Editing Clay County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county          = Clay County
 | state        = North Carolina
 | seal  = Clay County Seal.webp
 | founded              = 1861
 | named for    = [[Henry Clay]]
 | seat wl          = Hayesville
 | largest city wl  = Hayesville
 | city type         = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 220.78
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 214.98
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.80
 | area percentage      = 2.63
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 11089
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 11864 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.05|-83.75|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web        = www.clayconc.com
 | district             = 11th
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | ex image             = The Clay County Government Center in Hayesville, North Carolina 06.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Clay County Government Center
 | motto                = "Clay County – It's Good for the Soul"
}}

'''Clay County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the far western part of [[U.S. state]] [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 11,089.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> The [[county seat]] is [[Hayesville, North Carolina|Hayesville]].<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==
[[File:The historic Clay County Courthouse in downtown Hayesville, North Carolina on June 26, 2022.jpg|thumb|Former [[Clay County Courthouse (North Carolina)|Clay County Courthouse]] in Hayesville]]

===Early inhabitants===
The area that became Clay County has long been occupied by indigenous people. An earthwork [[platform mound]] was built around 1000 CE in modern-day Hayesville, likely by people of the [[South Appalachian Mississippian culture]] as the center of their village. The [[Cherokee]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] later constructed a town known as ''Quanassee'' at the site.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Duncan |first1=Barbara R. |title=Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook |last2=Riggs |first2=Brett H. |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2003 |isbn=0-8078-5457-3 |location=Chapel Hill}}</ref> Quanassee had several hundred residents by 1550. In 1716, [[South Carolina]] officials met with Cherokee leaders at Quanassee to gain the Cherokee's alliance in the [[Yamasee War|Yamassee War]]. The next year South Carolina built a trading site in Quanassee to provide English goods in exchange for Cherokee commodities like deerskins. A Coosa (Creek) war party "cut off" Quanassee in 1725, wrecking the village and enslaving or killing most of its residents. The village was briefly reestablished before the American Revolution; [[Rutherford Light Horse expedition|Rutherford expedition]] forces camped there in 1776.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Quanassee Town and the Spikebuck Mound Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=41949 |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Unicoi Turnpike]], a 1,000-year-old Native American trading route, ran through the site of Quanassee and modern-day [[Brasstown, North Carolina|Brasstown]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Hayesville |url=https://www.townofhayesville.com/about |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=Town of Hayesville |language=en}}</ref> In 1813, the trail was developed into a toll road from Tennessee to Georgia, creating the first highway through the area.<ref name=":04">{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2022 |title=Uncovering A 200-Year-Old Road with Modern Technology |url=https://www.smliv.com/api/content/8c3244aa-f3f2-11ec-9969-12274efc5439/ |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=Smoky Mountain Living |language=en-us}}</ref> Today Brasstown is the oldest continuous settlement in the county, having hosted residents since the establishment of the toll road.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hyatt, Jr. |first1=Bass |title=Brasstown Valley Myths & History |publisher=Straub Publishing |year=2018 |isbn=9780991372669 |editor-last=Avett |editor-first=Wally |location=Blairsville, Georgia |page=13 |chapter=Unicoi Turnpike}}</ref>

