Florida

Clay

218,245
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Clay

Clay, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,914. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 218,245.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Timucua Revolt of 1656, Action at Fort Heileman, St. Johns River Union Gunboat Operations 1862–1865, and 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020218,245
2010190,865
2000140,814
1990105,986
198067,052
197032,059
196019,535
195014,323
19406,468
19306,859
19205,621
19106,116
19005,635
18905,154
18802,838
18702,098
18601,914
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Clay

Military engagements that took place in Clay, Florida.

Timucua Revolt of 1656
1656
Action at Fort Heileman
1836
St. Johns River Union Gunboat Operations 1862–1865
1862
Skirmish at Cedar Creek FL
1864
Skirmish at Black Creek
1864

Historic places in Clay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay, Florida.

Gold Head Branch State Park
Keystone Heights
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and Cemetery
Hibernia
Green, Joseph, House
Orange Park
Clark-Chalker House
Middleburg
Middleburg Historic District
Middleburg
Chalker, George A., House
Middleburg
Frisbee, George Randolph, Jr., House
Middleburg
Clay County Courthouse
Green Cove Springs
Haskell-Long House
Middleburg
St. Mary's Church
Green Cove Springs
Methodist Episcopal Church at Black Creek
Middleburg
Browse all Floridahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Clay County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Clay County, Florida. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Clay

When does Clay first appear in the US census?
Clay, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,914.
What is the population of Clay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clay had a recorded population of 218,245.
Were any battles fought in Clay?
5 documented military engagements took place in Clay, including Timucua Revolt of 1656, Action at Fort Heileman, St. Johns River Union Gunboat Operations 1862–1865.
How many historic places are in Clay?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clay, Florida.
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