Clay County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
. As of the
2020 census, the population was 65,318.
Its
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
is
Moorhead.
Clay County is part of the
Fargo,
ND-MN
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
.
History
The county was formed on March 8, 1862, although its government was not organized at that time. In 1872, the organization was effected. It was named for nineteenth-century political figure
Henry Clay
Henry Clay Sr. (April 12, 1777June 29, 1852) was an American attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He was the seventh House speaker as well as the ninth secretary of state, al ...
, member of the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
from
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
, and
US Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...
. The county was originally called Breckinridge, but soon (in 1862) was changed to Clay.
Geography
Clay County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its western boundary line abuts the eastern boundary line of the state of
North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...
(across the
Red River). The Red River flows northward along the western boundary line of the county, on its way to the
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay ( crj, text=ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, translit=Wînipekw; crl, text=ᐐᓂᐹᒄ, translit=Wînipâkw; iu, text=ᑲᖏᖅᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᐃᓗᐊ, translit=Kangiqsualuk ilua or iu, text=ᑕᓯᐅᔭᕐᔪᐊᖅ, translit=Tasiujarjuaq; french: b ...
in Canada. The
Buffalo River flows west-northwesterly through the center of the county, joined by the South Branch Buffalo River west of
Glyndon, before discharging into the Red on the county's western border near
Georgetown. The terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its eastern portion.
[''Clay County MN'' Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)]
/ref> The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near the southeastern corner, at 1,430' (436m) ASL. The county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.7%) are covered by water.
Major highways
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Adjacent counties
* Norman County - north
* Becker County - east
* Otter Tail County - southeast
* Wilkin County - south
* Richland County, North Dakota
Richland County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,529. Its county seat is Wahpeton.
Richland County is part of the Wahpeton, ND– MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also incl ...
- southwest
* Cass County, North Dakota
Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 184,525. Cass County is the most populous county in North Dakota, accounting for nearly 24% of the state's population. The county ...
- west
Protected areas
* Aspen State Wildlife Management Area
* Bjornson State Wildlife Management Area
* Bluestone Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Clay County State Wildlife Management Area
* Cromwell State Wildlife Management Area
* Felton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Goose Prairie State Wildlife Management Area
* Gruhl State Wildlife Management Area
* Hawley State Wildlife Management Area
* Hay Creek State Wildlife Management Area
* Highland State Wildlife Management Area
* Hitterdal State Wildlife Management Area
* Jeral State Wildlife Management Area
* Magnusson State Wildlife Management Area
* Skree State Wildlife Management Area
* Ulen State Wildlife Management Area
* Ulen Wildlife Refuge
[
]
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Moorhead have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1887 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936, the latter also the highest recorded temperature in the history of Minnesota. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.[
]
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 51,229 people, 18,670 households, and 12,340 families in the county. The population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 49.0/sqmi (18.9/km2). There were 19,746 housing units at an average density of 18.9/sqmi (7.30/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.99% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.52% Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
or African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 1.44% Native American, 0.88% Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 1.67% from other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.47% from two or more races. 3.65% of the population were Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race. 40.4% were of Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
and 26.8% German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
ancestry.
There were 18,670 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.
The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $34,176 versus $23,149 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $17,557. About 7.40% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.
2020 Census
Government and Politics
In national elections, Clay County has been a swing district for several decades. From 1992 to 2020, it has voted for the winner of the presidential election.
Communities
Cities
* Barnesville
* Comstock
* Dilworth
* Felton
* Georgetown
* Glyndon
* Hawley
* Hitterdal
* Moorhead (county seat)
* Sabin
* Ulen
Ulen may refer to:
People
*Thomas Ulen, an American law and economics professor
Places Norway
*Ulen (lake), a lake in the municipality of Lierne in Trøndelag county
United States
*Ulen, Indiana, a town in Center Township, Boone County, Indiana
...
Census-designated places
* Baker
A baker is a tradesperson who bakes and sometimes sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery.
History
Ancient history
Since grains ha ...
* Oakport (part of Moorhead since 2015)
Unincorporated communities
* Dale
* Downer
* Kragnes
* Manitoba Junction
* Muskoda
* Rollag
Rollag is a Municipalities of Norway, municipality in the traditional and electoral district Buskerud in Viken (county), Viken Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Numedal. The admini ...
* Rustad
* Tansem
* Winnipeg Junction
Townships
* Alliance Township
* Barnesville Township
* Cromwell Township
* Eglon Township
* Elkton Township
* Elmwood Township
* Felton Township
* Flowing Township
* Georgetown Township
* Glyndon Township
* Goose Prairie Township
* Hagen Township
* Hawley Township
* Highland Grove Township
* Holy Cross Township
* Humboldt Township
* Keene Township
* Kragnes Township
* Kurtz Township
* Moland Township
* Moorhead Township
* Morken Township
* Oakport Township
* Parke Township
* Riverton Township
* Skree Township
* Spring Prairie Township
* Tansem Township
* Ulen Township
* Viding Township
See also
*
References
External links
Clay County official website
{{Coord, 46.90, -96.49, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990
Minnesota counties
Fargo–Moorhead
1872 establishments in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1872