Editing Clay County, Arkansas

{{short description|County in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Clay County
 | state                = Arkansas
 | ex image             = Sheeks House.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Sheeks House|Historic Sheeks House]] in [[Corning, Arkansas]].
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1873
 | founded date       = 24 March
 | seat                 = [[Corning, Arkansas|Corning]] (western district);<br />[[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]] (eastern district)
 | largest city        = Piggott
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 641
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 639
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.0
 | area percentage      = 0.3%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 14552
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 14201 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = https://www.claycountyarkansas.org/
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone        = Central }}

'''Clay County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arkansas]]. Originally incorporated as '''Clayton County''', as of the [[2020 United States census]], its population was 14,552.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census - Geography Profile: Clay County, Arkansas |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Clay_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05021 |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119223638/https://data.census.gov/profile/Clay_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05021 |url-status=live }}</ref> The county has two [[county seat]]s, [[Corning, Arkansas|Corning]] and [[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=31 May 2011 |access-date=7 June 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is a [[dry county]], in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or prohibited.

==History==
When Clay County was created as Arkansas's 67th county on 24 March 1873 (along with [[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter County]]), it was named Clayton County, after [[John M. Clayton (Arkansas politician)|John M. Clayton]], then a member of the [[Arkansas Senate]] and a brother of then-[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Powell Clayton]],<ref name="EncOfAR">{{Cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=755 |title=Clay County |website=EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net |access-date=2 June 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007102358/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=755 |url-status=live }}</ref> though some sources suggest it may have been named for Powell Clayton instead.<ref name="CouchGenWeb">{{Cite web |title=Brief History of Clay County, Arkansas (CouchGenWeb.com) |url=http://www.couchgenweb.com/arkansas/clay/clayhist.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028101341/http://couchgenweb.com/arkansas/clay/clayhist.htm |archive-date=28 October 2010}}</ref>

Two years later on 6 December 1875,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stout |first=Scot |date=7 March 2012 |title=Early History of the County Seats and Courthouses of Clay County, Arkansas |url=http://www.argenweb.net/clay/earlyhistory.htm |access-date=8 May 2012 |website=ARGenWeb: Arkansas Genealogy Resources Online |publisher=The ARGenWeb Project |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424025610/http://www.argenweb.net/clay/earlyhistory.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> the county's name was shortened to "Clay" by the [[Arkansas General Assembly]]. Some claim it was renamed for the statesman [[Henry Clay]],<ref name="EncOfAR" /><ref name="CouchGenWeb" /> while others say John M. Clayton remained its official namesake.<ref>[http://local.arkansas.gov/local.php?agency=Clay+County Clay County (Local.Arkansas.gov)] ("Senator James M. Clayton", probably referring to John M. Clayton)</ref> The name change apparently was inspired by lingering distrust of Powell Clayton, as he had declared [[martial law]] and suspended elections in the county in 1868 when he was [[Governor of Arkansas]] and it was still part of [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]].<ref name="EncOfAR" />

The first [[county seat]] was Corning,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clay County, Arkansas |url=http://www.argenweb.net/clay/ |website=www.argenweb.net |access-date=13 January 2011 |archive-date=13 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113125023/http://www.argenweb.net/clay/ |url-status=live }}</ref> established in 1873, with the arrival of the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad|St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway]], as the first incorporated town in the county. The county seat was moved to Boydsville in 1877, in what was known as "Old Bradshaw Field", because people living east of the Black and Cache Rivers had difficulty getting to Corning during the flood season. However, this caused problems for those living west of the rivers, and in 1881 Corning was re-established as the seat of the Western District, with Boydsville remaining the seat for the Eastern District. With the arrival of the [[St. Louis Southwestern Railway|St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railroad]] in 1882, other towns such as Greenway, Rector and Piggott experienced growth. In 1887, the Eastern District seat was moved to Piggott, and the dual county seat system remains in place today.<ref>Rector Waterworks Building. {{Cite web |title=History & Architecture: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program |url=http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=2460 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728211602/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=2460 |archive-date=28 July 2014 |access-date=23 May 2013}}, Retrieved on 23 May 2013.</ref> Important county functions (such as the Quorum Court) alternate between Piggott and Corning as their venues.