The land which would become Clay County was claimed by [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]] in 1791, [[Haywood County, North Carolina|Haywood County]] by 1810, and [[Macon County, North Carolina|Macon County]] in 1828. In the 1820s, [[Baptists in the United States|Baptist]] missionaries visited Quanassee to preach to families living there.<ref name=":1" /> The first white settlers moved into what would become Clay County in the early 1830s.<ref name="Padgett">{{Cite book |last=Padgett |first=Guy |title=A History of Clay County, North Carolina |publisher=Clay County Bicentennial Committee |date=1976 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xp63GAAACAAJ}}</ref> Migrants into the area were primarily of [[Scotch-Irish American|Scots-Irish]] descent, who had moved into the backcountry of the Appalachians from eastern areas. They moved south from Pennsylvania and Virginia after the American Revolution. Most became yeomen farmers and few owned slaves in the antebellum years. The first school in the area began operation in 1834. It was a tuition-based academy started by Leonard Butterfield on a farm near Hyatt's Creek.<ref name=":02">{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Carl S. |title=Clay County, NC Then and Now: A Written and Pictorial History |date=January 1, 2007 |publisher=Genealogy Publishing Service |isbn=9781881851240 |chapter=}}</ref> From 1836–1838, the state of North Carolina surveyed and subdivided land in the area to be sold.<ref name="Moorebook" /> The parcels were put on public sale in [[Franklin, North Carolina|Franklin]] in fall 1838.<ref name=":3">{{Citation |last=Williams |first=Ms. Michael Ann |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form – Harshaw Chapel and Cemetery |date=July 14, 1983 |url=https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/CE0003.pdf}} Retrieved April 15, 2024.</ref>

In October 1837, Tennessee militia established [[Fort Hembree]] at present-day Hayesville to prepare for deporting the Cherokee people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nctrailoftears.org/fort-hembree/#:~:text=Tennessee%20militia%20established%20Fort%20Hembree,the%20upper%20Hiwassee%20River%20Valley. |title=Fort Hembree |work=North Carolina Trail of Tears Association }}</ref> Approximately 1,000 Cherokee were held prisoner there and removed from the area. The U.S. Military abandoned Fort Hembree in June 1838.<ref name=Moorebook>{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Carl S. |title=Clay County, N.C.: Then and Now |location=Franklin, N.C. |publisher=Genealogy Publishing Service |year=2008 |isbn=978-1881851240 }}</ref> In 1839, most of the area became part of [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]], which was formed from western Macon County.<ref>{{cite book| last = Corbitt| first = David Leroy| title = The formation of the North Carolina counties, 1663–1943| publisher = North Carolina Division of Archives and History| date = 1987| location = Raleigh| url = https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/the-formation-of-the-north-carolina-counties-1663-1943/3692099?item=4798800|page=62}}</ref>

===County formation===
In the fall of 1860, [[George W. Hayes (North Carolina)|George Hayes]], who was running for state representative from Cherokee County, promised his constituents to introduce legislation to organize a new county in the region. That would bring business associated with a new county seat, and make government accessible to more people. In February 1861 the legislation was introduced and passed by the North Carolina General Assembly.<ref name="ncmtn">{{cite web|url=http://www.ncmtnchamber.com/history-of-clay-county |title=Welcome to the Clay County Chamber of Commerce |publisher=Ncmtnchamber.com |access-date=October 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803234020/http://www.ncmtnchamber.com/history-of-clay-county |archive-date=August 3, 2012 }}</ref> Clay County was formed primarily from [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]], however a small area was taken from Macon County; it was named for statesman [[Henry Clay]], former Secretary of State and member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Kentucky]]. In honor of Mr. Hayes, the legislature designated the new county seat as Hayesville.<ref name="ncmtn"/> The town was incorporated on March 12, 1913.<ref name="Padgett"/>

In 1860 Fort Hembree was reactivated to train soldiers for the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Early county trials and the first county commissioners’ meetings were held at the fort. It also contained a general store. Given the interruption of the war, Clay County lacked an organized, formal government until 1868.<ref name="Moorebook" /> Hicksville Academy, which became [[Hayesville High School]] (today the county's only public high school), was founded in 1870.<ref name="book1">{{cite conference |last=Leek |first=Mark |year=2003 |title=History of Clay County Schools From 1850 until Present |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.clayschools.org%2Fccshistory%2Fccshistory.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |conference=Doctoral project in the Issues of Rural Education class at Western Carolina University}}</ref> In the 1890s it was bought by Duke University and offered college courses.<ref name="Padgett2">{{Cite book |last=Padgett |first=Guy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xp63GAAACAAJ |title=A History of Clay County, North Carolina |date=1976 |publisher=Clay County Bicentennial Committee}}</ref>

After the initial wood-frame county courthouse was destroyed by arson in 1870, the brick [[Clay County Courthouse (North Carolina)|courthouse]] was constructed in 1888.<ref name=Moorebook/> It has been listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hayesville.org/default.htm |title=Hayesville, North Carolina - Home Page |publisher=Hayesville.org |access-date=October 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824020307/http://www.hayesville.org/default.htm |archive-date=August 24, 2012 }}</ref> In mid-2007, courthouse operations moved to a new complex built {{convert|1|mi|km}} west of the town square.<ref name=Moorebook/>

The first post office to open in what became Clay County began service January 8, 1844, at Fort Hembree. At its peak, Clay County boasted 17 post offices. By 1976 there were only three remaining, in Hayesville, [[Warne, North Carolina|Warne]], and Brasstown.<ref name="Padgett"/>

Clay County’s borders have expanded twice since its formation. In 1872, the county annexed Buck Creek and Black Mountain from Macon County. In 1874, the county added a part of the [[Brasstown Creek]] area extending to the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] state line.<ref name=Moorebook/>

In the late 1870s and early 1880s the Tusquittee Turnpike toll road operated from Clay County to the [[Nantahala River]] in Macon County.<ref name=Moorebook/> Tiger’s Store is thought to be the oldest continuously operating business in Clay County. It was established around 1899 in [[Shooting Creek Township, Clay County, North Carolina|Shooting Creek]] and moved to Hayesville around 1908.<ref name=Moorebook/> A ruby from Clay County is part of the [[Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1969-06-29 |title=Clay County has 'Accessible Isolation' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/195658219/?match=1&terms=%22crown%20jewels%22%20%22chatuge%22 |access-date=2024-10-16 |work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |page=H4}}</ref>

===20th century to present===
Clay County’s two-story brick jail was built in 1912 to replace a log building. In 1972, shop class students from [[Hayesville High School]] constructed a replacement prison in downtown Hayesville.<ref name="Padgett"/> That was in use until 2008 when a new $4.3 million detention center opened at the judicial complex site.<ref>{{cite news |last=Keely |first=Harrison |url=https://issuu.com/sentinelnews/docs/06.04.08-smoky-mountain-sentinel |title=New jailhouse rocks |work=Smoky Mountain Sentinel |location=Hayesville, NC |publisher=Sentinel Newspapers |date=June 4, 2008 |page=A1 |access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref> Today the brick jail is home to the Clay County Historical & Arts Museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visitnc.com/listing/Rrk3/clay-county-historical-arts-museum#:~:text=The%20Clay%20County%20Historical%20%26%20Arts,the%20area%20through%20changing%20exhibits. |title=Clay County Historical & Arts Museum |work=VisitNC |publisher=Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina |quote=The Clay County Historical & Arts Museum is housed in the Old County Jail Museum which was constructed in 1912 and used as a jail until 1972. |access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref>

Clay County's first official bank opened on May 18, 1910. A creamery opened in Brasstown in 1924. [[Mission Dam]] was constructed on the western end of the county in 1924.<ref name="Padgett"/> Gold mines operated in Tusquittee, Warne and Brasstown around the 1930s. In the 1940s and 50s, Clay County’s largest employers were band saw lumber mills. One of the county’s only manufacturing companies, Lidseen of North Carolina, Inc., has operated a metal fabrication plant in Warne since 1957. Another manufacturing plant, American Components Incorporated, made a metal film resistor for the [[Saturn V]] rocket that carried [[Neil Armstrong]] to the moon. Clay County has also manufactured ladies’ dresses, items for combat soldiers, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures.<ref name=Moorebook/>

The county’s first electric power came from a small dam across Shooting Creek near the Elf community in January 1920. The Blue Ridge Electric Association of [[Young Harris, Georgia]], took over providing electricity for all of Clay County in 1939. By 1950, every community in the county had electricity.<ref name="Padgett"/>

