Clay County, Kansas

Clay County (county code CY) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,535.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Clay Center.[2]

Clay County
County
Clay County Courthouse.
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1857
Named forHenry Clay
SeatClay Center
Largest cityClay Center
Area
 • Total656 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land645 sq mi (1,670 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
7,997
 • Density13/sq mi (5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
WebsiteClayCountyKansas.org

History

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic 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.

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 modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 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 for all revenue and judicial purposes. Subsequently, Clay was attached to Geary County. In 1857, Clay was created and named in honor of the famous American statesman Henry Clay,[3] 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 (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to 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-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).[4][5] A pumping station named Riley was built along the pipeline.

Geography
2005 KDOT Map of Clay County (map legend)

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.6%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[7] U.S. Census Bureau[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860163—
18702,9421,704.9%
188012,320318.8%
189016,14631.1%
190015,833−1.9%
191015,251−3.7%
192014,365−5.8%
193014,5561.3%
194013,281−8.8%
195011,697−11.9%
196010,675−8.7%
19709,890−7.4%
19809,802−0.9%
19909,158−6.6%
20008,822−3.7%
20108,535−3.3%
Est. 20187,997[9]−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 8,822 people, 3,617 households, and 2,517 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5/km2). There were 4,084 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.72% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 3,617 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were 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 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
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 75.7% 2,891 17.7% 677 6.6% 252
2012 75.6% 2,788 22.6% 834 1.7% 64
2008 74.0% 2,998 24.9% 1,009 1.2% 47
2004 79.2% 3,174 19.8% 793 1.1% 43
2000 73.3% 2,998 23.3% 951 3.4% 139
1996 66.9% 2,793 23.1% 963 10.1% 421
1992 47.9% 2,198 20.6% 947 31.5% 1,445
1988 72.1% 2,997 26.8% 1,112 1.2% 48
1984 78.8% 3,559 20.3% 919 0.9% 41
1980 73.9% 3,449 20.0% 932 6.1% 286
1976 63.9% 3,085 33.3% 1,610 2.8% 137
1972 78.4% 3,562 19.5% 887 2.0% 93
1968 72.0% 3,335 20.0% 926 8.1% 374
1964 62.2% 3,030 37.1% 1,806 0.8% 37
1960 75.3% 3,937 23.8% 1,246 0.8% 43
1956 80.2% 4,378 18.9% 1,034 0.9% 49
1952 84.9% 5,059 13.9% 831 1.2% 71
1948 65.9% 3,763 31.6% 1,804 2.5% 144
1944 74.0% 4,101 25.1% 1,391 0.9% 49
1940 68.7% 4,699 30.2% 2,067 1.0% 70
1936 50.5% 3,525 49.3% 3,441 0.3% 21
1932 47.3% 3,115 49.9% 3,289 2.8% 187
1928 73.7% 4,457 25.1% 1,515 1.2% 72
1924 62.9% 3,767 23.7% 1,417 13.4% 802
1920 72.7% 3,521 23.8% 1,155 3.5% 168
1916 47.7% 2,692 46.6% 2,632 5.7% 320
1912 22.7% 843 37.0% 1,373 40.4%1,499[lower-alpha 1]
1908 53.0% 1,858 42.6% 1,495 4.4% 155
1904 68.6% 2,262 12.2% 403 19.2% 634
1900 51.5% 2,001 47.0% 1,826 1.6% 61
1896 45.6% 1,655 53.1% 1,929 1.4% 49
1892 43.8% 1,666 56.2% 2,149
1888 50.8% 1,914 24.4% 920 24.8% 934

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

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities
  • Athelstane
  • Bateham
  • Broughton
  • Browndale
  • Exeter
  • Fact
  • Fancy Creek
  • Garfield Center
  • Gatesville
  • Idana
  • Industry
  • Ladysmith
  • Northern (no longer exists)
  • Republican City

Ghost towns

Townships

Clay County is divided into eighteen townships. The city of 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Athelstane029501442 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°10′17″N 97°12′35″W
Blaine070502592 (6)109 (42)1 (0)0.94%39°20′38″N 97°11′11″W
Bloom073251251 (3)122 (47)1 (0)0.53%39°26′29″N 97°16′51″W
Chapman12525Longford2022 (6)93 (36)0 (0)0.09%39°10′21″N 97°19′35″W
Clay Center136503684 (10)98 (38)1 (1)1.46%39°21′30″N 97°6′17″W
Exeter22100811 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.08%39°15′24″N 97°11′36″W
Five Creeks234751592 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0.04%39°21′22″N 97°18′14″W
Garfield255001071 (3)91 (35)0 (0)0.05%39°31′55″N 97°7′5″W
Gill262501402 (5)78 (30)0 (0)0.04%39°10′10″N 97°6′3″W
Goshen27025921 (3)91 (35)0 (0)0%39°31′4″N 97°0′14″W
Grant275001322 (5)74 (29)13 (5)14.83%39°16′12″N 96°59′27″W
Hayes308752062 (6)92 (36)0 (0)0%39°26′9″N 97°5′58″W
Highland31825Green3103 (9)92 (35)0 (0)0.07%39°25′28″N 97°0′1″W
Mulberry49000Clifton (part)3313 (9)97 (38)2 (1)1.99%39°32′19″N 97°16′23″W
Oakland517251101 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°15′30″N 97°20′21″W
Republican59025Wakefield1,02414 (36)73 (28)10 (4)12.46%39°12′7″N 97°0′50″W
Sherman64850Morganville3284 (10)85 (33)1 (0)1.00%39°30′15″N 97°12′42″W
Union720751402 (4)92 (35)0 (0)0.38%39°16′16″N 97°4′53″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

Notable people
See List of people from Clay County, Kansas

Two former Kansas Governors resided in Clay County. George Docking was the 35th Governor, serving from January 14, 1957 until January 9, 1961.[16] William H. Avery was the 37th Governor, from January 11, 1965 until January 9, 1967.[17]

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See also
  • Dry counties

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 83.
  4. Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  16. "To Seek Third Term". The Fort Scott Tribune. May 2, 1970. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  17. "Former Kan. Gov. Avery dies at the age of 98". Associated Press. November 5, 2009.
Notes
  1. This total comprises 1,250 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and 249 for Socialist Eugene Debs.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
County
Historical
Maps
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