Clay County, South Dakota

Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 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
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
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
 • Estimate 
(2022)
15,280 Increase
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.claycountysd.org

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 River). The Missouri River flows southeast 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
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
2022 (est.)15,280[8]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 14,967 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 13,864 people, 5,110 households, and 2,628 families in the county. 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). 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. 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.

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.

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.

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".[13]

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.

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Bethel
  • Fairview
  • Garfield
  • Glenwood
  • Meckling
  • Norway
  • Pleasant Valley
  • Prairie Center
  • Riverside
  • Spirit Mound
  • Star
  • Vermillion

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 the Dakotas without a Native American majority to vote Democratic for president.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, South Dakota[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,456 43.10% 3,083 54.11% 159 2.79%
2016 2,109 41.61% 2,608 51.45% 352 6.94%
2012 2,147 41.02% 2,955 56.46% 132 2.52%
2008 2,296 36.78% 3,808 61.01% 138 2.21%
2004 2,692 43.87% 3,315 54.03% 129 2.10%
2000 2,363 46.29% 2,638 51.67% 104 2.04%
1996 2,008 36.04% 2,980 53.48% 584 10.48%
1992 1,869 30.96% 2,826 46.82% 1,341 22.22%
1988 2,307 44.37% 2,859 54.98% 34 0.65%
1984 3,057 52.63% 2,711 46.68% 40 0.69%
1980 3,004 47.56% 2,271 35.96% 1,041 16.48%
1976 2,647 49.93% 2,593 48.92% 61 1.15%
1972 2,518 47.05% 2,821 52.71% 13 0.24%
1968 2,249 51.28% 2,006 45.74% 131 2.99%
1964 1,802 40.95% 2,599 59.05% 0 0.00%
1960 2,772 59.61% 1,878 40.39% 0 0.00%
1956 2,632 57.72% 1,928 42.28% 0 0.00%
1952 3,302 70.05% 1,412 29.95% 0 0.00%
1948 2,228 51.09% 2,080 47.70% 53 1.22%
1944 1,970 52.31% 1,796 47.69% 0 0.00%
1940 2,463 52.08% 2,266 47.92% 0 0.00%
1936 1,692 33.60% 3,070 60.97% 273 5.42%
1932 1,514 32.74% 3,040 65.74% 70 1.51%
1928 2,573 63.42% 1,474 36.33% 10 0.25%
1924 1,415 42.30% 492 14.71% 1,438 42.99%
1920 1,885 61.88% 907 29.78% 254 8.34%
1916 1,000 44.52% 1,207 53.74% 39 1.74%
1912 0 0.00% 929 41.00% 1,337 59.00%
1908 1,291 59.94% 803 37.28% 60 2.79%
1904 1,723 77.40% 361 16.22% 142 6.38%
1900 1,387 56.41% 1,037 42.17% 35 1.42%
1896 1,238 53.36% 1,061 45.73% 21 0.91%
1892 918 53.65% 164 9.59% 629 36.76%

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  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 January 31, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  13. "Clay County, SD Denominational groups". Association of Religion Date Archives (ARDA). 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
  14. Alsen SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
  15. Dalesburg SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
  16. Greenfield SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
  17. Hub City SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
  18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
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