Editing Clay County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Clay County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Clay County Kansas Courthouse.jpg
|ex image cap       = [[Clay County Courthouse (Clay Center, Kansas)|Clay County Courthouse]] in [[Clay Center, Kansas|Clay Center]] (2006)
|founded            = February 20, 1857
|named for          = [[Henry Clay]]
|seat wl            = Clay Center
|largest city wl    = Clay Center
|area_total_sq_mi   = 656
|area_land_sq_mi    = 645
|area_water_sq_mi   = 10
|area percentage    = 1.6%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 8117
|pop_est_footnotes  =<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/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of      =2023
|population_est     =8007 {{decrease}}
|population_density_sq_mi = 12.6

|area codes         = [[Area code 785|785]]
|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|https://www.claycountykansas.org/|ClayCountyKansas.org}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|39|21|N|97|10|W|region:US-KS_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS|display=title}}
}}

'''Clay County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Clay Center, Kansas|Clay Center]].<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>  As of the [[2020 United States census]], the county population was 8,117.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Clay County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/claycountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815223030/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/claycountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named for [[Henry Clay]], an influential U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

==History==

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] were inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]]. In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]]. In 1857, Clay County was established.

When the first counties were created by the Kansas legislature in 1855, the territory within the present limits of the county was attached to [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]] for all revenue and judicial purposes. Subsequently, Clay was attached to [[Geary County, Kansas|Geary County]]. In 1857, Clay was created and named in honor of the famous American statesman [[Henry Clay]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n32 83]}}</ref> a member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Kentucky]] and [[United States Secretary of State]] in the 19th century.

In 1887, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] built a branch line from [[Neva, Kansas|Neva]] (3 miles west of [[Strong City, Kansas|Strong City]]) to [[Superior, Nebraska]]. This branch line connected [[Strong City, Kansas|Strong City]], [[Neva, Kansas|Neva]], [[Rockland, Kansas|Rockland]], [[Diamond Springs, Kansas|Diamond Springs]], [[Burdick, Kansas|Burdick]], [[Lost Springs, Kansas|Lost Springs]], [[Jacobs, Kansas|Jacobs]], [[Hope, Kansas|Hope]], [[Navarre, Kansas|Navarre]], [[Enterprise, Kansas|Enterprise]], [[Abilene, Kansas|Abilene]], [[Talmage, Kansas|Talmage]], [[Manchester, Kansas|Manchester]], [[Longford, Kansas|Longford]], [[Oak Hill, Kansas|Oak Hill]], [[Miltonvale, Kansas|Miltonvale]], [[Aurora, Kansas|Aurora]], [[Huscher, Kansas|Huscher]], [[Concordia, Kansas|Concordia]], [[Kackley, Kansas|Kackley]], [[Courtland, Kansas|Courtland]], [[Webber, Kansas|Webber]], [[Superior, Nebraska|Superior]]. At some point, the line from [[Neva, Kansas|Neva]] to [[Lost Springs, Kansas|Lost Springs]] was pulled, but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] merged with [[Burlington Northern Railroad]] and renamed to the current [[BNSF Railway]]. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

===21st century===
In 2010, the [[Keystone Pipeline|Keystone-Cushing Pipeline]] (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Clay County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).<ref>[http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline - ''Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal''; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022015437/http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ |date=October 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline - ''TransCanada inspecting pipeline''; December 10, 2010.]</ref> A pumping station named Riley was built along the pipeline.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|656|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|645|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|10|sqmi}} (1.6%) 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>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Washington County, Kansas|Washington County]] (north)
* [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]] (east)
* [[Geary County, Kansas|Geary County]] (southeast)
* [[Dickinson County, Kansas|Dickinson County]] (south)
* [[Ottawa County, Kansas|Ottawa County]] (southwest)
* [[Cloud County, Kansas|Cloud County]] (west)

===Major highways===
Sources: National Atlas,<ref>[http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ |date=December 5, 2008 }}</ref> U.S. Census Bureau<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ |title=U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files |access-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523020601/https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ |archive-date=May 23, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[U.S. Route 24 in Kansas|U.S. Route 24]]
* [[K-15 (Kansas highway)|Kansas Highway 15]]
* [[K-82 (Kansas highway)|Kansas Highway 82]]

