South Dakota

Clay

14,967
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Clay

Clay, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 2,621. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,967.

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

On the ground today, 45 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,967
201013,864
200013,537
199013,186
198013,689
197012,923
196010,810
195010,993
19409,592
193010,088
19209,654
19108,711
19009,316
18907,509
18805,001
18702,621
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, South Dakota.

Andre, William, House
Gayville
Old Main
Vermillion
Anderson Homestead
Hub City
Inman House
Vermillion
Wakonda State Bank
Wakonda
Garfield Township Hall
Beresford
First National Bank Building of Vermillion
Vermillion
Austin-Whittemore House
Vermillion
St. Agnes Catholic Church
Vermillion
Sample-Lindblaum House
Wakonda
Downtown Vermillion Historic District
Vermillion
Building at 125 Ohio St.
Wakonda
Gunderson House
Vermillion
Bluff View Cemetery Chapel
Vermillion
Armory, Old,-Vermillion
Vermillion
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

Explore census history and historic records for more South Dakota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Clay County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Clay County, South Dakota. 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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South Dakotahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Dakota›

Frequently asked about Clay

When does Clay first appear in the US census?
Clay, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 2,621.
What is the population of Clay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clay had a recorded population of 14,967.
How many historic places are in Clay?
45 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clay, South Dakota.
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