Clay County, Mississippi

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 18,636.^[1] Its county seat is West Point.^[2] Its name is in honor of American statesman Henry Clay,^[3] member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. J. Wesley Caradine, an African American, was the first state representative for Clay County after it was established in 1871.^[4] The federal government formerly designated Clay County as the West Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, but the county lost that status in 2013.^[5] It is part of the Golden Triangle region of the state.^[6]

Clay County
County
West Point City Hall at West Point Central City Historic District.
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°39′N 88°46′W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1871
Named after	Henry Clay
Seat	West Point
Largest city	West Point
Area
• Total	416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
• Land	410 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Water	5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  1.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,636
• Estimate  (2023)	18,206
• Density	45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.claycountyms.com/index.php/

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 416 square miles (1,080 km²), of which 410 square miles (1,100 km²) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km²) (1.4%) is water.^[7]

Major highways

• U.S. Route 45 Alternate
• Mississippi Highway 25
• Mississippi Highway 46
• Mississippi Highway 47
• Mississippi Highway 50

Adjacent counties

• Chickasaw County (north)
• Monroe County (northeast)
• Lowndes County (southeast)
• Oktibbeha County (south)
• Webster County (west)

National protected area

• Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	17,367		—
1890	18,607		7.1%
1900	19,563		5.1%
1910	20,203		3.3%
1920	17,490		−13.4%
1930	17,931		2.5%
1940	19,030		6.1%
1950	17,757		−6.7%
1960	18,933		6.6%
1970	18,840		−0.5%
1980	21,082		11.9%
1990	21,120		0.2%
2000	21,979		4.1%
2010	20,634		−6.1%
2020	18,636		−9.7%
2023 (est.)	18,206	[8]	−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[13]

2020 census

Clay County Racial Composition^[14]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	7,196	38.61%
Black or African American	10,785	57.87%
Native American	35	0.19%
Asian	57	0.31%
Pacific Islander	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed	376	2.02%
Hispanic or Latino	186	1.0%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,636 people, 7,618 households, and 4,841 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,634 people living in the county. 58.2% were Black or African American, 40.5% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census^[15] of 2000, there were 21,979 people, 8,152 households, and 5,885 families living in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km²). There were 8,810 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.33% Black or African American, 42.82% White, 0.05% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the census^[15] of 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Clay County were African 56.3%, English 35% and Scots-Irish 4.5%.

There were 8,152 households, out of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% were married couples living together, 22.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.80% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,372, and the median income for a family was $35,461. Males had a median income of $30,038 versus $19,473 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,512. About 19.20% of families and 23.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.20% of those under age 18 and 21.90% of those age 65 or over.

Law enforcement

Clay County has a sheriff law enforcement system.

Education

Clay County is within the service area of the East Mississippi Community College system.^[16]

Public schools

• West Point Consolidated School District and West Point High School are in the county.

Communities

City

• West Point (county seat)

Census-designated place

• Pheba

Unincorporated communities

• Abbott
• Cedarbluff
• Hopewell
• Montpelier
• Tibbee
• Una
• Waverly
• White Station

Ghost town

• Palo Alto

Politics

Clay County is a Democratic stronghold, owing to its high African-American population. It last supported a Republican candidate in 1984, when it was narrowly won by Ronald Reagan.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Mississippi^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,017	44.35%	4,960	54.76%	80	0.88%
2020	4,181	41.03%	5,844	57.36%	164	1.61%
2016	4,150	41.49%	5,722	57.20%	131	1.31%
2012	4,291	38.76%	6,712	60.62%	69	0.62%
2008	4,466	40.26%	6,558	59.12%	68	0.61%
2004	4,342	47.50%	4,753	52.00%	46	0.50%
2000	3,570	43.72%	4,515	55.30%	80	0.98%
1996	2,948	38.97%	4,267	56.41%	349	4.61%
1992	3,297	38.50%	4,620	53.95%	646	7.54%
1988	3,645	48.26%	3,849	50.96%	59	0.78%
1984	4,112	50.23%	4,046	49.42%	29	0.35%
1980	3,439	43.18%	4,275	53.68%	250	3.14%
1976	3,017	44.13%	3,514	51.40%	306	4.48%
1972	4,035	71.39%	1,410	24.95%	207	3.66%
1968	494	8.97%	1,510	27.41%	3,505	63.62%
1964	2,848	92.65%	226	7.35%	0	0.00%
1960	451	19.01%	626	26.39%	1,295	54.60%
1956	410	18.25%	1,225	54.52%	612	27.24%
1952	1,077	46.68%	1,230	53.32%	0	0.00%
1948	22	1.30%	59	3.50%	1,605	95.20%
1944	109	8.60%	1,158	91.40%	0	0.00%
1940	103	7.71%	1,232	92.22%	1	0.07%
1936	32	2.46%	1,271	97.54%	0	0.00%
1932	34	2.42%	1,371	97.44%	2	0.14%
1928	128	8.08%	1,456	91.92%	0	0.00%
1924	82	6.73%	1,136	93.27%	0	0.00%
1920	48	5.84%	771	93.80%	3	0.36%
1916	27	3.14%	832	96.74%	1	0.12%
1912	4	0.60%	628	93.45%	40	5.95%

See also

• Mississippi portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Mississippi