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Clay County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1860= 163
|1870= 2942
|1880= 12320
|1890= 16146
|1900= 15833
|1910= 15251
|1920= 14365
|1930= 14556
|1940= 13281
|1950= 11697
|1960= 10675
|1970= 9890
|1980= 9802
|1990= 9158
|2000= 8822
|2010= 8535
|2020= 8117
|estyear=2023
|estimate=8007
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 22, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 22, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 22, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 22, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 8,822 people, 3,617 households, and 2,517 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,084 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 97.72% [[White American|White]], 0.57% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 0.41% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.15% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.26% from other races, and 0.90% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] people of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 3,617 [[household]]s, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the county was $33,965, and the median income for a family was $41,103. Males had a median income of $28,817 versus $17,760 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,939. About 6.80% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
{{Hidden
|headercss  = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|header     = Presidential election results
|content    =
{{PresHead|place=Clay County, Kansas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,150|867|96|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,177|894|111|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,891|677|290|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,788|834|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,998|1,009|47|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,174|793|43|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,998|951|139|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,793|963|421|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,198|947|1,445|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,997|1,112|48|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,559|919|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,449|932|286|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,085|1,610|137|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,562|887|93|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,335|926|374|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,030|1,806|37|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,937|1,246|43|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,378|1,034|49|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,059|831|71|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,763|1,804|144|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,101|1,391|49|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,699|2,067|70|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|3,525|3,441|21|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,115|3,289|187|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,457|1,515|72|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,767|1,417|802|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,521|1,155|168|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,692|2,632|320|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|843|1,373|1,499|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,858|1,495|155|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,262|403|634|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,001|1,826|61|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,655|1,929|49|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|1,666|0|2,149|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|1,914|920|934|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Clay County is overwhelmingly Republican. When [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] became in 1964 the last Democrat to carry the state's electoral votes, Clay County was his weakest in the state, giving over 62 percent of its votes to [[Barry Goldwater]]. The solitary Democrat to win a majority of Clay County's votes has been [[William Jennings Bryan]] in 1896, although [[Woodrow Wilson]] in a four-way race in 1912, and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1932 both obtained slim pluralities. Roosevelt in 1936, when he lost to Kansan [[Alf Landon]] by eighty-four votes, remains the last Democrat to win forty percent of the county's vote, and [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976 is the last to pass thirty percent.

==Education==

Unified school districts that serve portions of the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20027_clay/DC20SD_C20027.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clay County, KS/|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=September 9, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20027_clay/DC20SD_C20027_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Clay County USD 379]]
* [[Clifton-Clyde USD 224]]
* [[Southern Cloud USD 334]]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Clay Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Clay County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|map legend]])]]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Clay County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Clay County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/clay.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915065018/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/clay.PDF |archive-date=September 15, 2023 |date=April 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
{{div col}}
* [[Clay Center, Kansas|Clay Center]] (county seat)
* [[Wakefield, Kansas|Wakefield]]
* [[Clifton, Kansas|Clifton]]‡
* [[Morganville, Kansas|Morganville]]
* [[Green, Kansas|Green]]
* [[Longford, Kansas|Longford]]
* [[Vining, Kansas|Vining]]‡
* [[Oak Hill, Kansas|Oak Hill]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
† means a community is designated a [[Census-designated place|Census-Designated Place]] (CDP) by the [[United States Census Bureau]].
{{div col}}
* [[Idana, Kansas|Idana]]†
* [[Industry, Kansas|Industry]]‡
* [[Ladysmith, Kansas|Ladysmith]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Broughton, Kansas|Broughton]]
* [[Browndale, Kansas|Browndale]]
* Athelstane
* Bateham
* Broughton, razed when Milford Lake was built
* Browndale
* Exeter
* Fact
* Fancy Creek
* Garfield Center
* Gatesville
* Northern 
* Republican City
* Lovejoy
* Powellsburgh
* Delavan
* Riverdale
* Uniondale
* Stitt
* Chapmanville
* Wilson
* Hebron
* Lund
* Peach Grove
* Mulberry
* Morgan City
* Madura 
* Fayetteville
* Otter Creek
* Mount Pleasant
* Fancy Creek
* Oberg
* Carter Creek
* Tabor
* Morena
* Bachelder
* Lima
* Iwacura
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Clay County is divided into eighteen [[Civil township|townships]]. The city of [[Clay Center, Kansas|Clay Center]] is considered ''governmentally independent'' and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#ccccff"
! Township !! [[FIPS place code|FIPS]] !! Population<br/>center
! Population !! Population<br/>density<br/><small>/km<sup>2</sup> (/sq&nbsp;mi)</small>
! Land area<br/><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water area<br/><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water %
! Geographic coordinates
|-
| [[Athelstane Township, Clay County, Kansas|Athelstane]] || 02950 || || 144 || 2 (4) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|10|17|N|97|12|35|W}}
|-
| [[Blaine Township, Clay County, Kansas|Blaine]] || 07050 || || 259 || 2 (6) || 109 (42) || 1 (0) || 0.94% || {{coord|39|20|38|N|97|11|11|W}}
|-
| [[Bloom Township, Clay County, Kansas|Bloom]] || 07325 || || 125 || 1 (3) || 122 (47) || 1 (0) || 0.53% || {{coord|39|26|29|N|97|16|51|W}}
|-
| [[Chapman Township, Clay County, Kansas|Chapman]] || 12525 ||[[Longford, Kansas|Longford]] || 202 || 2 (6) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.09% || {{coord|39|10|21|N|97|19|35|W}}
|-
| [[Clay Center Township, Clay County, Kansas|Clay Center]] || 13650 || || 368 || 4 (10) || 98 (38) || 1 (1) || 1.46% || {{coord|39|21|30|N|97|6|17|W}}
|-
| [[Exeter Township, Clay County, Kansas|Exeter]] || 22100 || || 81 || 1 (2) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.08% || {{coord|39|15|24|N|97|11|36|W}}
|-
| [[Five Creeks Township, Clay County, Kansas|Five Creeks]] || 23475 || || 159 || 2 (4) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|21|22|N|97|18|14|W}}
|-
| [[Garfield Township, Clay County, Kansas|Garfield]] || 25500 || || 107 || 1 (3) || 91 (35) || 0 (0) || 0.05% || {{coord|39|31|55|N|97|7|5|W}}
|-
| [[Gill Township, Clay County, Kansas|Gill]] || 26250 || || 140 || 2 (5) || 78 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|10|10|N|97|6|3|W}}
|-
| [[Goshen Township, Clay County, Kansas|Goshen]] || 27025 || || 92 || 1 (3) || 91 (35) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|31|4|N|97|0|14|W}}
|-
| [[Grant Township, Clay County, Kansas|Grant]] || 27500 || || 132 || 2 (5) || 74 (29) || 13 (5) || 14.83% || {{coord|39|16|12|N|96|59|27|W}}
|-
| [[Hayes Township, Clay County, Kansas|Hayes]] || 30875 || || 206 || 2 (6) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|26|9|N|97|5|58|W}}
|-
| [[Highland Township, Clay County, Kansas|Highland]] || 31825 ||[[Green, Kansas|Green]] || 310 || 3 (9) || 92 (35) || 0 (0) || 0.07% || {{coord|39|25|28|N|97|0|1|W}}
|-
| [[Mulberry Township, Clay County, Kansas|Mulberry]] || 49000 ||[[Clifton, Kansas|Clifton (part)]] || 331 || 3 (9) || 97 (38) || 2 (1) || 1.99% || {{coord|39|32|19|N|97|16|23|W}}
|-
| [[Oakland Township, Clay County, Kansas|Oakland]] || 51725 || || 110 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|15|30|N|97|20|21|W}}
|-
| [[Republican Township, Clay County, Kansas|Republican]] || 59025 ||[[Wakefield, Kansas|Wakefield]] || 1,024 || 14 (36) || 73 (28) || 10 (4) || 12.46% || {{coord|39|12|7|N|97|0|50|W}}
|-
| [[Sherman Township, Clay County, Kansas|Sherman]] || 64850 ||[[Morganville, Kansas|Morganville]] || 328 || 4 (10) || 85 (33) || 1 (0) || 1.00% || {{coord|39|30|15|N|97|12|42|W}}
|-
| [[Union Township, Clay County, Kansas|Union]] || 72075 || || 140 || 2 (4) || 92 (35) || 0 (0) || 0.38% || {{coord|39|16|16|N|97|4|53|W}}
|-
|colspan=9|Sources: {{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html| title=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html| archive-date=August 2, 2002}}
|}

