Editing Clay County, Georgia

{{Short description|County in Georgia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Distinguish|Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton, Georgia}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county          = Clay County
 | state               = Georgia
 | seal                 = Seal of Clay County, Georgia.png
 | founded              = {{start date and age|1854}}
 | seat wl         = Fort Gaines
 | largest city wl = Fort Gaines
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 217
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 195
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 22
 | area percentage      = 10.1%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 2848
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 2853 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | web                  = http://www.claycountyga.net/
 | ex image             = Clay County Courthouse in Fort Gaines Georgia.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Clay County Courthouse in Fort Gaines
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for = [[Henry Clay]] }}

'''Clay County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the southwestern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 2,848,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13061.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905084345/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13061.html|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> making it the fourth-least populous county in Georgia. The [[county seat]] is [[Fort Gaines, Georgia|Fort Gaines]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

==History==
This area was historically occupied by the [[Creek Indians]] until [[Indian Removal]] in the 1830s. European Americans pushed them out and developed the land for cotton, bringing in thousands of African [[slaves]] to work the land.

The county is named in honor of [[Henry Clay]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA83 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=83}}</ref> famous American statesman, member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Kentucky]] and [[United States Secretary of State]] in the 19th century. Part of the [[Black Belt (geological formation)|Black Belt geological formation]] of Georgia, prior to the American Civil War the county's chief commodity crop was cotton, cultivated and processed by farmers and African-American slaves. After the war, the economy continued to be agricultural, but timber was also harvested.

Clay was created by a February 16, 1854, act of the [[Georgia General Assembly]], and organized from portions of [[Early County, Georgia|Early]] and [[Randolph County, Georgia|Randolph]] counties.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/c.pdf | title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins | publisher=Winship Press | author=Krakow, Kenneth K. | year=1975 | location=Macon, GA | pages=45 | isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref>

Clay County's population is one-third of what it was in 1910.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|217|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|195|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|22|sqmi}} (10.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

The central and southwestern portions of Clay County, from west of [[Bluffton, Georgia|Bluffton]] to northwest of [[Coleman, Georgia|Coleman]], are located in the Lower [[Chattahoochee River]] sub-basin of the [[ACF River Basin]] (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The county's northwestern corner, which is bisected by [[Georgia State Route 39|State Route 39]] running north from [[Fort Gaines, Georgia|Fort Gaines]], is located in the Middle [[Chattahoochee River]]-[[Walter F. George Lake]] sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin. Just the very southeastern corner of Clay County is located in the [[Spring Creek (Flint River)|Spring Creek]] sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |title=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience |publisher=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission |access-date=November 24, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003004639/http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 27.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 27 in Georgia|U.S. Route 27]]
* [[File:Georgia 1.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 1|State Route 1]]
* [[File:Georgia 37.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 37|State Route 37]]
* [[File:Georgia 39.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 39|State Route 39]]
* [[File:Georgia 266.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 266|State Route 266]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Quitman County, Georgia|Quitman County]] - north
* [[Randolph County, Georgia|Randolph County]] - northeast
* [[Calhoun County, Georgia|Calhoun County]] - east
* [[Early County, Georgia|Early County]] - south
* [[Henry County, Alabama]] - west
* [[Barbour County, Alabama]] - northwest

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 4893
|1870= 5493
|1880= 6650
|1890= 7817
|1900= 8568
|1910= 8960
|1920= 7557
|1930= 6943
|1940= 7064
|1950= 5844
|1960= 4551
|1970= 3636
|1980= 3553
|1990= 3364
|2000= 3357
|2010= 3183
|2020= 2848
|estyear=2023
|estimate=2853
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br>1790-1880<ref name=1880CensusGACty>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800 |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-08.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1930-1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1940-1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia - |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960-1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1980-2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia  |website=United States Census Bureau|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Clay County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Clay County, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=050XX00US13061&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13061&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calhoun County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13061&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|1,282
|1,188
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,143
|38.19%
|37.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40.13%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,009
|1,920
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,593
|59.85%
|60.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55.93%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|4
|11
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.12%
|0.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|9
|10
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.27%
|0.31%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|20
|27
|style='background: #ffffe6; |57
|0.60%
|0.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.00%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|32
|26
|style='background: #ffffe6; |41
|0.95%
|0.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.44%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,357'''
|'''3,183'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''2,848'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,848 people, 1,242 households, and 708 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 3,183&nbsp;people, 1,331&nbsp;households, and 869&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13061
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015658/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US13061
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|16.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,102 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13061
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192446/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US13061
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% black or African American, 37.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, and 3.3% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13061
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024436/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US13061
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 1,331&nbsp;households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 22.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 45.8 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $26,250 and the median income for a family was $31,354. Males had a median income of $29,440 versus $23,816 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,353. About 25.5% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 56.7% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13061
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013543/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13061
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,357 people, 1,347 households, and 928 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 1,925 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 60.47% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 38.43% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,347 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 23.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 21.00% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 83.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,448, and the median income for a family was $27,837. Males had a median income of $26,557 versus $17,083 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,819. About 28.10% of families and 31.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 43.40% of those under age 18 and 23.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
{{Main|Fort Gaines, Georgia#Education}}

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Bluffton, Georgia|Bluffton]]
* [[Fort Gaines, Georgia|Fort Gaines]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Pecan, Georgia|Pecan]]
* [[Suttons Corner, Georgia|Suttons Corner]]
* [[Zetto, Georgia|Zetto]]

===Ghost town===
* [[Oketeyeconne, Georgia|Oketeyeconne]]

==Politics==
Clay County was one of the most consistently voting [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] counties in the country. It voted for the Democratic nominee in every election from 1868 until 1960, and then again since 1976. In the [[2022 Georgia state elections]], however, Clay County voted for every [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate except [[Herschel Walker]]. This has resulted in the county becoming a swing county. In 2024, [[Donald Trump]] lost the county by less than 8 points, the closest a Republican presidential candidate has come to carrying the county since [[Richard Nixon]] won it in his 1972 landslide.

{{PresHead|place=Clay County, Georgia|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|663|771|8|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|637|791|8|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|566|697|10|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|537|862|4|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|558|879|3|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|509|798|3|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|448|821|8|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|293|787|63|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|264|778|155|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|398|595|1|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|419|750|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|316|909|16|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|295|947|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|632|283|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|133|517|608|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|544|360|2|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|84|528|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|103|390|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|176|481|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|33|295|39|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|35|442|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|33|488|2|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|13|484|2|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|12|433|3|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|56|405|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|51|246|34|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|63|230|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|10|225|9|Georgia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|17|369|8|Georgia}}

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Georgia]]
*[[List of counties in Georgia]]

==References==
;General
{{Reflist}}

;Specific
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060724053206/http://www.dca.state.ga.us/snapshots/PDF/Clay.pdf Georgia Snapshots - Clay County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060629232317/http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/courthouses/clayCH.htm GeorgiaInfo Clay County Courthouse history]

==External links==
* [http://www.claycountyga.net/ Official Website of Clay County Georgia]
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/clay/clay-county Clay County] historical marker
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/clay/new-lowell-united-methodist-church New Lowell United Methodist Church] historical marker

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Clay County, Georgia
|North     = [[Quitman County, Georgia|Quitman County]]
|Northeast = [[Randolph County, Georgia|Randolph County]]
|East      = [[Calhoun County, Georgia|Calhoun County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Early County, Georgia|Early County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Henry County, Alabama]]
|Northwest = [[Barbour County, Alabama]]
}}
{{Clay County, Georgia}}
{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|31.62|-84.99|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Clay County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1854]]
[[Category:Black Belt (U.S. region)]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Georgia]]