Mississippi

Clay

18,636
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Clay

Clay, Mississippi, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 17,367. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 18,636.

Its recorded population peaked at 21,979 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 15 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them West Point, Mississippi — Skirmish (Sooy Smith Expedition), Battle of Okolona – West Point Engagement, and 29 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202018,636
201020,634
200021,979
199021,120
198021,082
197018,840
196018,933
195017,757
194019,030
193017,931
192017,490
191020,203
190019,563
189018,607
188017,367
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, Mississippi.

West Point, Mississippi — Skirmish (Sooy Smith Expedition)
1864
Battle of Okolona – West Point Engagement
1864

Historic places in Clay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay, Mississippi.

Town of Palo Alto
Palo Alto
Clay County Agricultural High School
Pheba
Waverley
West Point
Tibbee School
West Point
Montpelier Historic District
Montpelier
Browse all Mississippihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Mississippi

Explore census history and historic records for more Mississippi counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Clay County, Mississippi

This page charts the census history of Clay County, Mississippi. 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, Mississippi first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 17,367.
What is the population of Clay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clay had a recorded population of 18,636.
When did Clay's population peak?
Clay's recorded population peaked at 21,979 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Clay?
2 documented military engagements took place in Clay, including West Point, Mississippi — Skirmish (Sooy Smith Expedition), Battle of Okolona – West Point Engagement.
How many historic places are in Clay?
29 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clay, Mississippi.
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