Formed May 27, 1870 (85th county)
Clay County (7,580), Celina (1,420)
The Modern red brick Justice Center was recently purchased to house the county functions. Its year of construction and architect are unknown. It is located on Cordell Hull Drive. Tennessee State Highway 52 is two blocks south of the building. There was an 1874 courthouse also in Celina. The old courthouse is on the city square at Lake, Green, Dow, and Main streets. Dow Street is Tennessee State Highway 52. The structure features a tower and veterans’ memorials. The county was created on May 27, 1870 from parts of Jackson and Overton counties as the 85th county. Butler’s Landing was the first county seat until 1871 when Celina assumed the role. The county is named for United States Secretary of State Henry Clay. Celina is named for the daughter of settler Moses Fisk.
Clay County government consists of a sheriff, a County Mayor, and 10 Commissioners. Four Circuit Court Judges, One Chancery Court Judge, and One General Court Judge serve Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties. Clay County is on the northern border with Kentucky. Nashville, Tennessee is southwest and Chattanooga, Tennessee is southeast of the county. The county center is 3.7 miles West-Northwest of Celina. The county is surrounded clockwise by Kentucky and Pickett, Overton, Jackson, and Macon counties.
The area of the county is 236 square miles. It is 84 out of 95 in the state. It ranks 90 out of 95 in population in the state. It has a density of 32.1 persons per square mile making it 89 out of 95 in the state. Clay County has 18.7% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The county looks like a fat pen point. Celina is located near the center of the county. Celina is the county seat and the largest city since it is the only incorporated city. It is 18.7% of the county population. The county seat is pronounced SE-LIE-NA.
Celina
