Clay

Formed February 20, 1857 (24^th county)

Clay County (8,112), Clay Center (4,195)                

The classic Romanesque looking courthouse was built in 1901 on a square surrounded by 5^th, Court, 6^th, and Lincoln streets.  Kansas State Highway 15 is 6^th Street.  The building was designed by J. C. Holland and Company with a tower on top.  Clay County was founded on February 20, 1857 from Geary County as the 24^th county with Clay Center as the only county seat.  Clay County is named for American Statesman Henry Clay.  The county seat is also named for him as well as its geographical location.  Clay County was the birthplace of 2 Kansas Governors, George Docking and William H. Avery. 

Clay County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Four District Court Judges serve Clay and Riley counties.  The county is in north central Kansas.  Salina, Kansas is southwest and Topeka, Kansas is southeast of the county.  The county center is 4.5 miles Southwest of Clay Center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Washington, Riley, Geary, Dickinson, Ottawa, and Cloud counties. 

The area of the county is 644 square miles.  It is 76 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 47 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 12.6 persons per square mile making it 47 out of 105 in the state.  Clay County has 69.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 24 crosses the county east to west from Riley County to Cloud County.  The Republican River flows through the county.  The county is rectangular.  Clay Center is slightly north and east of center in the county.  Clay Center is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 51.7% of the county population.