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Clay County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 46°54′N 96°29′W / 46.90°N 96.49°W / 46.90; -96.49
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Clay County
County
Clay County Courthouse
Clay County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Clay County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°54′N 96°29′W / 46.9°N 96.49°W / 46.9; -96.49
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 8, 1862 (created)
1872 (organized)[1]
Named forHenry Clay
SeatMoorhead
Largest cityMoorhead
Area
 • Total
1,053 sq mi (2,730 km2)
 • Land1,045 sq mi (2,710 km2)
 • Water7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
65,318
 • Estimate 
(2023)
66,258 Increase
 • Density62/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.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.

History

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Clay County was established in 1860 as Breckinridge County, and named for John C. Breckinridge, vice president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. After the Civil War began, Breckinridge joined the Confederate Army and in March 1862 the state Legislature replaced the name of Breckinridge with that of Henry Clay (1777–1852), who like Breckinridge was from Lexington, Ky., and was known "The Great Pacificator" or "The Great Compromiser" who helped head off civil war at least twice. The county's government was not organized until 1872, after the Northern Pacific Railway reached the area and settlement accelerated.[4]

Geography

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Soils of Clay County[5]

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.[6] The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near the southeastern corner, at 1,430 ft (440 m) ASL.[7] 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.[8]

Major highways

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Transit

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Adjacent counties

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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

[6]

Climate and weather

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Moorhead, Minnesota
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
0.7
 
 
18
0
 
 
0.6
 
 
24
6
 
 
1.3
 
 
36
19
 
 
1.4
 
 
56
33
 
 
2.8
 
 
69
45
 
 
3.9
 
 
77
55
 
 
2.8
 
 
82
60
 
 
2.6
 
 
81
57
 
 
2.6
 
 
71
47
 
 
2.2
 
 
56
35
 
 
1
 
 
37
20
 
 
0.8
 
 
22
6
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[9]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
18
 
 
−8
−18
 
 
16
 
 
−4
−14
 
 
33
 
 
2
−7
 
 
35
 
 
13
1
 
 
71
 
 
21
7
 
 
99
 
 
25
13
 
 
71
 
 
28
16
 
 
65
 
 
27
14
 
 
65
 
 
22
8
 
 
55
 
 
13
2
 
 
25
 
 
3
−7
 
 
21
 
 
−6
−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.[9]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186072—
18709227.8%
18805,8876,298.9%
189011,51795.6%
190017,94255.8%
191019,6409.5%
192021,78010.9%
193023,1206.2%
194025,3379.6%
195030,36319.8%
196039,08028.7%
197046,58519.2%
198049,3275.9%
199050,4222.2%
200051,2291.6%
201058,99915.2%
202065,31810.7%
2023 (est.)66,258[10]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census

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Clay County Racial Composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
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%

2000 census

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2022 US Census population pyramid for Clay County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 51,229 people, 18,670 households, and 12,340 families in the county. The population density was 49.0 per square mile (18.9/km2). There were 19,746 housing units at an average density of 18.9 per square mile (7.3/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.

Government and politics

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In national elections, Clay County has been a swing county for several decades. From 1992 to 2020, it has voted for the winner of the presidential election. Since 1928, the only years in which Clay did not go for the election winner were 1960, 1968, 1988 and 2024.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Minnesota[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 15,963 48.86% 16,122 49.34% 589 1.80%
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[17]
Position Name District Term Ending
Commissioner Paul Krabbenhoft District 1 2024
Commissioner Frank Gross District 2 2024
Commissioner Jenny Mongeau District 3 2026
Commissioner Kevin Campbell District 4 2026
Commissioner David Ebinger District 5 2024
State Legislature (2023–2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Rob Kupec Democratic District 4
  House of Representatives Heather Keeler Democratic District 4A
  House of Representatives Jim Joy Republican District 4B
U.S Congress (2023–2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach[18] Republican 7th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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See also

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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 April 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "History of Clay County | Clay County, MN - Official Website".
  5. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  6. ^ a b Clay County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Clay County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Moorhead MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Minnesota".
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  17. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Clay County, MN - Official Website". claycountymn.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "Representative Michelle Fischbach". fischbach.house.gov. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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