Clay County, Minnesota

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,318,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> and was estimated to be 66,848 in 2024,<ref name="QF"/> Its county seat is Moorhead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Clay County is part of the Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Breckenridge County was created on March 18, 1858.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Clay County was established on November 2, 1860 as Breckinridge County and named for John C. Breckinridge, vice president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. After the Civil War began, Breckinridge joined the Confederate Army and in March 1862 the state Legislature replaced the name of Breckinridge with that of Henry Clay (1777–1852), who like Breckinridge was from Lexington, Ky., and was known "The Great Pacificator" or "The Great Compromiser" who helped head off civil war at least twice. The county's government was not organized until 1872, after the Northern Pacific Railway reached the area and settlement accelerated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Template:Stack Clay County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its western boundary line abuts the eastern boundary line of the state of North Dakota (across the Red River). The Red River flows northward along the western boundary line of the county, on its way to the Hudson Bay in Canada. The Buffalo River flows west-northwesterly through the center of the county, joined by the South Branch Buffalo River west of Glyndon, before discharging into the Red on the county's western border near Georgetown. The terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its eastern portion.<ref name="CCM">Clay County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)</ref> The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near the southeastern corner, at Template:Convert ASL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.71%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 19th largest county in Minnesota by total area.

Major highways

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Transit

Adjacent counties

Template:Div col

Norman County - north
Becker County - east
Otter Tail County - southeast
Wilkin County - south
Richland County, North Dakota - southwest
Cass County, North Dakota - west

Template:Div col end

Protected areas

Template:Div col

Aspen State Wildlife Management Area
Bjornson State Wildlife Management Area
Bluestone Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Clay County State Wildlife Management Area
Cromwell State Wildlife Management Area
Felton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Goose Prairie State Wildlife Management Area
Gruhl State Wildlife Management Area
Hawley State Wildlife Management Area
Hay Creek State Wildlife Management Area
Highland State Wildlife Management Area
Hitterdal State Wildlife Management Area
Jeral State Wildlife Management Area
Magnusson State Wildlife Management Area
Skree State Wildlife Management Area
Ulen State Wildlife Management Area
Ulen Wildlife Refuge

Template:Div col end <ref name=CCM/>

Climate and weather

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Moorhead have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in January 1887 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in July 1936, the latter also the highest recorded temperature in the history of Minnesota. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in June.<ref name=WX/>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Clay County was $281,040.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 25,939 estimated households in Clay County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $77,664. Approximately 13.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Clay County has an estimated 70.5% employment rate, with 39.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.0% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

The median age in the county was 34.1 years.

Clay County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)	Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 1990<ref name="Census 1990">Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>
White alone (NH)	48,210 (97.74%)	48,111 (95.42%)	47,330 (92.39%)	53,434 (90.57%)	54,424 (83.32%)
Black or African American alone (NH)	145 (0.29%)	164 (0.33%)	261 (0.51%)	825 (1.40%)	3,141 (4.81%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	202 (0.41%)	537 (1.07%)	688 (1.34%)	744 (1.26%)	1,032 (1.58%)
Asian alone (NH)	171 (0.35%)	394 (0.78%)	439 (0.86%)	836 (1.42%)	764 (1.17%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	—	—	14 (0.03%)	17 (0.03%)	16 (0.02%)
Other race alone (NH)	115 (0.23%)	37 (0.07%)	14 (0.03%)	38 (0.06%)	134 (0.21%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	—	—	611 (1.19%)	1,049 (1.78%)	2,796 (4.28%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	484 (0.98%)	1,179 (2.34%)	1,872 (3.65%)	2,056 (3.48%)	3,011 (4.61%)
Total	49,327 (100.00%)	50,422 (100.00%)	51,229 (100.00%)	58,999 (100.00%)	65,318 (100.00%)

2023 estimate

File:ClayCountyMn2022PopPyr.png

2022 US Census population pyramid for Clay County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the 2023 estimate, there were 66,258 people and 25,939 households residing in the county. There were 27,851 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 87.9% White (84.0% NH White), 5.7% African American, 2.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.1% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2023 estimate, Clay County is the 68th wealthiest county in Minnesota. $53,925 for per capita income.

2020 Census

As of the 2020 census, there were 65,318 people, 24,931 households, and 15,694 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 26,844 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 84.89% White, 4.88% African American, 1.76% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from some other races and 5.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.61% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 58,999 people, 22,279 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 23,959 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 92.69% White, 1.43% African American, 1.36% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from some other races and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.48% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 51,229 people, 18,670 households, and 12,340 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,746 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 93.99% White, 0.52% African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from some other races and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.65% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 40.4% were of Norwegian and 26.8% German.

There were 18,670 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $34,176 versus $23,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,557. About 7.40% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

In national elections, Clay County has been a Democrat-leaning swing county for several decades. From 1992 to 2020, it voted for the winner of the presidential election. Since 1928, the only years in which Clay did not go for the election winner were 1960, 1968, 1988 and 2024. The presence of college town Moorhead and proximity to Fargo, North Dakota makes the county more liberal than others in western Minnesota.

County Board of Commissioners<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
District	Commissioner	Assumed office	Current term ends
1st	Paul Krabbenhoft	2021	January 2029
2nd	Ezra Baer	2025	January 2029
3rd	Jenny Mongeau	2015	January 2027
4th	Kevin Campbell	2003	January 2027
5th	David Ebinger (Board Chair)	2025	January 2029

State Legislature (2023–2025)
Position		Name	Affiliation	District
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Senate	Rob Kupec	DFL	District 4
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	House of Representatives	Heather Keeler	DFL	District 4A
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	House of Representatives	Jim Joy	Republican	District 4B

U.S Congress (2023–2025)
Position		Name	Affiliation	District
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	House of Representatives	Michelle Fischbach<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Republican	7th
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Senate	Amy Klobuchar<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	DFL	N/A
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Senate	Tina Smith<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	DFL	N/A