teachers and students.

Clay Center is located near several post-secondary institutions. It is one and one-half hours from the University of Nebraska/Lincoln and University of Nebraska/Kearney; one-half hour from Hastings College and the Mary Lanning School of Nursing, and 20 minutes from Central Community College in Hastings.

==Notable people==
* [[Joseph D. Leitch]], U.S. Army major general<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Graves |first=William S. |author-link=William S. Graves |date=1940 |title=Death Notice, Joseph Dugald Leitch |url=http://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/aogreunion/id/18379/rec/4 |magazine=Seventy-first Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy |location=Newburgh, NY |publisher=Moore Printing Company |page=185 |via=West Point Digital Library |ref={{sfnRef|"Death Notice, Joseph Dugald"}}}}</ref>
* [[Abby Miller]], actress
* [[Joe Saldana]], race-car driver
* [[Howard Bradley Smith (author)|Howard Bradley Smith]], (author)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Clay County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Cities in Clay County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Hastings Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:County seats in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1879]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in Nebraska]]