Clay County is located 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 sove ...
of
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
and is part of the
Kansas City metropolitan area
The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more th ...
. As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 253,335, making it the fifth-most populous county in Missouri. 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
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
.
The county was organized January 2, 1822, and named in honor of
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
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 ...
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 ...
, later a 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 ...
and
United States 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 ...
.
Clay County contains many of the area's northern
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
s, along with a substantial portion of the city of
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...
. It also owns and operates the Midwest National Air Center in
Excelsior Springs
Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 10,553 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Missour ...
.
History
Clay County was settled primarily from migrants from the
Upper South
The Upland South and Upper South are two overlapping cultural and geographic subregions in the inland part of the Southern and lower Midwestern United States. They differ from the Deep South and Atlantic coastal plain by terrain, history, econom ...
ern states of
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 ...
,
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
, and
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. They brought
enslaved persons and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the U.S. state of Tennessee that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties. Middle Tennessee contains the ...
and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Clay was one of several counties settled mostly by Southerners to the north and south of the
Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as
Little Dixie. In 1860, enslaved persons made up 25% or more of the county's population.
The 1828 execution of
Annice Annice is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
* Annice (slave) (died 1828), first female slave executed in Missouri
* Annice Sidwells (1902–2001), English singer
* Annice M. Wagner
Annice M. Wagner (born September 9, 1937) is ...
, a slave owned by Jeremiah Prior, was the first to occur in Clay County. She was also the first female slave executed in the state of Missouri.
Many members of the
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Jo ...
found refuge in Clay County in November 1833. In 1836, mobs and the Missouri State militia viciously drove the members of the church from the county. Leaders of this church, most notably
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he ...
, were imprisoned for some months in Clay County in the
jail at Liberty. In May 2012, the LDS Church opened a
Kansas City Missouri Temple
The Kansas City Missouri Temple is the 137th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is the first to be built in the Greater Kansas City area. Previous attempts at building a temple in the area failed ...
six miles southwest of the Liberty Jail site at 7001 Searcy Creek Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.8%) is covered by water.
It is the fourth-smallest county in Missouri by area.
Adjacent counties
*
Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States:
**Clinton County, New York
** Clinton County, Ohio
*Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...
(north)
*
Ray County (east)
*
Jackson County (south)
*
Wyandotte County, Kansas
Wyandotte County (; county code WY) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,245, making it Kansas's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City, with which ...
(southwest)
*
Platte County (west)
Major highways
*
Interstate 29
Interstate 29 (I-29) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with I-35 and I-70, to the Canada–US border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba ...
*
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...
*
Interstate 435
Interstate 435 (I-435) is an Interstate Highway beltway that encircles much of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the states of Kansas and Missouri in the United States.
Route description
I-435, a loop route of I-35, is long and i ...
*
U.S. Route 69
*
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 or U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) is a major north–south United States highway that extends for over 1500 miles (2500 km) in the central United States. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstat ...
*
U.S. Route 169
U.S. Route 169 (US 169) is a north-south U.S highway that currently runs for 966 miles (1,555 km) from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at Memorial Drive.
Route description
Oklahoma
US 169 is a major north–south ...
*
Route 1
*
Route 9
*
Route 10
*
Route 33
*
Route 92
*
Route 152
*
Route 210
Route 210 or Highway 210 may refer to:
Brazil
* BR-210
Canada
* Manitoba Provincial Road 210
* Newfoundland and Labrador Route 210
* Nova Scotia Route 210
* Prince Edward Island Route 210
* Quebec Route 210
* Saskatchewan Highway 210
China
* C ...
*
Route 291
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, 221,939 people, 72,558 households, and 50,137 families resided 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 558 people per square mile (216/km
2). The 93,918 housing units averaged 236 per square mile (91/km
2). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the county was 87.46% White, 5.18% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.05% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. About 5.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, 23.3% were of
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
**Ge ...
, 14.5% American, 11.0%
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, 10.8%
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
, and 5.6%
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
ancestry.
Of the 72,558 households, 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were
married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were not families. About 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was distributed as 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.
In 2015 the median income for a household in Clay County was $62,099. The income per capita in Clay county was $29,793.
In 2010 the median income for a household in the county was $48,347, and for a family was $56,772. Males had a median income of $40,148 versus $27,681 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 $23,144. About 3.80% of families and 5.50% 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 6.40% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.
Registered voters number 151,042.
2020 Census
Education
School districts include:
K-12:
*
Excelsior Springs 40 School District
Excelsior, a Latin comparative word often translated as "ever upward" or "even higher", may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Literature and poetry
* Excelsior (Longfellow), "Excelsior" (Longfellow), an 1841 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
* ...
