West Virginia

Clay

8,051
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Clay

Clay, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,787. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,051.

Its recorded population peaked at 15,206 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 47 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Action at Clay Court House, and 1 place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,051
20109,386
200010,330
19909,983
198011,265
19709,330
196011,942
195014,961
194015,206
193013,125
192011,486
191010,233
19008,248
18904,659
18803,460
18702,196
18601,787
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, West Virginia.

Action at Clay Court House
1862

Historic places in Clay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay, West Virginia.

Old Clay County Courthouse
Clay

Other counties in West Virginia

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Everything a full report reveals about Clay County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Clay County, West Virginia. 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, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,787.
What is the population of Clay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clay had a recorded population of 8,051.
When did Clay's population peak?
Clay's recorded population peaked at 15,206 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Clay?
1 documented military engagement took place in Clay, including Action at Clay Court House.
How many historic places are in Clay?
1 site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clay, West Virginia.
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