Clay County, Minnesota


Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,318, and was estimated to be 66,848 in 2024, Its county seat is Moorhead.
Clay County is part of the Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Breckenridge County was created on March 18, 1858. Clay County was established on November 2, 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, 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.

Geography

Clay County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its western boundary line abuts the eastern boundary line of the state of North Dakota. 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. The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point near the southeastern corner, at ASL.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the 19th largest county in Minnesota by total area.

Major highways

  • Transit

  • MATBUS
  • Jefferson Lines

    Adjacent counties

  • 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

  • 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

    Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Moorhead have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1887 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936, the latter also the highest recorded temperature in the history of Minnesota. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.

Demographics

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Clay County was $281,040.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 25,939 estimated households in Clay County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $77,664. Approximately 13.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Clay County has an estimated 70.5% employment rate, with 39.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.0% holding a high school diploma.
The median age in the county was 34.1 years.

Racial and ethnic composition

Clay County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
Race / ethnicity Pop. 1980Pop. 1990Pop. 2000Pop. 2010
White alone 48,210
48,111
47,330
53,434
54,424
Black or African American alone 145
164
261
825
3,141
Native American or Alaska Native alone 202
537
688
744
1,032
Asian alone 171
394
439
836
764
Pacific Islander alone ——14
17
16
Other race alone 115
37
14
38
134
Mixed race or multiracial ——611
1,049
2,796
Hispanic or Latino 484
1,179
1,872
2,056
3,011
Total49,327
50,422
51,229
58,999
65,318

2023 estimate

As of the 2023 estimate, there were 66,258 people and 25,939 households residing in the county. There were 27,851 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 87.9% White , 5.7% African American, 2.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.1% of the population.
In the 2023 estimate, Clay County is the 68th wealthiest county in Minnesota. $53,925 for per capita income.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 65,318. The median age was 33.9 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 84.9% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.6% of the population.
74.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.8% lived in rural areas.
There were 24,931 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.2% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 26,844 housing units, of which 7.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.3% were owner-occupied and 33.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 58,999 people, 22,279 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 23,959 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 92.69% White, 1.43% African American, 1.36% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from some other races and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.48% of the population.

2000 census

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

In national elections, Clay County has been a Democrat-leaning swing county for several decades. From 1992 to 2020, it 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. The presence of college town Moorhead and proximity to Fargo, North Dakota makes the county more liberal than others in western Minnesota.
DistrictCommissionerAssumed officeCurrent term ends
1stPaul Krabbenhoft2021January 2029
2ndEzra Baer2025January 2029
3rdJenny Mongeau2015January 2027
4thKevin Campbell2003January 2027
5thDavid Ebinger 2025January 2029