Clay County, West Virginia

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Clay County

| state = West Virginia

| seal = Seal of Clay County, West Virginia.png

| founded date = March 29

| founded year = 1858

| seat wl = Clay

| largest city wl = Clay

| city type = town

| area_total_sq_mi = 344

| area_land_sq_mi = 342

| area_water_sq_mi = 1.9

| area percentage = 0.5%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 8051

| pop_est_as_of = 2021

| population_est = 7892 {{loss}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| web = https://www.claycountywv.us/

| ex image = Clay County Courthouse West Virginia.jpg

| ex image cap = The Old Clay County Courthouse in Clay in 2007

| named for = Henry Clay

| time zone = Eastern

| district = 1st }}

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,051.{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/claycountywestvirginia/PST045221 |access-date=October 20, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} Its county seat is Clay.{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}} The county was founded in 1858 and named in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.{{Cite web |title=Clay County history sources |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/clay.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529153750/http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/clay.html |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2013}} Clay County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|344|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|342|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.9|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_54.txt |access-date=July 23, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240. Clay County was divided into four districts: Buffalo, Henry, Pleasant, and Union. A fifth district, Otter, was created from part of Henry in 1876. Between 1990 and 2000, these districts were consolidated into Districts A, B, and C.United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010. Though it does have access to an interstate highway, the county has no traffic lights or public transportation.{{Cite news |last=Whang |first=Oliver |last2=McGarvey |first2=Maddie |date=September 19, 2022 |title=A Rural Doctor Gave Her All. Then Her Heart Broke. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/health/doctor-burnout-west-virginia.html |access-date=September 19, 2022 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Calhoun County (north)
Braxton County (northeast)
Nicholas County (southeast)
Kanawha County (west)
Roane County (northwest)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1860= 1787

|1870= 2196

|1880= 3460

|1890= 4659

|1900= 8248

|1910= 10233

|1920= 11486

|1930= 13125

|1940= 15206

|1950= 14961

|1960= 11942

|1970= 9330

|1980= 11265

|1990= 9983

|2000= 10330

|2010= 9386

|2020= 8051

|estyear=2021

|estimate=7892

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=October 20, 2022}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=January 9, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790–1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wv190090.txt |access-date=January 9, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=January 9, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010–2020

}}

=2000 census=

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,330 people, 4,020 households, and 2,942 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|30|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 4,836 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.22% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,020 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,120, and the median income for a family was $27,137. Males had a median income of $30,161 versus $16,642 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,021. About 24.40% of families and 27.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.00% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,386 people, 3,728 households, and 2,566 families living in the county.{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024809/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|27.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,572 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13.4|/sqmi}}.{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213161903/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The racial makeup of the county was 98.8% white, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.6% were Irish, 14.7% were English, 13.2% were German, 11.0% were American, and 5.0% were Dutch.{{Cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012455/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Of the 3,728 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 41.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,789 and the median income for a family was $40,634. Males had a median income of $42,269 versus $24,402 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,205. About 22.4% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023539/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54015 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Communities

= Town =

Clay (county seat)

= Unincorporated communities =

Politics

Like most of West Virginia, Clay County was reliably Democratic throughout the 20th century, but it has shifted to being sharply Republican in recent years.

{{PresHead|place=Clay County, West Virginia|source={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=March 27, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

In popular culture

Clay County is also the birthplace of the Golden Delicious Apple. The original tree was found on the Mullins' family farm in Clay County, West Virginia, United States and was locally known as Mullin's Yellow Seedling and Annit apple.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}