Clay County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. 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 is Liberty. The county was organized January 2, 1822, and named in honor of U.S. Representative Henry Clay from Kentucky, later a member of the United States Senate and United States Secretary of State. Clay County contains many of the area's northern suburbs, along with a portion of the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It also owns and operates the Midwest National Air Center in Excelsior Springs.

History

Clay County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. They brought slaves and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee 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, 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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found refuge in Clay County in November 1833 after they were driven from Jackson County, Missouri. 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, were imprisoned for some months in Clay County in the jail at Liberty. In May 2012, the LDS Church built the Kansas City Missouri Temple 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 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 (north)
  • Ray County (east)
  • Jackson County (south)
  • Wyandotte County, Kansas (southwest)
  • Platte County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 253,335. The median age was 37.3 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 78.4% White, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 8.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.4% of the population.

91.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 100,254 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

!Pop 1990

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020

!% 1980

!% 1990

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|-

|White alone (NH)

|4,311,598

|4,448,465

|166,445

|186,611

|style='background: #ffffe6; |193,282

|87.69%

|86.93%

|90.46%

|84.08%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |76.30%

|-

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|510,885

|545,527

|4,794

|11,220

|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,853

|10.39%

|10.66%

|2.61%

|5.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.05%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|12,310

|18,873

|798

|1,015

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,009

|0.25%

|0.37%

|0.43%

|0.46%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%

|-

|Asian alone (NH)

|23,088

|40,087

|2,456

|4,503

|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,059

|0.47%

|0.78%

|1.33%

|2.03%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.39%

|-

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|x

|x

|155

|549

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,004

|x

|x

|0.08%

|0.25%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%

|-

|Other race alone (NH)

|7,152

|2,419

|181

|272

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,012

|0.15%

|0.05%

|0.10%

|0.12%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%

|-

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|x

|x

|2,583

|4,668

|style='background: #ffffe6; |14,266

|x

|x

|1.40%

|2.10%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.63%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|51,653

|61,702

|6,594

|13,101

|style='background: #ffffe6; |18,850

|1.05%

|1.21%

|3.58%

|5.90%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.44%

|-

|Total

|4,916,686

|5,117,073

|184,006

|221,939

|style='background: #ffffe6; |253,335

|100.00%

|100.00%

|100.00%

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

|}

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 221,939 people, 72,558 households, and 50,137 families resided in the county. The population density was . The 93,918 housing units averaged .

The racial makeup 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.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 23.3% were of German, 14.5% American, 11.0% English, 10.8% Irish, and 5.6% Italian ancestry.

Registered voters

Registered voters number 151,042.

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

  • Excelsior Springs 40 School District
  • 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
  • Smithville R-II School District

Elementary-only district:

  • Missouri City 56 School District

Public schools

  • Excelsior Springs School District No. 40 – Excelsior Springs
  • 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 (K–5)
  • Hawthorne 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 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 Elementary School (K–8)
  • North Kansas City School District No. 74 – North Kansas City
  • 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
  • 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) (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
  • Kalos Christian Academy - Kansas City (K–12) - Nondenominational Christian
  • Outreach Christian Early Education Center – Avondale (Pre-K–12) – Nondenominational Christian
  • Oakhill Day School – Gladstone (Pre-K–7) – Nonsectarian – (Special Programs Emphasis)
  • St. Andrew the Apostle Parish School – Gladstone (K–9) – Roman Catholic
  • Northern Hills Christian Academy – Holt (K–9) – Baptist
  • Prairie Church School – Holt (K–6)
  • Covenant Memorial Baptist Day School – Kansas City (K) – Baptist
  • Eagle Heights Christian School – Kansas City (Pre-K–12) – Baptist
  • Faith Academy – Kansas City (Pre-K–12) – Nondenominational Christian
  • Refine KC School - Kansas City (K-12)
  • St. Charles Borromeo School – Kansas City (K–9) – Roman Catholic
  • St. Gabriel Catholic School –Kansas City (K–9) – Roman Catholic
  • St. Patrick School – Kansas City (NS/Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic
  • St. Pius X High Schoo l – Kansas City (9–12) – Roman Catholic
  • Liberty Montessori Center – Liberty (K–1) – Montessori
  • St. James School – Liberty (K–9) – Roman Catholic

Postsecondary

  • Maple Woods :: Metropolitan Community College—Kansas City—A public, two-year Liberal Arts college
  • MCC has a service area that includes all of the county, though only the portions in the Liberty and North Kansas City school districts are in the community college district's in-district taxation zone.
  • William Jewell College – Liberty – A private, four-year Liberal Arts college.

