Clay County, Nebraska
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 6,104.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Clay Center.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was formed in 1855,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was organized in 1871.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was named for Henry Clay, a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky, who went on to become United States Secretary of State.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the Nebraska license plate system, Clay County is represented by the prefix 30 (it had the 30th-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).
Geography
[edit]According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Major highways
[edit]- File:US 6.svg U.S. Highway 6
- File:N-14.svg Nebraska Highway 14
- File:N-41.svg Nebraska Highway 41
- File:N-74.svg Nebraska Highway 74
Adjacent counties
[edit]- York County – northeast
- Fillmore County – east
- Thayer County – southeast
- Nuckolls County – south
- Webster County – southwest
- Adams County – west
- Hamilton County – north
Protected areas
[edit]- Alberding Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>Alberding Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Bluewing Wildlife Management Area<ref>Bluewing Wildlife Management Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Eckhardt Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>Eckhardt Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Green Wing State Wildlife Management Area<ref>Green Wing State Wildlife Management Area, Schickley NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Hansen Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>Hansen Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Sutton NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Harms Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>Harms Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Hultine Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>Hultine Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Saronville NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Kissinger Basin State Wildlife Management Area<ref>Kissinger Basin State Wildlife Management Area, Fairfield NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Lange Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>Lange Lagoon National Wildlife Mgt Area, Sutton NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Massie Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>Massie Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Meadowlark Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>Meadowlard Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Moger Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>Moger Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Sandpiper Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>Sandpiper Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Saronville NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Schuck Federal Waterfowl Production Area<ref>Schuck Federal Waterfowl Production Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- Smith Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area<ref>Smith Lagoon National Wildlife Management Area, Edgar NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
- White Front Wildlife Management Area<ref>White Front Wildlife Management Area, Clay Center NE Google Maps (accessed 17 January 2019)</ref>
Demographics
[edit]As of the 2000 United States Census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 7,039 people, 2,756 households, and 1,981 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,066 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.57% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.24% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 3.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 49.4% were of German, 7.2% English, 7.2% American, 5.4% Swedish and 5.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 2,756 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.70% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.
The county population contained 27.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,259, and the median income for a family was $39,541. Males had a median income of $28,321 versus $19,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,870. About 8.50% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Clay Center (county seat)
- Edgar
- Fairfield
- Harvard
- Sutton
Villages
[edit]Census-designated place
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]Townships
[edit]- Edgar
- Eldorado
- Fairfield
- Glenvil
- Harvard
- Inland
- Leicester
- Lewis
- Logan
- Lone Tree
- Lynn
- Marshall
- School Creek
- Sheridan
- Spring Ranch
- Sutton
Politics
[edit]Clay County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot