Clay County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

U.S. county in Minnesota

Clay County

U.S. county

Former Federal Courthouse and Post Office in Moorhead, Minnesota

Former Federal Courthouse and Post Office in Moorhead, Minnesota

Map of Minnesota highlighting Clay County

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| March 8, 1862 (created)
1872 (organized)[1]
Named for| Henry Clay
Seat| Moorhead
Largest city| Moorhead
Area

• Total| 1,053 sq mi (2,730 km2)
• Land| 1,045 sq mi (2,710 km2)
• Water| 7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  0.7%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 65,318
• Estimate

(2021)

| 65,574
• Density| 62.5/sq mi (24.1/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th
Website| www.claycountymn.gov

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,318.[2] Its county seat is Moorhead.[3]

Clay County is part of the Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Protected areas
* 3 Climate and weather
* 4 Demographics
* 4.1 2000 census
* 4.2 2020 Census
* 5 Government and Politics
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Census-designated places
* 6.3 Unincorporated communities
* 6.4 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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The county was formed on March 8, 1862, although its government was not organized at that time. In 1872, the organization was effected. It was named for nineteenth-century political figure Henry Clay,[4] member of the United States Senate from Kentucky, and US Secretary of State. The county was originally called Breckinridge, but soon (in 1862) was changed to Clay.[5]

## Geography

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File:Clay Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdfSoils of Clay County[6]

Clay County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its western boundary line abuts the eastern boundary line of the state of North Dakota (across the Red River). The Red River flows northward along the western boundary line of the county, on its way to the Hudson Bay in Canada. The Buffalo River flows west-northwesterly through the center of the county, joined by the South Branch Buffalo River west of Glyndon, before discharging into the Red on the county's western border near Georgetown. The terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its eastern portion.[7] The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near the southeastern corner, at 1,430' (436m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 1,053 square miles (2,730 km2), of which 1,045 square miles (2,710 km2) are land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[9]

### Major highways

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* I-94
* US 10
* US 52
* US 75
* File:MN-9.svg MN 9
* File:MN-32.svg MN 32
* MN 34
* File:MN-336 wide.svg MN 336

### Adjacent counties

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* Norman County \- north
* Becker County \- east
* Otter Tail County \- southeast
* Wilkin County \- south
* Richland County, North Dakota \- southwest
* Cass County, North Dakota \- west

### Protected areas

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* Aspen State Wildlife Management Area
* Bjornson State Wildlife Management Area
* Bluestone Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Clay County State Wildlife Management Area
* Cromwell State Wildlife Management Area
* Felton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Goose Prairie State Wildlife Management Area
* Gruhl State Wildlife Management Area
* Hawley State Wildlife Management Area
* Hay Creek State Wildlife Management Area
* Highland State Wildlife Management Area
* Hitterdal State Wildlife Management Area
* Jeral State Wildlife Management Area
* Magnusson State Wildlife Management Area
* Skree State Wildlife Management Area
* Ulen State Wildlife Management Area
* Ulen Wildlife Refuge

[7]

## Climate and weather

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Moorhead, Minnesota

Climate chart (explanation)

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0.7

0.6

1.3

1.4

2.8

3.9

2.8

2.6

2.6

2.2

0.8

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[10]
| Metric conversion

−18

−14

−14

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Moorhead have ranged from a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −48 °F (−44 °C) was recorded in January 1887 and a record high of 114 °F (46 °C) was recorded in July 1936, the latter also the highest recorded temperature in the history of Minnesota. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.64 inches (16 mm) in February to 3.90 inches (99 mm) in June.[10]

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 72| | —
1870| 92| | 27.8%
1880| 5,887| | 6,298.9%
1890| 11,517| | 95.6%
1900| 17,942| | 55.8%
1910| 19,640| | 9.5%
1920| 21,780| | 10.9%
1930| 23,120| | 6.2%
1940| 25,337| | 9.6%
1950| 30,363| | 19.8%
1960| 39,080| | 28.7%
1970| 46,585| | 19.2%
1980| 49,327| | 5.9%
1990| 50,422| | 2.2%
2000| 51,229| | 1.6%
2010| 58,999| | 15.2%
2020| 65,318| | 10.7%
2021 (est.)| 65,574| [11]| 0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

### 2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 51,229 people, 18,670 households, and 12,340 families in the county. The population density was 49.0/sqmi (18.9/km2). There were 19,746 housing units at an average density of 18.9/sqmi (7.30/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.99% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 3.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.4% were of Norwegian and 26.8% German ancestry.

