Clay County, South Dakota

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Clay County
U.S. county
Clay County Courthouse
Clay County Courthouse
Map of South Dakota highlighting Clay County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°55′N 96°58′W / 42.92°N 96.97°W / 42.92; -96.97
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1862
Named forHenry Clay
SeatVermillion
Largest cityVermillion
Area
 • Total417 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Land412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Water5.1 sq mi (13 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,967
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.claycountysd.org

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 14,967.[1] The county seat is Vermillion,[2] which is also home to the University of South Dakota. The county is named for Henry Clay, American statesman, US Senator from Kentucky, and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.[3]

Clay County comprises the Vermillion, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Sioux City-Vermillion, IA-SD-NE Combined Statistical Area.

History[]

The future Clay County area was opened for legal settlement in 1859. In Autumn 1859, Ahira A. Partridge (who would become the first elected sheriff of the county) crossed the Missouri river into the Dakota territory, and became the first white man to settle, on 160 acres of land that now underlies Vermillion.[4] In 1862 the county was formally organized. The Clay County Courthouse was built in 1912.

Clay County is the name of 17 other counties in the United States, most of them named for Henry Clay.

Geography[]

Clay County lies on the south line of South Dakota. The south boundary line of Clay County abuts the north line of the state of Nebraska (across the Missouri RiverJ). The Missouri River flows SE along the south boundary line of Clay County. A small drainage creek flows into the county from Turner County, draining the central and eastern portions of the county and discharging into the river. Smaller drainages move water from the western county areas into the river. In addition to sloping into the drainage through the center of the county, the terrain generally slopes to the south.[5] The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[6]

The county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 412 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (1.2%) is water.[7] It is the smallest county by area in South Dakota.

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

Protected areas[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18702,621—
18805,00190.8%
18907,50950.1%
19009,31624.1%
19108,711−6.5%
19209,65410.8%
193010,0884.5%
19409,592−4.9%
195010,99314.6%
196010,810−1.7%
197012,92319.5%
198013,6895.9%
199013,186−3.7%
200013,5372.7%
201013,8642.4%
202014,9678.0%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 13,537 people, 4,878 households, and 2,721 families in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km2). There were 5,438 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2).

There were 4,878 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.00% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.20% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 18.80% under the age of 18, 31.50% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 15.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 census, there were 13,864 people, 5,110 households, and 2,628 families in the county.[13] The population density was 33.6 inhabitants per square mile (13.0/km2). There were 5,639 housing units at an average density of 13.7 per square mile (5.3/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% white, 3.1% American Indian, 1.7% Asian, 1.3% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 43.9% were German, 16.4% were Norwegian, 15.8% were Irish, 8.7% were English, 5.4% were Swedish, and 1.8% were American.[15]

Of the 5,110 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 48.6% were non-families, and 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 25.0 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,198 and the median income for a family was $61,159. Males had a median income of $37,059 versus $28,016 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,518. About 8.0% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Racial/ethnic makeup[]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.78% White, 1.00% Black or African American, 2.66% Native American, 1.95% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.0% were of German, 15.6% Norwegian, 9.9% Irish and 5.4% English ancestry.

Religion[]

From 2000 Census data, over 50% consider themselves "unclaimed".[17]

Education[]

  • University of South Dakota - In 1862 the territorial legislature located the State University in Vermillion, but nothing was done until 1882 when Clay County voted $10,000 in bonds to construct a building on its campus.[citation needed]

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Irene (partial)
  • Vermillion (county seat)

Town[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

Politics[]

Largely due to the presence of the University of South Dakota, Clay County has consistently voted for Democratic Party candidates for president from 1988 onward, frequently by double digit margins. In 2000, 2016, and 2020, it was the only county in South Dakota without a Native American majority to vote Democratic for president.

Presidential election results

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "2020 Census Results". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 83.
  4. ^ Kingsbury, George (1915). Smith, George (ed.). History of Dakota Territory, Vol. 4. Chicago: S.J. Clarke. pp. 654–657.
  5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed 31 January 2019)". Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  6. ^ Clay County SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  16. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Clay County, SD Denominational groups". Association of Religion Date Archives (ARDA). 2000. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  18. ^ Alsen SD Google Maps (accessed 31 January 2019)
  19. ^ Dalesburg SD Google Maps (accessed 31 January 2019)
  20. ^ Greenfield SD Google Maps (accessed 31 January 2019)
  21. ^ Hub City SD Google Maps (accessed 31 January 2019)
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.

External links[]

Coordinates: 42°55′N 96°58′W / 42.92°N 96.97°W / 42.92; -96.97

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