Clay County, West Virginia

Clay County, West Virginia

The Old Clay County Courthouse in Clay in 2007
Map of West Virginia highlighting Clay County
Location in the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded March 29, 1858
Named for Henry Clay
Seat Clay
Largest town Clay
Area
 • Total 344 sq mi (891 km2)
 • Land 342 sq mi (886 km2)
 • Water 1.9 sq mi (5 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 8,910
 • Density 26/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.claycounty.wv.gov

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,386.[1] Its county seat is Clay.[2] The county was founded in 1858 and is 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.[3]

Clay County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 344 square miles (890 km2), of which 342 square miles (890 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4] Major routes include the major roads of Route 04, Route 16, Route 26, Route 36, and Interstate 79. Other major routes include the country routes of route 5 near in Elkhurst, Triplett Ridge, from Clay to Widen, Summer Fork Roane Road, which takes you to Wallback and Grannies Creek in Roane County, and Queen Shoals Road (Queen Road) which starts in the small town of Queen Shoals which is in both Kanawha and Clay County, and ends in Indore, Clay County.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18601,787—
18702,19622.9%
18803,46057.6%
18904,65934.7%
19008,24877.0%
191010,23324.1%
192011,48612.2%
193013,12514.3%
194015,20615.9%
195014,961−1.6%
196011,942−20.2%
19709,330−21.9%
198011,26520.7%
19909,983−11.4%
200010,3303.5%
20109,386−9.1%
Est. 20158,910[5]−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 10,330 people, 4,020 households, and 2,942 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 4,836 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/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 residing in the county.[11] The population density was 27.5 inhabitants per square mile (10.6/km2). There were 4,572 housing units at an average density of 13.4 per square mile (5.2/km2).[12] 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.[11] 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.[13]

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.[11]

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.[14]

Politics

Presidential election results[15]
Year Republican Democrat
2016 76.79% 2,289 18.99% 566
2012 65.31% 1,971 30.85% 931
2008 53.75% 1,755 43.52% 1,421
2004 53.98% 2,198 45.06% 1,835
2000 52.68% 1,887 45.14% 1,617

Communities

Town

Unincorporated Towns and Communities

In popular culture

In the motion picture The Silence of the Lambs, the victim was found in the Elk River in Clay County.

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.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/clay.html
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  5. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  12. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  13. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-11-18.

External links

 Roane County Calhoun County Braxton County
Kanawha County
  Clay County, West Virginia  
Nicholas County

Coordinates: 38°28′N 81°04′W / 38.46°N 81.07°W / 38.46; -81.07

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