In the early 20th century, Clay, [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene]], and [[Craighead County, Arkansas|Craighead]] counties had [[sundown town]] policies forbidding African Americans from living in the area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neville |first=A. W. |date=2 March 1945 |title=Backward Glances |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29073821/ |work=The Paris News |location=Paris, Texas |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=On the survey from [[Bird's Point, Missouri|Bird's Point, Mo.]], to [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro, Ark.]], I had a Negro cook. As Negroes were not allowed to live in Clay, Greene and Craighead Counties, Ark., my cook was a curiosity to the children. The women used to bring the children to camp to see him.}}</ref>

On 6 April 1972, [[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff]] [http://www.odmp.org/officer/1582-sheriff-douglas-lucian-batey Douglas Batey] and deputies [http://www.odmp.org/officer/1270-deputy-sheriff-glendale-ray-archer Glen Ray Archer] and [http://www.odmp.org/officer/7513-deputy-sheriff-troy-key Troy Key] were shot and killed while trying to serve a warrant on Bert Grissom. Grissom opened fire as soon as the men stepped out of their car. He later surrendered without resistance to another deputy, and was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. [http://www.odmp.org/officer/10748-sheriff-william-thomas-pond William Thomas Pond] became sheriff, but he died in an automobile accident on 8 June 1973. Four of the five police officers who have lost their lives serving the Clay County Sheriff's Office died in these two incidents.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|641|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|639|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.0|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=22 August 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904095236/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:I-57 (Future).svg|23px]] [[Interstate 57|Future Interstate 57]]
*[[Image:US 49 (1961).svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 49]]
*[[Image:US 62 (1961).svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 62]]
*[[Image:US 67 (1961).svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 67]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 90.svg|23px]] [[Highway 90 (Arkansas)|Highway 90]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 119.svg|25px]] [[Highway 119 (Arkansas)|Highway 119]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 139.svg|25px]] [[Highway 139 (Arkansas)|Highway 139]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Butler County, Missouri]] (north)
* [[Dunklin County, Missouri]] (east)
* [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]] (south)
* [[Randolph County, Arkansas|Randolph County]] (west)
* [[Ripley County, Missouri]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 7213
|1890= 12200
|1900= 15886
|1910= 23690
|1920= 27276
|1930= 27278
|1940= 28386
|1950= 26674
|1960= 21258
|1970= 18771
|1980= 20616
|1990= 18107
|2000= 17609
|2010= 16083
|2020= 14552
|estyear=2023
|estimate=14201
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=30 March 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407074341/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=1 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194652/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=11 August 2012 |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 1995 |editor-last=Forstall |editor-first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115742/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt |url-status=live }}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2001 |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=27 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County & pie QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05021.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607031805/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05021.html |archive-date=7 June 2011 |access-date=20 May 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:USA Clay County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Clay County<ref>Based on 2000 [[census]] data</ref>]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Clay County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05021&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=30 December 2021 |website=data.census.gov |archive-date=30 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230214610/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05021&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 13,574
| 93.28%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 40
| 0.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 44
| 0.3%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 14
| 0.1%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 5
| 0.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 548
| 3.77%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 327
| 2.25%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,552 people, 6,444 households, and 4,140 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR8">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/ |access-date=14 May 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-date=27 December 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> there were 17,609 people, 7,417 households, and 5,073 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 8,498 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.1% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 7,417 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,345, and the median income for a family was $32,558. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $17,146 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,512. About 13.4% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
===County Government===
The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Arkansas]] and the [[Arkansas Code]]. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Clay County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quorum Courts |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/quorum-courts-6348/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Office of County Judge |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/office-of-county-judge-5720/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Clay County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clay {{!}} Association of Arkansas Counties |url=https://www.arcounties.org/counties/clay/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.arcounties.org}}</ref><ref>https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
!Position
!Officeholder
!Party
|-style="background-color:#92C5DE;
|County Judge
|Mike Patterson
|Democratic
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|County Clerk
|Tyler Wyss
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Circuit Clerk
|Angela Self
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Sheriff/Collector
|Ronnie Cole
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Treasurer
|Brande Boyd
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Assessor
|Tracy Gurley
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|Coroner
|Jerrod Daniel Lowe
|Republican
|}
District Judge: David Copelin