The first automobile came to Clay County in 1914. From the early 1900s until the 1930s, every male citizen of Clay County between the ages of 18 and 45 was required to work five days per year without pay to help maintain public roads.<ref name="Padgett"/><ref name=Moorebook/> Construction on [[US 64]] between Hayesville, Warne, and Brasstown started in 1921. In 1959 a new highway was built from Hayesville through Sweetwater to [[Peachtree, North Carolina|Peachtree]] to provide Clay County residents with faster access to [[Andrews, North Carolina|Andrews]]' new [[District Memorial Hospital]].<ref name="Padgett" /><ref name=":03">{{Cite news |last=McKeever |first=Mrs. Hobart |date=January 29, 1961 |title=Cherokee County Shows Greatest Progress During 1950-60 Decade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/201809295/?terms=cherokee%20county&match=1 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |page=77}}</ref> The US 64 moniker moved to this new route and the former route became Old Hwy. 64. US 64 connected Hayesville to Franklin in the early 1930s. [[NC 69]] was built between Hayesville and Georgia in 1922. The entire road had to be relocated when [[Chatuge Lake]] was created twenty years later.<ref name="Padgett"/>

In October 1920, Clay County’s first and only railroad line, the Peavine, was completed between Hayesville and Andrews, where it connected with the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laney |first=Gideon Thomas |title=Train from Hayesville arriving at the Tusquittee station pulled by Climax locomotive #10 |url=https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/browse/search/train-from-hayesville-arriving-at-the-tusquittee-station-pulled-by-climax-locomotive-10 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |website=Southern Appalachian Digital Collections |publisher=[[Western Carolina University]] and University of North Carolina Asheville}}</ref> Cherokee and Clay counties each contributed $75,000 toward its construction. The Peavine hauled mainly lumber, but also [[kaolin]] mined in Clay County. The line was dismantled in 1951.<ref name="Padgett"/><ref name="Moorebook"/>

A silent film theater opened in the county in the 1920s. A movie theater later operated in Hayesville from the 1940s to the 1960s. The county has not had a movie theater since.<ref name="Moorebook" /> Clay County's public library was established by the 1930s. It began in a two-story building on Hayesville's town square and at some point moved to a small room in the courthouse.<ref name="Moorebook2">{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Carl S. |title=Clay County, N.C.: Then and Now |publisher=Genealogy Publishing Service |year=2008 |isbn=978-1881851240 |location=Franklin, N.C.}}</ref> In 1940 it became part of [[Nantahala Regional Library]] system. Its first librarian, Ellen Scroggs, was hired in 1943. A new $80,000 library building opened downtown on June 25, 1967.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1967 |title=Moss Library Dedicated Sunday |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn95072291/1967-06-29/ed-1/seq-4/#words=Clay+County+Library |work=The Cherokee Scout and Clay County Progress |page=4}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=June 23, 1966 |title=Clay ready to start library construction; fund raising meeting set for Friday |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn95072291/1966-06-23/ed-1/seq-9/#words=Moss+Memorial+Library |work=The Cherokee Scout and Clay County Progress |page=9}}</ref> It was named in honor of local-born Dr. Fred A. Moss, who gave $10,000 towards its construction and donated books.<ref name=":0" /> Today Moss Memorial Library is the only public library in Clay County.<ref name="Moorebook2" />
[[File:Lake_Chatuge_reservoir_in_Towns_County,_Georgia,_and_Clay_County,_North_Carolina_on_Aug._3,_2022.jpg|thumb|Lake Chatuge was created in 1942]]
[[Chatuge Dam]] was constructed near Hayesville in the early 1940s by the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]], creating [[Chatuge Lake]]. At the time, Chatuge Dam was the highest earthen dam in the world until the [[Aswan Dam]] was constructed in [[Egypt]] in 1964.<ref name="Moorebook2" /> The dam was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Register Database and Research - National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In the 1950s, Clay County's official song was written. Willie Forrest Standridge wrote "Clay County Song" to the tune of [[Onward, Christian Soldiers|Onward Christian Soldiers]].<ref name="Padgett" /> The Hinton Rural Life Center began in Clay County in 1957. It is a mission retreat operated by the United Methodist Church, serving churches across nine southeastern states and named in honor of benefactor Harold H. Hinton.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Galloway |first=Wanda P. |title=Clay County Heritage North Carolina Vol. II |publisher=The Clay County Heritage Book Committee |year=2017 |location=Hayesville, NC |pages=}}</ref> The Clay County Rescue Squad was organized in 1964.<ref name="Padgett" /> The county's first golf course opened in 1970.<ref name="Padgett" /> The Clay County Historical & Arts Council was founded February 6, 1974.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beck |first=Reba |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Historical & Arts Council: We are 50 and struttin' our stuff |work=Clay County Progress |publisher=Community Newspapers, Inc. |location=Hayesville, NC |page=B6}}</ref> The [[Peacock Performing Arts Center]], the only community theatre in far-west North Carolina, opened in Hayesville in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=About Us - Peacock Performing Arts Center - Hayesville, NC |url=https://www.thepeacocknc.org/about-us/ |access-date=March 22, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The Clay County Chamber of Commerce began in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-26 |title=About the Chamber |work=[[Clay County Progress]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Hayesville, NC |page=A8}}</ref> Clay County's building inspections department started in 1987.<ref name="Moorebook" /> The famed New Year's Eve "[[The Possum Drop|Possum Drop]]" was held annually in Brasstown between 1990 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elassar |first=Alaa |date=2019-12-31 |title=North Carolina town ends New Year's Eve Possum Drop tradition |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/31/us/north-carolina-opossum-drop-ends-trnd/index.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The Clay County Recreation Center was built in Hayesville in 2007 and expanded in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.recreation.claync.us/about |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Clay County Recreation Center & Parks |language=en}}</ref> In early 2025, [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] purchased land in the county to build a distribution center and warehouse.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Long |first=Becky |date=2025-02-13 |title=Amazon buys property here |work=[[Clay County Progress]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Hayesville, NC |pages=A1,A3}}</ref>

Since the nineteenth century, Clay County has remained largely agricultural.<ref name="ncmtn" /> Given its relative isolation, in the 21st century, residents continue to be overwhelmingly of European-American ancestry.

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502516|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Clay County}}
[[File:Downtown Hayesville in Clay County, N.C. on June 26, 2022.jpg|thumb|Downtown Hayesville from the air]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|220.78|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|214.98|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.80|sqmi}} (2.63%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the third-smallest county in North Carolina by land area and smallest by total area.

Clay County is bordered to the south by the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and the [[Chattahoochee National Forest]]. The [[Nantahala River]] forms part of its northeastern border. The county is drained by the [[Hiwassee River]]. In the southern part of Clay County is [[Chatuge Dam|Chatuge Lake]], on the North Carolina–Georgia border. Much of Clay County exists within the [[Nantahala National Forest]]. [[Fires Creek|Fires Creek Bear Reserve]] is north of the township of Tusquittee and offers multiple hiking trails. The [[Appalachian Trail]] winds through southeast Clay County.<ref name="Moorebook" />

Before 1941 the U.S. government purchased most of Clay County’s forest land to preserve it as [[National Forest Service]] property. The Forest Service oversees approximately 60 percent of Clay County’s land.<ref name=Moorebook/> Of Clay County's 136,096 acres, 110,096 are forested lands, including 65,934 in the eastern part of the county owned and maintained by the federal government as part of [[Nantahala National Forest]].<ref name=Moorebook/> As of 2024, 14,515 acres are devoted to agriculture, with a total of 178 farms.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2024-10-15 |title=County facing challenges to local economy |url=https://www.cherokeescout.com/index.php/local-newsletter/county-facing-challenges-local-economy |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |pages=1A,8A}}</ref> Clay County has a total of 11 dams listed on the National Inventory of Dams; six are classified as high-hazard, meaning a dam failure may be deadly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Inventory of Dams |url=https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/#/dams/search/sy=@countyState:Clay,%20North%20Carolina&viewType=map&resultsType=dams&advanced=false&hideList=false&eventSystem=false |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers}}</ref>

