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Clay County, Alabama
2022-10-13 Ashland, Alabama - Clay County Courthouse
Clay County Courthouse in Ashland
Map of Alabama highlighting Clay County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the U.S
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded December 7, 1866
Named for Henry Clay
Seat Ashland
Largest city Lineville
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

606 sq mi (1,570 km²)
604 sq mi (1,564 km²)
2.0 sq mi (5 km²), 0.3
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

14,236
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website https://alabamaclaycounty.com/
Footnotes: *County Number 17 on Alabama Licence Plates

Clay County is a county in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,236.[1] Its county seat is Ashland.[2] Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. It was the last dry county in Alabama with no wet cities within its boundaries, until a vote on March 1, 2016, approved the sale of alcohol in Lineville and Ashland.[3]

History[]

Clay County was established on December 7, 1866, from land taken from Randolph and Talladega counties. Named after the famous statesman Henry Clay,[4] the county seat itself was named after his estate in Lexington, Kentucky called "Ashland". The county was covered with a heavy growth of trees, and a part of the territory was occupied by the Creek Indians. The early pioneers acquired the lands by government entry and the Indian lands by public auction. The families came wholly from Fayette County, Georgia.[5] Clay County was formed for geographic reasons. The citizens of the area had a difficult time reaching the county seat of Wedowee in Randolph County because of the Tallapoosa River to the east. Talladega was difficult to reach because of the intervening mountains. Even today, Clay County is one of only three counties in Alabama to have no U.S. highways in its boundaries. Ashland was a mining center, particularly for graphite.[6]

During the Desert Shield/Storm conflict, Clay County had more soldiers serving per capita than any other county in the United States.[7]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 606 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 604 square miles (1,560 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.3%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

  • Talladega National Forest (part)

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • Alabama 9 State Route 9
  • Alabama 48 State Route 48
  • Alabama 49 State Route 49
  • Alabama 77 State Route 77
  • Alabama 148 State Route 148
  • Alabama 281 State Route 281

Rail[]

  • CSX Transportation
  • Norfolk Southern Railway

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1870 9,560
1880 12,938 35.3%
1890 15,765 21.9%
1900 17,099 8.5%
1910 21,006 22.8%
1920 22,645 7.8%
1930 17,768 −21.5%
1940 16,907 −4.8%
1950 13,929 −17.6%
1960 12,400 −11.0%
1970 12,636 1.9%
1980 13,703 8.4%
1990 13,252 −3.3%
2000 14,254 7.6%
2010 13,932 −2.3%
Est. 2021 14,190 [9] −0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census[]

Clay County racial composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 11,261 79.1%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,942 13.64%
Native American 45 0.32%
Asian 46 0.32%
Pacific Islander 4 0.03%
Other/Mixed 489 3.43%
Hispanic or Latino 449 3.15%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,236 people, 5,198 households, and 3,704 families residing in the county.

2010 census[]

As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 13,932 people, 5,670 households, and 3,978 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 6,776 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.7% White (non-Hispanic), 14.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 2.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census[]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 14,254 people, 5,765 households, and 4,098 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 6,612 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.62% White (non-Hispanic), 19.70% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 4.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,670 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,595, and the median income for a family was $43,392. Males had a median income of $32,382 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,332. About 18.5% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

Clay County contains one public school district. There are approximately 1,800 students in public PK-12 schools in Clay County.[16]

Districts[]

School districts include:[17]

  • Clay County School District

Government[]

Clay County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners: Commissioner Morrison, Commissioner Harris, Commissioner Denny, Commissioner Milstead and Commissioner Burney. Within Clay County are two principal cities, Ashland and Lineville. The mayor of Ashland is Larry J. Fetner who works closely with five community members that run the city government, they are Billy Joe Smith for District 1, Bobbie Steed for District 2 he is also Mayor Pro Tem, Kim M. Cain for District 3, Annette F. Gaither for District 4, Tommy Cantrell for District 5.[18]

The second and smaller of the two cities is Lineville. The mayor is Roy Adamson and is also run by a five-member board. City Council members being as follows: Carolyn Smith for District 1, David Proctor for District 2, Joseph Appleby for District 3, Robert Milstead for District 4 and Johnny Appleby for District 5.[19]

Legislators for the county are Rep. Richard Laird for State of Alabama House, District 37. Sen. Gerald Dial State of Alabama Senate, District 13. The U.S. Representatives are Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), 3rd District, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Sen. Richard Shelby.[20]