There were 18,670 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $34,176 versus $23,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,557. About 7.40% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

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Clay County Racial Composition[16] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

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White (NH)  | 54,424  | 83.32%
Black or African American (NH)  | 3,141  | 4.8%
Native American (NH)  | 1,032  | 1.6%
Asian (NH)  | 764  | 1.2%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 16  | 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 2,930  | 4.5%
Hispanic or Latino | 3,011  | 4.61%

## Government and Politics

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In national elections, Clay County has been a swing district for several decades. From 1992 to 2020, it has voted for the winner of the presidential election.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Minnesota[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 15,043  | 46.66%  | 16,357  | 50.74% | 839  | 2.60%
2016 | 13,543  | 46.07% | 12,971  | 44.12%  | 2,884  | 9.81%
2012 | 12,920  | 44.73%  | 15,208  | 52.65% | 758  | 2.62%
2008 | 11,978  | 40.94%  | 16,666  | 56.96% | 615  | 2.10%
2004 | 14,365  | 51.79% | 12,989  | 46.83%  | 383  | 1.38%
2000 | 11,712  | 50.14% | 10,128  | 43.36%  | 1,518  | 6.50%
1996 | 8,764  | 41.11%  | 10,476  | 49.14% | 2,079  | 9.75%
1992 | 9,666  | 41.17%  | 9,845  | 41.93% | 3,967  | 16.90%
1988 | 10,380  | 47.82%  | 11,186  | 51.54% | 139  | 0.64%
1984 | 11,565  | 52.62% | 10,294  | 46.84%  | 119  | 0.54%
1980 | 10,447  | 46.41% | 8,940  | 39.72%  | 3,121  | 13.87%
1976 | 10,317  | 47.53%  | 10,876  | 50.10% | 515  | 2.37%
1972 | 11,089  | 54.36% | 9,076  | 44.49%  | 235  | 1.15%
1968 | 7,910  | 47.77%  | 7,987  | 48.23% | 663  | 4.00%
1964 | 6,085  | 37.37%  | 10,161  | 62.39% | 39  | 0.24%
1960 | 8,278  | 53.26% | 7,241  | 46.58%  | 25  | 0.16%
1956 | 6,783  | 52.77% | 6,057  | 47.12%  | 15  | 0.12%
1952 | 7,178  | 58.67% | 5,036  | 41.16%  | 20  | 0.16%
1948 | 4,302  | 38.60%  | 6,624  | 59.43% | 219  | 1.97%
1944 | 4,392  | 45.40%  | 5,230  | 54.06% | 52  | 0.54%
1940 | 4,450  | 41.23%  | 6,295  | 58.32% | 48  | 0.44%
1936 | 2,880  | 29.93%  | 6,282  | 65.29% | 459  | 4.77%
1932 | 2,556  | 29.16%  | 5,938  | 67.75% | 270  | 3.08%
1928 | 5,057  | 61.13% | 3,128  | 37.81%  | 87  | 1.05%
1924 | 3,081  | 44.55%  | 439  | 6.35%  | 3,396  | 49.10%
1920 | 4,943  | 73.00% | 1,335  | 19.72%  | 493  | 7.28%
1916 | 1,549  | 44.79%  | 1,716  | 49.62% | 193  | 5.58%
1912 | 549  | 17.99%  | 942  | 30.87%  | 1,561  | 51.15%
1908 | 1,857  | 58.69% | 1,125  | 35.56%  | 182  | 5.75%
1904 | 2,185  | 78.15% | 388  | 13.88%  | 223  | 7.98%
1900 | 1,903  | 59.45% | 1,165  | 36.39%  | 133  | 4.15%
1896 | 1,594  | 44.38%  | 1,908  | 53.12% | 90  | 2.51%
1892 | 959  | 40.19% | 594  | 24.90%  | 833  | 34.91%