===Climate===
Clay County has a [[humid subtropical climate]], (''Cfa'') according to the [[Köppen classification]], with hot, humid summers and mild, but occasionally cold winters by the standards of the southern United States.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 9, 2012 |title=Koppen Climate Classification Chart |url=http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011700b.htm |access-date=October 27, 2012 |publisher=Geography.about.com |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818221021/http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011700b.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Like the rest of the southeastern U.S., Clay County receives abundant rainfall, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Average annual rainfall is {{convert|55.9|in|mm}}.  [[Blizzards]] are rare but possible; one nicknamed the [[1993 Storm of the Century|Storm of the Century]] hit the entire [[Eastern United States]] in March 1993.

===National protected areas===
* [[Appalachian Trail]] (part)
* [[Nantahala National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Fires Creek|Fires Creek Wildlife Management Area]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[JackRabbit Mountain Recreation Area]]
* [[Nantahala National Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Buck Creek (North Carolina)|Buck Creek]]
* [[Chatuge Lake]]
* [[Crawford Creek (North Carolina)|Crawford Creek]]
* [[Hiwassee River]]
* [[Little Tennessee River]]
* [[Nantahala River]]
* [[Park Creek (North Carolina)|Park Creek]]
* [[Tusquitee Creek (North Carolina)|Tusquitee Creek]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]] – northwest
* [[Macon County, North Carolina|Macon County]] – east
* [[Union County, Georgia]] – southwest
* [[Towns County, Georgia]] – south
* [[Rabun County, Georgia]] – southeast
* [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]] – west

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|64}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|64|dab1=Hayesville}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|69}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|175}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1870 = 2461
| 1880 = 3316
| 1890 = 4197
| 1900 = 4532
| 1910 = 3909
| 1920 = 4646
| 1930 = 5434
| 1940 = 6405
| 1950 = 6006
| 1960 = 5526
| 1970 = 5180
| 1980 = 6619
| 1990 = 7155
| 2000 = 8775
| 2010 = 10587
| 2020 = 11089
| estyear=2023
| estimate=11864
| estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
| 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=January 13, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 13, 2015|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/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</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|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37043.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606235044/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37043.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/claycountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Clay County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}As of 2024, Clay County has the third-oldest population of any county in North Carolina. The county's median age is 51.5, just behind [[Brunswick County, North Carolina|Brunswick County]] and Cherokee County.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2024-09-03 |title=County by the numbers |url=https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/county-numbers |access-date=2024-09-06 |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |pages=1A, 7A}}</ref> The county's homeless population was 52 as of 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Randy |date=2025-02-26 |title=Homeless county shows a slight decline in last year |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=9A}}</ref>

Clay County has the fifth lowest gross domestic product in the state as of 2024.<ref name=":22" />

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Clay County, North Carolina – 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, North Carolina |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US37043&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</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, North Carolina |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37043&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</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) – Clay County, North Carolina |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37043&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|8,536
|10,080
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,044
|97.28%
|95.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |90.58%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|70
|64
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60
|0.80%
|0.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.54%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|27
|32
|style='background: #ffffe6; |44
|0.31%
|0.30%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|7
|24
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40
|0.08%
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|6
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|0.07%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|8
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23
|0.09%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|48
|127
|style='background: #ffffe6; |433
|0.55%
|1.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.90%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|73
|258
|style='background: #ffffe6; |438
|0.83%
|2.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.95%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''8,775'''
|'''10,587'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''11,089'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 11,089 people, 4,996 households, and 3,424 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At 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 8,775 people, 3,847 households, and 2,727 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|41|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 5,425 housing units at an average density of {{convert|25|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.01% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.80% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,847 households, out of which 23.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.60% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 29.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,397, and the median income for a family was $38,264. Males had a median income of $29,677 versus $19,529 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,221. About 7.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Law, government, and politics==
===Government===
The Clay County government is a constitutional body and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of North Carolina, most of which are determined by the state's General Assembly. The county is governed by an elected five member four-year term Board of Commissioners.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Government {{!}} Clay County {{!}} NC Government {{!}} United States |url=https://www.clayconc.com/ |access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> Clay County is a member of the regional [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Southwestern Commission Council of Governments]]. The county's annual operating budget is $24.1 million as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Long |first=Becky |date=2023-06-22 |title=Commission approves $24 plus million county budget |url=https://www.claycountyprogress.com/local/commission-approves-24-plus-million-county-budget?check_logged_in=1 |access-date=2025-05-16 |work=[[Clay County Progress]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Hayesville, NC}}</ref>