Clay County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Jimmy Carter, who won it by a plurality in 1980, even as he narrowly lost the state of Alabama to Ronald Reagan.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Alabama[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,601 80.82% 1,267 18.28% 62 0.89%
2016 5,245 79.18% 1,237 18.67% 142 2.14%
2012 4,817 72.12% 1,777 26.61% 85 1.27%
2008 4,984 73.09% 1,760 25.81% 75 1.10%
2004 4,624 70.32% 1,893 28.79% 59 0.90%
2000 3,719 63.22% 2,045 34.76% 119 2.02%
1996 2,694 48.38% 2,306 41.42% 568 10.20%
1992 2,859 49.68% 2,073 36.02% 823 14.30%
1988 3,496 66.74% 1,602 30.58% 140 2.67%
1984 3,432 68.19% 1,456 28.93% 145 2.88%
1980 2,764 48.09% 2,858 49.73% 125 2.18%
1976 1,883 38.76% 2,946 60.64% 29 0.60%
1972 3,948 88.24% 507 11.33% 19 0.42%
1968 706 14.00% 256 5.08% 4,082 80.93%
1964 2,815 70.13% 0 0.00% 1,199 29.87%
1960 1,548 46.81% 1,743 52.71% 16 0.48%
1956 1,597 48.06% 1,677 50.47% 49 1.47%
1952 1,183 37.39% 1,972 62.33% 9 0.28%
1948 387 25.77% 0 0.00% 1,115 74.23%
1944 741 32.36% 1,535 67.03% 14 0.61%
1940 854 28.25% 2,153 71.22% 16 0.53%
1936 700 23.51% 2,138 71.79% 140 4.70%
1932 931 30.40% 2,103 68.68% 28 0.91%
1928 1,889 65.86% 978 34.10% 1 0.03%
1924 1,017 38.13% 1,597 59.88% 53 1.99%
1920 2,133 49.59% 2,165 50.34% 3 0.07%
1916 677 36.07% 1,196 63.72% 4 0.21%
1912 64 3.03% 1,109 52.46% 941 44.51%
1908 594 39.76% 863 57.76% 37 2.48%
1904 990 41.61% 1,345 56.54% 44 1.85%
1900 1,087 49.23% 990 44.84% 131 5.93%
1896 489 24.94% 1,410 71.90% 62 3.16%
1892 47 2.03% 1,161 50.24% 1,103 47.73%
1888 376 22.68% 1,278 77.08% 4 0.24%



Communities[]

City[]

  • Lineville

Town[]

  • Ashland (county seat)

Census-designated places[]

  • Delta
  • Hollins
  • Millerville

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Brownsville
  • Cleveland Crossroads
  • Corinth
  • Cragford
  • Pinckneyville
  • Springhill

Notable people[]

  • Hugo Black (1886–1971), born in Harlan, served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1937 until 1971
  • Barney Lee Whatley (1885–1979), born on Idaho Rd, best friend and law partner of Hugo Black. Became a prominent Colorado attorney.
  • LaFayette L. Patterson (1888–1987), born near Delta, served three terms in the U.S. Congress from 1928 to 1933
  • Byron Lavoy Cockrell (1935–2007), born in Lineville, rocket scientist and engineer
  • Kenneth F. Ingram (1929-2014), born in Ashland, Judge Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Justice Alabama Supreme Court.
  • Bob Riley (b. 1944), U.S. Congressman and Alabama's 52nd governor, native of Ashland
  • Major General Flem Bowen Donnie Walker Jr. (b. 1964), Deputy Commanding General, US Army Central Command, native of Lineville

Places of interest[]

Clay County is home to parts of Cheaha State Park in the Talladega National Forest and Lake Wedowee on the eastern boundary. Outdoor adventures abound in Clay County and the surrounding area. The Pinhoti Trail system[22] weaves its way through the Talladega National Forest to Mt. Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama. Hikers along the trail may spy some of the local wildlife, including whitetail deer, wild turkey, and the rare bald eagle.

Home of Doc Hilt Trails for Off-Highway Vehicles. On May 5, 2010, Doc Hilt Trails was awarded the distinction of being a National Recreation Trail.[23] One of only two private motorized parks in the nation to ever be awarded the NRT designation.

Clay County has two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hugo Black House (destroyed, but still listed) and the Clay County Courthouse.[24]

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Alabama
  • Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Clay County, Alabama

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/claycountyalabama/PST045221. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Alabama's last dry county legalizes alcohol sales". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/03/02/alabama-last-dry-county-legalizes-alcohol-sales/81212474/. 
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. pp. 83. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  5. ^ History of Clay County, Alabama Ingram, Clanda Garrett 1966
  6. ^ Graphite Deposits of Ashland, Alabama by John Stafford Brown, 1925
  7. ^ Small Town Historic Markers, Alabama Tourism Department, http://www.alabama.travel/homecoming/, retrieved February 2, 2011 
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_01.txt. 
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/al190090.txt. 
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US01027&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  15. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  16. ^ "Search for Public School Districts - Clay County, AL". Institute of Education Sciences. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&State=01&County=Clay+County. 
  17. ^ "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Clay County, AL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st01_al/schooldistrict_maps/c01027_clay/DC20SD_C01027.pdf.  Text list.
  18. ^ "City of Ashland, AL" (in en). https://www.cityofashlandal.com/city-council. 
  19. ^ "Welcome to Lineville" (in en). https://www.cityoflinevilleal.com/. 
  20. ^ "Alabama Members of Congress | ALSHRM State Council" (in en). https://al.shrm.org/alabama-members-congress. 
  21. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 
  22. ^ "The Pinhoti Trail - Alabama & Georgia". PureBound.com. 2012. http://purebound.com/trails/pinhoti/. 
  23. ^ "National Recreation Trail Database". AmericanTrails.org. 2012. http://www.americantrails.org/NRTDatabase/trailDetail.php?recordID=3599. 
  24. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 

Coordinates: 33°16′20″N 85°51′40″W / 33.27222, -85.86111

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Clay County, Alabama. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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