County Board of Commissioners[18] Position  | Name  | District  | Term Ending

|
|
|

| Commissioner  | Jenna Kahly  | District 1  | 2024
| Commissioner  | Frank Gross  | District 2  | 2024
| Commissioner and Vice Chairperson  | Jenny Mongeau  | District 3  | 2022
| Commissioner and Chairperson  | Kevin Campbell  | District 4  | 2022
| Commissioner  | David Ebinger  | District 5  | 2024
State Legislature (2020-2021)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

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| Senate  | Kent Eken[19] | Democratic | District 4
| House of Representatives  | Ben Lien[20] | Democratic | District 4A
| House of Representatives  | Paul Marquart[21] | Democratic | District 4B
U.S Congress (2020-2021)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

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| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach[22] | Republican | 7th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[23] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[24] | Democrat | N/A

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Barnesville
* Comstock
* Dilworth
* Felton
* Georgetown
* Glyndon
* Hawley
* Hitterdal
* Moorhead (county seat)
* Sabin
* Ulen

### Census-designated places

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* Baker
* Oakport (part of Moorhead since 2015)

### Unincorporated communities

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* Dale
* Downer
* Kragnes
* Manitoba Junction
* Muskoda
* Rollag
* Rustad
* Tansem
* Winnipeg Junction

### Townships

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* Alliance Township
* Barnesville Township
* Cromwell Township
* Eglon Township
* Elkton Township
* Elmwood Township
* Felton Township
* Flowing Township
* Georgetown Township
* Glyndon Township
* Goose Prairie Township
* Hagen Township
* Hawley Township
* Highland Grove Township
* Holy Cross Township
* Humboldt Township
* Keene Township
* Kragnes Township
* Kurtz Township
* Moland Township
* Moorhead Township
* Morken Township
* Oakport Township
* Parke Township
* Riverton Township
* Skree Township
* Spring Prairie Township
* Tansem Township
* Ulen Township
* Viding Township

File:USA Clay County, Minnesota age pyramid.svgAge pyramid of county residents based on 2000 US census data

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Minnesota

## References

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1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Clay County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 83.
5. ^ "History of Clay County | Clay County, MN - Official Website".
6. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
7. ^ a b Clay County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
8. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Clay County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
10. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Moorhead MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved March 30, 2022.
12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Minnesota".
17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
18. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Clay County, MN - Official Website". claycountymn.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
19. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
20. ^ "Rep. Ben Lien (04A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
21. ^ "Rep. Paul Marquart (04B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
22. ^ "Representative Michelle Fischbach". fischbach.house.gov. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
23. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
24. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clay County, Minnesota.

* Clay County official website

Places adjacent to Clay County, Minnesota

|  | Norman County |

|
|

|  |
Cass County, North Dakota |

Clay County, Minnesota

| Becker County
|  |
Richland County, North Dakota | Wilkin County | Otter Tail County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Clay County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Moorhead

Cities|

* Barnesville
* Comstock
* Dilworth
* Felton
* Georgetown
* Glyndon
* Hawley
* Hitterdal
* Moorhead
* Sabin
* Ulen

File:Map of Minnesota highlighting Clay County.svgMap of Minnesota highlighting Clay County

Townships|

* Alliance
* Barnesville
* Cromwell
* Eglon
* Elkton
* Elmwood
* Felton
* Flowing
* Georgetown
* Glyndon
* Goose Prairie
* Hagen
* Hawley
* Highland Grove
* Holy Cross
* Humboldt
* Keene
* Kragnes
* Kurtz
* Moland
* Moorhead
* Morken
* Oakport
* Parke
* Riverton
* Skree
* Spring Prairie
* Tansem
* Ulen
* Viding

