Clay County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clay County
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Clay County Courthouse in Celina
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Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
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 Tennessee's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Named for | Henry Clay |
| Seat | Celina |
| Largest city | Celina |
| Area | |
| • Total | 259 sq mi (670 km2) |
| • Land | 237 sq mi (610 km2) |
| • Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 8.8%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,581  |
| • Density | 33/sq mi (13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,581. Its county seat and only incorporated city is Celina. Clay County is named in honor of American statesman Henry Clay, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.
Contents
History
Clay County was formed in 1870 by combining pieces from surrounding Jackson and Overton counties. Secretary of State Cordell Hull's first law office (now a museum) was located in Clay County.
Clay County's early inhabitants farmed and worked the Cumberland River, which was the major method of transportation in the Cumberland area. There were many docks and ferry crossings throughout Clay County to transport local crops and livestock to major markets. The timber industry was a major employer throughout the 1800s and 1900s and provides many jobs today. Tobacco farming became important in the local area throughout the 1900s and many old tobacco barns are still standing. With the end of government subsidies and with foreign competition, tobacco farming is minimal. Cattle, poultry, and corn are the major agricultural influences today. Clay County is one of the top poultry-producing counties in Tennessee.
During the Civil War, many skirmishes took place up and down the Cumberland River to control the movement of barges laden with supplies. Local communities were split in their loyalties, with many families at odds with each other. Some of these animosities remain today between family groups.
The city of Celina is at the junction of the Obey and Cumberland rivers, and it was a major port during the steamboat years between Nashville and Burnside, Kentucky. Although the Celina ferry landing no longer exists, Celina still connects the north and south by highway. Butler's Landing was used as a storage depot with large warehouses owned and operated by the Butler family. The first Clay County Court meeting was held in a store near the river at Butler's Landing on March 6, 1871. Butler's Landing nearly became the county seat, but Celina won the vote by a narrow margin.
Clay County's rural location has restricted development and attraction of business and industry. This has resulted in the county having one of the highest unemployment rates annually in the state of Tennessee. The lack of jobs often results in the loss of educated young people who have limited opportunities locally. SR 52 has been upgraded to a 4-lane divided highway as part of the Corridor J project, which connects to I-40 in Cookeville, and work continues on developing a new industrial park within the Celina city limits. It is hoped this industrial park will help attract more jobs to the county. .
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 259 square miles (670 km2), of which 237 square miles (610 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (8.8%) is water. The Cumberland River flows through the center of the county from north to south, fed by the Obey River which flows through the city of Celina from its impoundment at Dale Hollow Lake, inundates much of the eastern part of the county.
Adjacent counties
- Monroe County, Kentucky (north)
- Cumberland County, Kentucky (northeast)
- Clinton County, Kentucky (northeast)
- Pickett County (east)
- Overton County (southeast)
- Jackson County (south)
- Macon County (west)
State protected areas
- Standing Stone State Forest (part)
Highways
SR 51
SR 52
SR 53
SR 135
SR 292
SR 294
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 6,987 | — | |
| 1890 | 7,260 | 3.9% | |
| 1900 | 8,421 | 16.0% | |
| 1910 | 9,009 | 7.0% | |
| 1920 | 9,193 | 2.0% | |
| 1930 | 9,577 | 4.2% | |
| 1940 | 10,904 | 13.9% | |
| 1950 | 8,701 | −20.2% | |
| 1960 | 7,289 | −16.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,624 | −9.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,676 | 15.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,238 | −5.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,976 | 10.2% | |
| 2010 | 7,861 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 7,581 | −3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 7,202 | 95.0% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 76 | 1.0% |
| Native American | 17 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.07% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 150 | 1.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 130 | 1.71% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,581 people, 3,039 households, and 2,002 families residing in the county.
Communities
City
- Celina (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
- Pea Ridge
Ghost town
- Willow Grove
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Clay (Tennessee) para niños