===Politics===
In the [[North Carolina Senate]], Clay County is part of the [[North Carolina's 50th Senate district|50th Senate district]] and is represented by Republican [[Jim Davis (North Carolina politician)|Jim Davis]]. In the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]], Clay County is part of the [[North Carolina's 120th House district|120th district]], represented by Republican [[Kevin Corbin]].

No Democratic presidential candidate has won Clay County since [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976. [[Bill Clinton]] in 1996 was the last Democratic candidate to reach forty percent of the county's vote. Before the [[Progressive Era]], Clay County was uniformly Democratic, but since [[Charles Evans Hughes]] became the first Republican to carry the county in 1916, it has voted for the GOP in all but five elections.

{{PresHead|place=Clay County, North Carolina|source=<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 15, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,761|1,899|68|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,112|1,699|82|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,437|1,367|206|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,973|1,579|90|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,707|1,734|102|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,209|1,628|29|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,416|1,361|75|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,769|1,462|424|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,890|1,600|470|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,174|1,289|17|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,259|1,340|20|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,136|1,324|87|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,428|1,569|15|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,545|797|28|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,390|847|293|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,286|1,457|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,657|1,264|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,442|1,287|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,443|1,439|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,213|1,307|55|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,263|1,245|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,176|1,349|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,525|1,340|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,265|1,341|8|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,106|903|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,090|953|18|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|911|755|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|453|400|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|17|372|387|North Carolina}}

===Law and public safety===
The Clay County sheriff's office is the sole policing agency for the county. The sheriff protects the court and county owned facilities, manages the jail, and provides patrol and detective services. The Clay County sheriff’s office employed 22 officers and 15 detention officers as of 2025. The department’s 2024-2025 budget is $3.77 million. The office fielded more than 8,000 service calls in 2024, including 212 motor vehicle accidents, 12 sexual assaults, and 59 calls for breaking and entering. The department conducted 728 vehicle stops that year. Clay County’s detention center had 339 bookings in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buchanan |first=Mark |date=2025-02-27 |title=Sheriff provides detailed 2024 county responses |url=https://www.claycountyprogress.com/local/sheriff-provides-detailed-2024-county-responses |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=[[Clay County Progress]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Hayesville, NC |page=A2}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Clay County School District (North Carolina)|Clay County Schools]] serves all of the county with about 1,200 students attending a total of 4 separate schools, located on a central campus in Hayesville. After county government, Clay County Schools is the largest employer in the county with a staff of 205 people.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Lorrie |url=https://www.claycountyprogress.com/index.php/local/labor-day |title=Labor Day: Who creates the most jobs in Clay County? |work=Clay County Progress |location=Hayesville, NC |publisher=Community Newspapers, Inc. |date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> [[Hayesville High School]] serves grades 9–12.

