Indiana

Clay

26,466
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Clay

Clay, Indiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 1,616. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 26,466.

Its recorded population peaked at 34,285 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 23 percent.

On the ground today, 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202026,466
201026,890
200026,556
199024,705
198024,862
197023,933
196024,207
195023,918
194025,365
193026,479
192029,447
191032,535
190034,285
189030,536
188025,854
187019,084
186012,161
18507,944
18405,567
18301,616
Source

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

Historic places in Clay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay, Indiana.

Poland Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Poland
Brazil Downtown Historic District
Brazil
Meridian-Forest Historic District
Brazil
Tide Water Pumping Station
Coal City
Clay County Courthouse
Brazil
Shakamak State Park Historic District
Jasonville
Aqueduct Bridge
Clay City
US Post Office-Brazil
Brazil
Feeder Dam Bridge
Clay City
Browse all Indianahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Indiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Indiana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Clay County, Indiana

This page charts the census history of Clay County, Indiana. 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, Indiana first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 1,616.
What is the population of Clay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clay had a recorded population of 26,466.
When did Clay's population peak?
Clay's recorded population peaked at 34,285 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Clay?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clay, Indiana.
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