*
Kearney R-I School District
*
Lawson R-XIV School District
*
Liberty 53 School District
*
North Kansas City 74 School District
*
Platte County R-III School District
*
Clinton County R-III School District
Clinton is an English toponymic surname, indicating one's ancestors came from English places called Glympton or Glinton.Hanks, P. & Hodges, F. ''A Dictionary of Surnames''. Oxford University Press, 1988 Clinton has frequently been used as a given ...
*
Smithville R-II School District
Elementary-only district:
*
Missouri City 56 School District
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
Public schools
Excelsior Springs School District No. 40–
Excelsior Springs
Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 10,553 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Missour ...
**Lewis Elementary School (PK–5)
**Cornerstone Elementary School (K–5)
**Elkhorn Elementary School (K-5)
**Excelsior Springs Middle School (6–8)
**Excelsior Springs High School (9–12)
**Excelsior Springs Technical High School (12) – Alternative/Technical School
Kearney R-I School District–
Kearney
**Dogwood Elementary School (PreK–5)
**Hawthorne Elementary School (K–5)
**Holt Elementary School (K–5)
**Kearney Elementary School (K–5)
**Southview Elementary School (K–5)
**Kearney Middle School (6–7)
**Kearney Junior High School (8–9)
**Kearney High School (10–12)
Liberty School District No. 53–
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
**Liberty Early Childhood Education Center (PreK)
**Alexander Doniphan Elementary School (K–5)
**Franklin Elementary School (K–5)
**Kellybrook Elementary School (K–5) –
Kansas City
**Lewis & Clark Elementary School (K–5)
**Liberty Oaks Elementary School (K–5) –
Kansas City
**Lillian Schumacher Elementary School (K–5)
**Manor Hill Elementary School (K–5)
**Ridgeview Elementary School (K–5)
**Shoal Creek Elementary School (K–5)
**Warren Hills Elementary School (K–5)
**Liberty Middle School (6–8)
**South Valley Middle School (6–8)
**Heritage Middle School (6–8)
**Discovery Middle School (6–8)
**
Liberty High School (9–12)
**
Liberty North High School (9–12)
Missouri City School District No. 56–
Missouri City
Missouri City is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, Texas, Fort Bend County, with a small portion in Harris County, Texas, Harris County. As of the 2020 census, the c ...
**Missouri City Elementary School (K–8)
North Kansas City School District No. 74–
North Kansas City
North Kansas City is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. It is also enclaved in Kansas City. Even though the name is similar to its larger counterpart, Kansas City, it is an independent municipality part of the Kansas City metropo ...
**Bell Prairie Elementary School (K–5)
**Briarcliff Elementary School (K–5)
**Chapel Hill Elementary School (K–5)
**Chouteu Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
**Clardy Elementary School (2–5)
**Crestview Elementary School (K–5)
**Davidson Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
**Fox Hill Elementary School (K–5)
**Gashland Elementary School (K–1)
**Gracemor Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
**Lakewood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
**Linden West Elementary School (K–5) –
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
**Maplewood Elementary School (K–5)
**Meadowbrook Elementary School (K–5)
**Nashua Elementary School (K–5)
**Northview Elementary School (K–5)
**Oakwood Manor Elementary School (K–5)
**Ravenwood Elementary School (K–5)
**Rising Hill Elementary School (K-5)
**Topping Elementary School (K–5)
**West Englewood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
**Winnwood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
**Antioch Middle School (6–8)
**Eastgate 6th Grade Center (6)
**Gateway 6th Grade Center (6)
**Maple Park Middle School (6–8)
**New Mark Middle School (6–8)
**Northgate Middle School (6–8)
**
North Kansas City High School (9–12)
**
Oak Park High School (Kansas City)
Oak Park High School is a high school in the North Kansas City School District in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The student body is composed of ninth through twelfth grade students, with a 2017 enrollment of 1,549. The school's mascot is ...
(9–12)
**
Staley High School (9–12)
**
Winnetonka High School (9–12)
Smithville R-II School District–
Smithville
**Smithville Maple Elementary School (Pre-K–6)
**Smithville Horizon Elementary School (Pre-K-6)
**Smithville Eagle Heights Elementary School (Pre-K-6)
**Smithville Middle School (7–8)
**
Smithville High School (9–12)
Private schools
*Northland Christian School -
Kansas City (Preschool-12) - Independent Christian
*Outreach Christian Early Education Center –
Avondale (Pre-K–12) –
Nondenominational Christian
Nondenominational Christianity (or non-denominational Christianity) consists of churches which typically distance themselves from the confessionalism or creedalism of other Christian communities by not formally aligning with a specific Christian d ...