Higher education is offered nearby at [[Tri-County Community College]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tri-County Community College - - |url=http://www.tricountycc.edu/ |access-date=February 23, 2016 |website=Tri-County Community College |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Young Harris College]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=A private, four-year, liberal arts college located in the mountains of North Georgia. |url=http://www.yhc.edu/ |access-date=February 23, 2016 |website=Young Harris College}}</ref> and [[Western Carolina University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Carolina University - Home {{!}} Choose Great |url=https://www.wcu.edu/ |access-date=November 1, 2018 |website=Home {{!}} Choose Great |language=en-US}}</ref>

The largest and oldest folk school in the United States, the [[John C. Campbell Folk School]], is located in [[Brasstown, North Carolina|Brasstown]], an unincorporated community that exists partly in Cherokee County and partly in Clay County.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eiben |first=Vicky |date=2015 |title=A brief history of folk schools |url=https://folkschoolalliance.org/a-brief-history-of-folk-schools |work=Folk Education Association of America |publisher=Folk School Alliance |quote=The John C. Campbell Folk School founded in 1925 in Brasstown, North Carolina is the largest folk school in the U.S. today.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=region: Brasstown, Hayesville |url=https://www.visitsmokies.org/regions/brasstown-hayesville/ |work=Great Smoky Mountains North Carolina |quote=Nation’s oldest folk school founded in 1925.}}</ref> The school focuses on creative folk arts for all ages and offers community dance and concert entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John C. Campbell Folk School |url=https://www.folkschool.org/ |access-date=February 23, 2016 |website=www.folkschool.org}}</ref>

==Media==
The ''[[Clay County Progress]]'' is published weekly in Hayesville. It is the only newspaper in the county. Between 1902 and at least 1909 the community was served by the ''Clay County Courier'' newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clay County Courier (Hayesville, N.C.) 1902-19?? |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn97064639/ |access-date=January 25, 2024 |work=Directory of U.S. Newspapers in American Libraries |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> Between 1926 and 1943 the area was served by the ''Clay County News''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Clay County News (Hayesville, N.C.) |url=https://www.digitalnc.org/newspapers/the-clay-county-news-hayesville-n-c/ |access-date=August 25, 2023 |work=DigitalNC Newspapers |publisher=DigitalNC}}</ref> The ''Progress'' was founded in 1951 and faced competition from weekly newspaper ''The Smoky Mountain Sentinel'' between 1987 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/33/6207/19994 |title=Smoky Mountain Sentinel |work=mondotimes |publisher=Mondo Code LLC}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Clay County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Clay County with municipal and township labels]]

===Town===
* [[Hayesville, North Carolina|Hayesville]] (county seat and largest community)

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Brasstown, North Carolina|Brasstown]]
* Elf
* Shooting Creek
* [[Tusquittee, North Carolina|Tusquittee]]
* [[Warne, North Carolina|Warne]]

===Townships===
The county is divided into six [[township (United States)|townships]]:
* [[Brasstown, North Carolina (Township)|Brasstown]] comprises the westernmost township
* [[Hayesville Township, Clay County, North Carolina|Hayesville]] is centrally located and home to the county seat
* [[Hiawassee Township, Clay County, North Carolina|Hiawassee]], named after the major river in the region, is the smallest township, surrounding Chatuge Lake
* [[Shooting Creek Township, Clay County, North Carolina|Shooting Creek]] is the easternmost township
* [[Sweetwater Township, Clay County, North Carolina|Sweetwater]] is a small township northwest of Hayesville
* [[Tusquittee Township, Clay County, North Carolina|Tusquittee]] is one of the larger townships and the most northern

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in North Carolina#Clay County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, North Carolina]]
* [[List of Highway Historical Markers in Clay County, North Carolina]]
* [[Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA]], wine region partially located in the county

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528687}}
* {{Official website|http://www.clayconc.com/}}
* [https://www.ClayCountyProgress.com/ ''Clay County Progress''], local newspaper

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Clay County, North Carolina
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Macon County, North Carolina|Macon County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Rabun County, Georgia]]
|South     = [[Towns County, Georgia]]
|Southwest = [[Union County, Georgia]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Cherokee County, North Carolina|Cherokee County]]
}}
{{Clay County, North Carolina}}
{{North_Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Clay County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1861]]