Clay

Formed January 12, 1825 (52^nd county)

Clay County (26,457), Brazil (8,179)

The masonry Neo-Classical courthouse, on a square at National, Harrison, Jackson, and Alabama streets, was built in 1912.  National Avenue is United States Highway 40 in the town.  J. W. Gaddis is the courthouse designer.  A Justice Center was added in 2006.  The courthouse features a dome and columns.  The grounds have veteran memorials and a static airplane.  The county was created on January 12, 1825 as the 52^nd county and named for American statesman Henry Clay.  Clay County was the birthplace of 1 Indiana Governor, George N. Craig.  The county was taken from parts of Owen, Sullivan, Vigo, and Putnam counties.  Bowling Green was the original county seat until 1876 when it moved to Brazil.  Bowling Green had 1828 and 1853 courthouses.  Brazil had an 1876 courthouse.  The county seat is named for the South American country. 

Clay County government consists of a sheriff, an auditor, a clerk, a coroner, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive).  It has 7 Council Members (legislative.)  A Circuit Court Judge, a Superior Court Judge, and a prosecutor serve Clay County (judicial.) The county is located in western Indiana immediately to the east of Terre Haute, Indiana.  Indianapolis, Indiana is northeast of the county.  The county center is 11.7 miles South of Brazil nearer Saline City.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Parke, Putnam, Owen, Greene, Sullivan, and Vigo counties. 

The area of the county is 358 square miles.  It is 70 out of 92 in the state.  It ranks 60 out of 92 in population in the state.  It has a density of 73.9 persons per square mile making it 55 out of 92 in the state.  Clay County has 43.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 70 crosses the county east to west from Putnam County to Vigo County.  United States Highway 40 parallels Interstate Highway 70 from Putnam to Vigo counties.  The county is a cross with its western arm missing.  Brazil is located in the northern quarter of the county.  Brazil is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 30.9% of the county population.  This county is in the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Staunton