*Oakhill Day School –
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
(Pre-K–7) – Nonsectarian – (Special Programs Emphasis)
*St. Andrew the Apostle Parish School –
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
(K–9) –
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
*Northern Hills Christian Academy –
Holt (K–9) –
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
*Prairie Church School –
Holt (K–6)
*Covenant Memorial Baptist Day School –
Kansas City (K) –
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
*Eagle Heights Christian School –
Kansas City (Pre-K–12) –
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
*Faith Academy –
Kansas City (Pre-K–12) –
Nondenominational Christian
Nondenominational Christianity (or non-denominational Christianity) consists of churches which typically distance themselves from the confessionalism or creedalism of other Christian communities by not formally aligning with a specific Christian d ...
*St. Charles Borromeo School –
Kansas City (K–9) –
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
*St. Gabriel Catholic School –
Kansas City (K–9) –
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
*St. Patrick School –
Kansas City (NS/Pre-K–8) –
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
*St. Pius X High School –
Kansas City (9–12) –
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
*Liberty Montessori Center –
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
(K–1) –
Montessori
The Montessori method of education involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes indepen ...
*St. James School –
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
(K–9) –
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
Postsecondary
*Maple Woods :: Metropolitan Community College—Kansas City—A public, two-year Liberal Arts college
*
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private liberal arts college in Liberty, Missouri. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and endowed with $10,000 by William Jewell. It was associated with the Missouri Baptist Conventi ...
–
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
– A private, four-year Liberal Arts college.
Libraries, archives, museums
Libraries
*
Mid-Continent Public Library
Mid-Continent Public Library, officially known as Consolidated Library District #3, is a consolidated public library system serving Clay, Platte, and Jackson Counties in Missouri, with headquarters in Independence, Missouri.
Mid-Continent Publ ...
*North Kansas City Public Library
Archives
*Clay County Archives
Museums
*Clay County Museum
*Jesse James Bank Museum
Politics
Local
The three-person Clay County Commission oversees the issues of Clay County. The current makeup of the commissioners is two Republicans and one Democrat.
State
Clay County is divided into eight legislative districts in the
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 37,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections ...
, five of which are held by Republicans and three by Democrats.
*District 8 —
Randy Railsback
Randy Railsback is an American politician serving as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 8th district. Elected in November 2020, he assumed office on January 5, 2021.
Early life and education
Railsback was born in St. ...
(R—
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
) — Consists of Holt and Lawson.
*District 12 —
Josh Hurlbert (R—
Smithville) — consists of Smithville, a part of Kansas City, and a part of Kearney.
*District 14 —
Ashley Aune
Ashley Aune is an American business owner and politician. She currently serves as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing the 14th district in the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri.
Missouri House of Representatives
...
(D-
Kansas City) — consists of a small part of Kansas City.
*District 15 —
Maggie Nurrenbern (D—
Kansas City) — consists of Gladstone, Oaks, Oakview, Oakwood, Oakwood Park, and a part of Kansas City.
*District 16 —
Chris Brown
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to '' Billboard'', Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contempo ...
(R—
Kansas City) — consists of a part of Kansas City.
*District 17 â€
Mark Ellebracht(D—
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
) — consists of the communities of Birmingham, Claycomo, Glenaire, a part of Kansas City, and a part of Liberty.
*District 18 —
Wes Rogers (D—
Kansas City) — consists of the communities of Avondale, part of Kansas City, and North Kansas City.
*District 38 —
Doug Richey (R—
Excelsior Springs
Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 10,553 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Missour ...
) — consists of Excelsior Springs, part of Kansas City, part of Kearney, part of Liberty, Missouri City, Mosby, and Prathersville.
Clay County is divided into two districts in the
Missouri Senate
The Missouri Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 174,000. Its members serve four-year terms, with half the seats being up for election every two ye ...
, both of which are held by Republicans.
*District 12 â€
Dan Hegeman(R-
Cosby) -- consists of the communities of Excelsior Springs, Holt, Kearney, Lawson, Missouri City, Mosby, Prathersville, and Smithville.
*District 17 –
Lauren Arthur (D-
Kansas City) - consists of the communities of Avondale, Birmingham, Claycomo, Gladstone, Glenaire, Liberty, North Kansas City, Oaks, Oakview, Oakwood, Oakwood Park, Pleasant Valley, Randolph, Sugar Creek, and a part of Kansas City.