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 7 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Clay County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Clay_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/Clay/119878/web.317647/#/summary?v=333482/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com |language=en}}</ref>

* District 1: Neal Smith (R)
* District 2: Joseph C. Henderson (D)
* District 3: Patrick Patterson (R)
* District 4: D. David Cagle (R)
* District 5: Brad Green (R)
* District 6: Dennis Haines (R)
* District 7: Randy Kingston (R)
* District 8: George E. Lowe (D)
* District 9: David Hatcher (R)

Additionally, the townships of Clay County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the [[Constitution of Arkansas]]. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a Constable? |url=https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/may/what-is-a-constable.aspx |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=What is a Constable? |language=en}}</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/Clay/122514/web.345435/#/summary?v=355195/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com |language=en}}</ref>

* Bennett & Lemmons: Jeff Bradish (R)
* Bradshaw & Haywood: Shain Casebier (R)
* Clark: James W. Harmon (R)
* Cleveland & North Kilgore: Michael Gleghorn (R)
* East Oak Bluff: James Todd Watson (R)
* Liddell & Chalk Bluff: Matthew Vancil (R)
* North St. Francis: Andrew Rathel (R)
* Payne & Swain: David Dean Taylor (R)
* Pollard: Rob Chandler (R)
* South St. Francis: Tim Boyd (R)
* West Oak Bluff: Terry Robertson (R)

=== Politics ===
{{PresHead|place=Clay County, Arkansas|source=<ref name="DL">{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709214827/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,968|907|92|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,086|962|135|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,781|1,199|220|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,225|1,738|147|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,032|2,244|235|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,759|3,264|73|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,254|3,527|119|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,512|3,848|503|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,647|4,848|585|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,766|3,442|32|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,767|3,279|59|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,091|3,985|254|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,893|5,664|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,381|1,933|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,410|1,663|2,285|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,999|3,280|42|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,543|1,908|117|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,711|2,368|34|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,105|2,277|26|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|878|2,069|144|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,422|1,934|5|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,029|1,676|74|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|795|1,778|6|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|397|1,891|18|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,254|1,435|19|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,084|1,429|207|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,536|1,775|181|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|973|1,950|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|622|1,299|576|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,009|1,527|114|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|752|968|69|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|627|1,195|14|Arkansas}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Democratic|475|1,537|22|Arkansas}}

==Economy==
Agriculture is the cornerstone of Clay County's economy. Farmers throughout the county grow a wide variety of crops. [[Rice]] is the dominant crop, but significant amounts of [[cotton]], [[soybeans]], [[Maize|corn]], [[hay]], and [[Commercial sorghum|milo]] are also grown. Industry is limited to a handful of factories located in the cities of [[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]], [[Corning, Arkansas|Corning]], and [[Rector, Arkansas|Rector]].

==Education==
Public education of elementary and secondary school students is provided by:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clay County, AR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05021_clay/DC20SD_C05021.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120042101/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05021_clay/DC20SD_C05021.pdf |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=11 April 2024 |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05021_clay/DC20SD_C05021_SD2MS.txt Text list] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05021_clay/DC10SD_C05021_001.pdf 2010 map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227214659/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05021_clay/DC10SD_C05021_001.pdf|date=27 February 2024}} - Note the 13080 and boundary indicates that Peach Orchard is in a part of Greene County Tech district territory surrounded by [[Corning School District]] territory. [https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/peach-orchard-clay-county-6164/ The article in] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925154158/https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/Peach-Orchard-Clay-County-6164/|date=25 September 2023}} ''[[The Encyclopedia of Arkansas]]'' stated that Peach Orchard is in the Corning district, but the [https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgis.arkansas.gov%2Farcgis%2Frest%2Fservices%2FFEATURESERVICES%2FBoundaries%2FFeatureServer%2F29&source=sd finder of] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605144147/https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?url=https://gis.arkansas.gov/arcgis/rest/services/FEATURESERVICES/Boundaries/FeatureServer/29&source=sd|date=5 June 2023}} [[ArcGIS]] used by the State of Arkansas confirms it is an [[exclave]] of Greene County Tech.</ref>
* [[Corning School District]]
* [[Greene County Tech School District]]
* [[Piggott School District]]
* [[Rector School District]]