==Notable people==
:''See [[List of people from Clay County, Kansas]]''

Two former [[Governor of Kansas|Kansas Governors]] resided in Clay County.  [[George Docking]] was the 35th Governor, serving from January 14, 1957, until January 9, 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UlAmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m_4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4016,4294801&dq=george+docking+governor+kansas&hl=en|publisher=The Fort Scott Tribune|date=May 2, 1970|title=To Seek Third Term|access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>  [[William H. Avery (politician)|William H. Avery]] was the 37th Governor, from January 11, 1965, until January 9, 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/1042173.html |title=Former Kan. Gov. Avery dies at the age of 98 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 5, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[Dry counties]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
;Notes
{{Notelist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224013/ ''Standard Atlas of Clay County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 71 pages; 1918.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/223996/ ''Standard Atlas of Clay County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 65 pages; 1900.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/223982/ ''Historical Plat Book of Clay County, Kansas'']; Bird & Mickle Map Co; 88 pages; 1881.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Clay County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://www.claycountykansas.org/|Clay County - official}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260414 Clay County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Historical
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ksclay/ Clay County Kansas History and Heritage Project]
;Maps
* Clay County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/clay.PDF Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
*[https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=1_aWpwNLW_3cQHswZk_VG4pn8kjde6Kod&usp=sharing Clay County Mural Map]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Clay County, Kansas
|North     = [[Washington County, Kansas|Washington County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Riley County, Kansas|Riley County]]
|Southeast = [[Geary County, Kansas|Geary County]]
|South     = [[Dickinson County, Kansas|Dickinson County]]
|Southwest = [[Ottawa County, Kansas|Ottawa County]]
|West      = [[Cloud County, Kansas|Cloud County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Clay County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Clay County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Kansas Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]