Libraries, archives, museums

Libraries

  • Mid-Continent Public Library
  • North Kansas City Public Library

Archives

  • Clay County Archives

Museums

  • Clay County Museum
  • Jesse James Bank Museum

Communities

Cities and towns

  • Avondale
  • Birmingham
  • Claycomo
  • Excelsior Estates (mostly in Ray County)
  • Excelsior Springs (small part in Ray County)
  • Gladstone
  • Glenaire
  • Holt (partly in Clinton County)
  • Independence (mostly in Jackson County)
  • Kansas City (partly in Jackson and Platte Counties and a small part in Cass County)
  • Kearney
  • Lawson (partly in Ray County)
  • Liberty (county seat)
  • Missouri City
  • Mosby
  • North Kansas City
  • Oaks
  • Oakview
  • Oakwood
  • Oakwood Park
  • Pleasant Valley
  • Prathersville
  • Randolph
  • Smithville (small part in Platte County)
  • Sugar Creek (mostly in Jackson County)

Census-designated place

  • Paradise

Unincorporated communities

  • Arley
  • Chandler
  • Claysville
  • Clevenger
  • Ectonville
  • Miltondale
  • Roosterville
  • Stockdale
  • Winner

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 US census of Clay County.

† County seat<br>†† Partly within adjacent counties

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

!Rank

!Name

!Municipal Type

!Population

|-

| 1

|Kansas City ††

| Home Rule

| 508,090

|-

| 2

|Liberty †

| Special Charter

| 30,167

|-

| 3

|Gladstone

| 3rd Class City

| 27,063

|-

| 4

|Excelsior Springs ††

| 4th Class City

| 10,553

|-

| 5

|Smithville ††

| 4th Class City

| 10,406

|-

| 6

|Kearney

| 4th Class City

| 10,404

|-

| 7

|North Kansas City

| 3rd Class City

| 4,467

|-

| 8

|Pleasant Valley

| 4th Class City

| 2,743

|-

| 9

|Lawson ††

| 4th Class City

| 2,541

|-

| 10

|Claycomo

| Village

| 1,343

|-

| 11

|Glenaire

| 4th Class City

| 539

|-

| 12

|Holt ††

| 4th Class City

| 471

|-

| 13

|Avondale

| 4th Class City

| 436

|-

| 14

|Oakview

| Village

| 366

|-

| 15

|Missouri City

| 4th Class City

| 217

|-

| 16

|Excelsior Estates ††

| 4th Class City

| 209

|-

| 17

|Oakwood

| Village

| 198

|-

| 18

|Birmingham

| Village

| 189

|-

| 19

|Oakwood Park

| Village

| 189

|-

| 20

|Oaks

| Village

| 128

|-

| 21

|Prathersville

| Village

| 121

|-

| 22

|Mosby

| 4th Class City

| 101

|-

| 23

|Paradise

| CDP

| 75

|-

| 24

|Randolph

| 4th Class City

| 57

|}

Notable people

  • Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor
  • Wallace Beery (1885–1949), actor
  • Obediah Summers (1844–1896), formerly enslaved, AME minister, and Civil War veteran; born in Clay County
  • Frank James (1843–1915), outlaw, Confederate States guerrilla, and train robber; born in Clay County
  • Jesse James (1847–1882), outlaw, born in Clay County
  • John Ellis Martineau (1873–1937), Governor of Arkansas from 1927 to 1928, born in Clay County
  • Jesse Sexton (1885–1948), state senator 1936 to 1948

Politics

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 famously won the county by one vote. The county, holding Kansas City, is mainly suburban in culture and remains competitive. In 2016, Donald Trump won the county while Hillary Clinton failed to improve on Barack Obama'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%.

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See also

  • List of counties in Missouri
  • Mormon War (1838)
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Missouri

References

Further reading

  • Woodson, W.H. History of Clay County, Missouri (1920) online
  • Clay County government's website
  • Clay County Economic Development Council website
  • Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Clay County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
  • Missouri Historical Sites