Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,752. The county seat is Henrietta. The county was founded in 1857 and later organized in 1860. It is named in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, Kentucky Senator and United States Secretary of State.
Clay County is part of the Wichita Falls, Metropolitan Statistical Area in North Texas.
Several railroads once served Clay County, including the Wichita Falls Railway, one of the properties of Joseph A. Kemp and his brother-in-law Frank Kell, along with twenty-nine other stockholders. The Wichita Falls Railway linked Henrietta with Wichita Falls. Built in 1894-1895, it was sold in 1911 to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as the Katy. The original eighteen miles of track was abandoned in 1970.
The Wichita Falls rancher, oilman, and philanthropist Joseph Sterling Bridwell owned a ranch in Clay County, among his multiple holdings.
Clay County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican James Frank, a businessman from Wichita Falls.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,117 square miles (2,890Â km2), of which 1,089 square miles (2,820Â km2) is land and 28 square miles (73Â km2) (2.5%) is water.
Lake Arrowhead State Park, a 524-acre (212Â ha) development on Lake Arrowhead in Clay County, encompasses 14,390-acre (5,820Â ha) acres. The lakeshore extends 106 miles; the park offers bicycling, birding, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, nature study, picnicking, swimming, and wildlife observation.
Adjacent counties
- Jefferson County, Oklahoma (north)
- Montague County (east)
- Jack County (south)
- Wichita County (west)
- Archer County (west)
- Cotton County, Oklahoma (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,006 people, 4,323 households, and 3,181 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 4,992 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.35% White, 0.42% Black or African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.68% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 3.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,323 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,738, and the median income for a family was $41,514. Males had a median income of $28,914 versus $20,975 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,361. About 8.10% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Major highways
- U.S. Highway 82
- U.S. Highway 287
- State Highway 79
- State Highway 148
Farm to Market Roads
Communities
Cities
- Bellevue
- Byers
- Dean
- Henrietta (county seat)
- Jolly
- Petrolia
Town
- Windthorst (mostly in Archer County)
Unincorporated communities
Politics
See also
- List of museums in North Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Clay County
References
External links
Media related to Clay County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons
- Clay County Official Website
- See historic photos of Clay County from the Clay County Historical Society, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Clay County from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Clay County 1890 Jail Museum-Heritage Center