==Communities==
<ref>{{Cite web |title=AR Census Data - Arkansas Economic Development Institute |url=https://ualr.edu/aedi/census-state-data-center/arkansas-census-data/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103522/https://ualr.edu/aedi/census-state-data-center/arkansas-census-data/ |archive-date=16 June 2018 |access-date=16 June 2018}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Corning, Arkansas|Corning]] (county seat)
* [[Greenway, Arkansas|Greenway]]
* [[Knobel, Arkansas|Knobel]]
* [[Peach Orchard, Arkansas|Peach Orchard]]
* [[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]] (county seat)
* [[Pollard, Arkansas|Pollard]]
* [[Rector, Arkansas|Rector]]
* [[St. Francis, Arkansas|St. Francis]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
* [[Datto, Arkansas|Datto]]
* [[McDougal, Arkansas|McDougal]]
* [[Nimmons, Arkansas|Nimmons]]
* [[Success, Arkansas|Success]]

===Unincorporated community===
*[[Scatterville, Arkansas|Scatterville]]
*Moark
*Palatka

===Townships===
[[File:Clay County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg|thumb|Townships in Clay County, Arkansas as of 2010]]

{{Arkansas Townships About|County = Clay}}
<ref>{{Cite map |title=2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Clay County, AR |publisher=U. S. Census Bureau |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05021_clay/BAS11C20502100000_000.pdf |access-date=6 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019124808/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05021_clay/BAS11C20502100000_000.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#C |access-date=27 May 2014 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-date=28 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528050635/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#C |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{div col}}
* Bennett-Lemmons ([[McDougal, Arkansas|McDougal]])
* Bradshaw-Haywood ([[Greenway, Arkansas|Greenway]])
* Brown-Carpenter ([[Success, Arkansas|Success]])
* Cache-Wilson ([[Knobel, Arkansas|Knobel]])
* Chalk Bluff-Liddell (part of [[St. Francis, Arkansas|St. Francis]])
* Clark ([[Peach Orchard, Arkansas|Peach Orchard]])
* Cleveland-North Kilgore (part of [[Corning, Arkansas|Corning]])
* East Oak Bluff-Blue Cane (part of [[Rector, Arkansas|Rector]])
* Gleghorn-South Kilgore (part of [[Corning, Arkansas|Corning]])
* Johnson
* Knob
* Nelson ([[Datto, Arkansas|Datto]])
* North St. Francis (part of [[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]])
* Payne-Swain ([[Nimmons, Arkansas|Nimmons]])
* Pollard ([[Pollard, Arkansas|Pollard]])
* South St. Francis (part of [[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]])
* West Oak Bluff (part of [[Rector, Arkansas|Rector]])
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Battle of Chalk Bluff]]
* [[List of lakes in Clay County, Arkansas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Arkansas]]
* [[List of sundown towns in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Clay County, Arkansas
| North     = [[Butler County, Missouri]]
| Northeast =
| East      = [[Dunklin County, Missouri]]
| Southeast =
| South     = [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]]
| Southwest =
| West      = [[Randolph County, Arkansas|Randolph County]]
| Northwest = [[Ripley County, Missouri]]
}}

{{Clay County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas}}

{{coord|36|22|39|N|90|26|07|W|region:US-AR_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Clay County, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]
[[Category:Sundown towns in Arkansas]]