CDPs|

* Baker
* Oakport

Unincorporated
communities|

* Averill
* Downer
* Finkle
* Kragnes
* Manitoba Junction
* Rollag
* Rustad
* Tansem

Ghost towns|

* Dale
* Muskoda
* Winnipeg Junction

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
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* Colleges and universities
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Society|

* Culture
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Regions|

* Arrowhead
* Boundary Waters
* Buffalo Ridge
* Central
* Coteau des Prairies
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Iron Range
* Minnesota River Valley
* North Shore
* Northwest Angle
* North Woods
* Pipestone
* Red River Valley
* Siouxland
* Southeast
* Twin Cities metropolitan area

Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
* Apple Valley
* Blaine
* Bloomington
* Brooklyn Center
* Brooklyn Park
* Burnsville
* Champlin
* Chanhassen
* Chaska
* Coon Rapids
* Cottage Grove
* Duluth
* Eagan
* Eden Prairie
* Edina
* Elk River
* Fridley
* Inver Grove Heights
* Lakeville
* Mankato
* Maple Grove
* Maplewood
* Minneapolis
* Minnetonka
* Moorhead
* Oakdale
* Owatonna
* Plymouth
* Prior Lake
* Ramsey
* Richfield
* Rochester
* Rosemount
* Roseville
* St. Cloud
* St. Louis Park
* Saint Paul
* Savage
* Shakopee
* Shoreview
* Winona
* White Bear Lake
* Woodbury

Counties|

* Aitkin
* Anoka
* Becker
* Beltrami
* Benton
* Big Stone
* Blue Earth
* Brown
* Carlton
* Carver
* Cass
* Chippewa
* Chisago
* Clay
* Clearwater
* Cook
* Cottonwood
* Crow Wing
* Dakota
* Dodge
* Douglas
* Faribault
* Fillmore
* Freeborn
* Goodhue
* Grant
* Hennepin
* Houston
* Hubbard
* Isanti
* Itasca
* Jackson
* Kanabec
* Kandiyohi
* Kittson
* Koochiching
* Lac qui Parle
* Lake
* Lake of the Woods
* Le Sueur
* Lincoln
* Lyon
* Mahnomen
* Marshall
* Martin
* McLeod
* Meeker
* Mille Lacs
* Morrison
* Mower
* Murray
* Nicollet
* Nobles
* Norman
* Olmsted
* Otter Tail
* Pennington
* Pine
* Pipestone
* Polk
* Pope
* Ramsey
* Red Lake
* Redwood
* Renville
* Rice
* Rock
* Roseau
* Saint Louis
* Scott
* Sherburne
* Sibley
* Stearns
* Steele
* Stevens
* Swift
* Todd
* Traverse
* Wabasha
* Wadena
* Waseca
* Washington
* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

* v
* t
* e

Fargo–Moorhead Metropolitan Area (ND–MN)

Counties|

* Cass
* Clay

Main cities|

* Fargo‡
* Moorhead‡
* West Fargo
* Dilworth

Surrounding
areas|

* Alice
* Amenia
* Argusville
* Arthur
* Ayr
* Barnesville
* Briarwood
* Buffalo
* Casselton
* Comstock
* Davenport
* Enderlin
* Erie
* Felton
* Frontier
* Gardner
* Georgetown
* Grandin
* Glyndon
* Harwood
* Hawley
* Hitterdal
* Horace
* Hunter
* Kindred
* Leonard
* Mapleton
* North River
* Oxbow
* Page
* Prairie Rose
* Sabin
* Tower City
* Reile's Acres
* Ulen
* Wheatland

‡ - county seat

Coordinates: 46°54′N 96°29′W﻿ / ﻿46.90°N 96.49°W﻿ / 46.90; -96.49
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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