North Carolina

Clay

11,089
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Clay

Clay, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 2,461. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,089.

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

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cherokee War – Battle of Echoe June 27 1760, Battle of Etchoe Pass (1760), and 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,089
201010,587
20008,775
19907,155
19806,619
19705,180
19605,526
19506,006
19406,405
19305,434
19204,646
19103,909
19004,532
18904,197
18803,316
18702,461
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, North Carolina.

Cherokee War – Battle of Echoe June 27 1760
1760
Battle of Etchoe Pass (1760)
1760

Historic places in Clay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay, North Carolina.

Clay County Courthouse
Hayesville
Chatuge Hydroelectric Project
Hayesville
Spikebuck Town Mound and Village Site
Hayesville
Moore, John Covington, House
Tusquitee

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Clay County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Clay County, North Carolina. 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, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 2,461.
What is the population of Clay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clay had a recorded population of 11,089.
Were any battles fought in Clay?
2 documented military engagements took place in Clay, including Cherokee War – Battle of Echoe June 27 1760, Battle of Etchoe Pass (1760).
How many historic places are in Clay?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clay, North Carolina.
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