Federal
Clay County is split between the
5th and
6th congressional districts of Missouri. The southern 30% of the county is represented by
Emanuel Cleaver (D-
Kansas City).
The northern 70% of the county is represented by
Sam Graves
Samuel Bruce Graves Jr. (born November 7, 1963) is an American politician serving as the United States representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches across most of the northern third of t ...
(R-
Tarkio).
Clay County, like the rest of Missouri, has swung to the
Republican Party in the 21st century, though the margins have been very close. In 2000,
Al Gore
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Gore was the Democratic Part ...
famously won the county by one vote. The margins in favor of Republicans have only deepened as the social liberalism of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
has cost them votes in white, rural states such as Missouri—though the county, holding Kansas City, is mainly suburban in culture and remains competitive. In 2016,
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
won the county while
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
failed to improve on
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
's percentages with only 41% of the vote. Joe Biden, however, did improve on those margins, winning nearly 47% of the vote in 2020; Trump still carried the county by 4%.
Communities
Cities and towns
*
Avondale
*
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
*
Claycomo
*
Excelsior Estates (mostly in
Ray County)
*
Excelsior Springs
Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 10,553 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Missour ...
(small part in
Ray County)
*
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...
*
Glenaire
*
Holt (partly in
Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States:
**Clinton County, New York
** Clinton County, Ohio
*Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...
)
*
Kansas City (partly in
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
and
Platte Counties and a small part in
Cass County)
*
Kearney
*
Lawson (partly in
Ray County)
*
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
(county seat)
*
Missouri City
Missouri City is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, Texas, Fort Bend County, with a small portion in Harris County, Texas, Harris County. As of the 2020 census, the c ...
*
Mosby
*
North Kansas City
North Kansas City is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. It is also enclaved in Kansas City. Even though the name is similar to its larger counterpart, Kansas City, it is an independent municipality part of the Kansas City metropo ...
*
Oaks
*
Oakview
*
Oakwood
*
Oakwood Park
*
Pleasant Valley
*
Prathersville
*
Randolph
*
Smithville (small part in
Platte County)
*
Sugar Creek
Unincorporated communities
*
Arley Arley may refer to:
Places England
* Arley, Cheshire, a village
** Arley Hall, Cheshire
* Arley, Warwickshire, a village
* Upper Arley
Upper Arley () is a village and civil parish near Kidderminster in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershi ...
*
Chandler
*
Claysville
Claysville is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area since 1950. The population was 728 at the 2020 census. Claysville Elementary School, part of the McGuffey School District is lo ...
*
Clevenger
*
Ectonville
*
Miltondale
*
Roosterville
*
Stockdale
*
Winner
Winner(s) or The Winner(s) may refer to:
* Champion, the victor in a game or contest
*The successful social class in winner and loser culture
Film
* ''The Winner'' (1926 film), an American silent film starring Billy Sullivan
* ''The Winner'' ...
Notable people
*
Frank James
Alexander Franklin James (January 10, 1843 – February 18, 1915) was a Confederate soldier and guerrilla; in the post-Civil War period, he was an outlaw. The older brother of outlaw Jesse James, Frank was also part of the James–Younger ...
, born in Clay County in 1843
*
Jesse James, born in Clay County in 1847
*
John Ellis Martineau
John Ellis Martineau (December 2, 1873 – March 6, 1937) was the 28th governor of Arkansas and was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. His term as Governor was marked by the G ...
,
Governor of Arkansas
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1927–1928), born in Clay County in 1873
*
Noah Beery, Sr.
Noah Nicholas Beery (January 17, 1882 – April 1, 1946) was an American actor who appeared in films from 1913 until his death in 1946. He was the older brother of Academy Award-winning actor Wallace Beery as well as the father of prominen ...
, actor
*
Wallace Beery
Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in '' Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in '' Grand Hotel'' ( ...
, actor
See also
*
List of counties in Missouri
There are 114 counties and one independent city in the U.S. State of Missouri. Following the Louisiana Purchase and the admittance of Louisiana into the United States in 1812, five counties were formed out of the Missouri Territory at the first ...
*
Mormon War (1838)
*
References
Further reading
* Woodson, W.H. ''History of Clay County, Missouri'' (1920
online
External links
Clay County government's websiteClay County Economic Development Council website from
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...
Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
Missouri Historical Sites
{{authority control
Little Dixie (Missouri)
Missouri counties
1822 establishments in Missouri
Populated places established in 1822
Missouri counties on the Missouri River