Clay County, North Carolina

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Clay County, North Carolina
Clay County Courthouse in Hayesville
Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded	1861
Named for	Henry Clay
Seat	Hayesville
Largest town	Hayesville
Area
• Total	221 sq mi (572 km2)
• Land	215 sq mi (557 km2)
• Water	5.9 sq mi (15 km2), 2.7%
Population
• (2010)	10,587
• Density	49/sq mi (19/km2)
Congressional district	11th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website	www.clayconc.com

Clay County is a county located in the far western part of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,587.^[1] Its county seat is Hayesville.^[2]

Contents

• 
  1 History
  


• 
  2 Geography
  
  • 
    2.1 Climate
    
  
  
  • 
    2.2 Major highways
    
  
  


• 
  3 Demographics
  


• 
  4 Communities
  
  • 
    4.1 Town
    
  
  
  • 
    4.2 Unincorporated communities
    
  
  
  • 
    4.3 Townships
    
  
  


• 
  5 Politics, law and government
  


• 
  6 Notable people
  


• 
  7 See also
  


• 
  8 References
  


• 
  9 External links
  

History

This area was occupied by the Cherokee Nation at the time of European settlement. The name of Brasstown, an unincorporated community in the county, was derived from a Cherokee term for a village location, which English speakers confused with another that meant "brass." They referred to the village as Brasstown, a translation unrelated to the Cherokee history of the site.

Migrants into the area were primarily of Scots-Irish descent, who had moved into the backcountry of the Appalachians from eastern areas. They moved south from Pennsylvania and Virginia after the American Revolution. Most became yeomen farmers and few owned slaves in the antebellum years.

In the fall of 1860, George Hayes, who was running for state representative from Cherokee County, promised his constituents to introduce legislation to organize a new county in the region. That would bring business associated with a new county seat, and make government accessible to more people. In February 1861 the legislation was introduced and passed by the North Carolina General Assembly.^[3] Clay County was formed primarily from Cherokee County, North Carolina, however a small area was taken from Macon County; it was named for statesman Henry Clay, former Secretary of State and member of the United States Senate from Kentucky. In honor of Mr. Hayes, the legislature designated the new county seat as Hayesville.^[3]

Given the interruption of the American Civil War, Clay County lacked an organized, formal government until 1868. Later that year, during the Reconstruction era, the first United States post office in the county opened in Hayesville. The first county courthouse was built in 1888; it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[4]

Since the nineteenth century, Clay County has remained largely agricultural.^[3] Given its relative isolation, in the 21st century, residents continue to be overwhelmingly of European-American ancestry.

The Clay County Progress is the local newspaper, reporting mostly county news.^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 221 square miles (570 km²), of which 215 square miles (560 km²) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km²) (2.7%) is water.^[6] It is the third-smallest county in North Carolina by land area and smallest by total area.

Clay County is bordered to the south by the state of Georgia and the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Nantahala River forms part of its northeastern border. The county is drained by the Hiwassee River. In the southern part of Clay County is Chatuge Lake, on the North Carolina–Georgia border. Much of Clay County exists within the Nantahala National Forest. Fires Creek Bear Reserve is north of the township of Tusquittee.

The eastern portion of the county is preserved as part of the Nantahala National Forest.

Climate

Clay County has a humid subtropical climate, (Cfa) according to the Köppen classification, with hot, humid summers and mild, but occasionally cold winters by the standards of the southern United States.^[7]

Like the rest of the southeastern U.S., Clay County receives abundant rainfall, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Average annual rainfall is 55.9 inches (1,420 mm). Blizzards are rare but possible; one nicknamed the 1993 Storm of the Century hit the entire Eastern United States in March, 1993.

Major highways

• 
  US 64
  


• 
  NC 69
  


• 
  NC 175
  

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	2,461		—
1880	3,316		34.7%
1890	4,197		26.6%
1900	4,532		8.0%
1910	3,909		−13.7%
1920	4,646		18.9%
1930	5,434		17.0%
1940	6,405		17.9%
1950	6,006		−6.2%
1960	5,526		−8.0%
1970	5,180		−6.3%
1980	6,619		27.8%
1990	7,155		8.1%
2000	8,775		22.6%
2010	10,587		20.6%
Est. 2016	10,915	[8]	3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2000 United States Census^[13] there were 8,775 people, 3,847 households, and 2,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 5,425 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.01% White, 0.80% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,847 households out of which 23.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the county, the population was spread out with 18.60% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 29.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,397, and the median income for a family was $38,264. Males had a median income of $29,677 versus $19,529 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,221. About 7.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Map of Clay County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Town

• 
  Hayesville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Brasstown


• Elf


• Tusquittee


• Warne

Townships

The county is divided into six townships: Brasstown comprises the westernmost township; Hayesville is centrally located and home to the county seat; Hiawassee, named after the major river in the region, is the smallest township, surrounding Lake Chatuge; Shooting Creek is the easternmost township; Sweetwater is a small township northwest of Hayesville; and Tusquittee is one of the larger townships and the most northern.

Politics, law and government

As is universally true for white rural southern counties, Clay County is powerfully Republican. No Democratic Presidential candidate has won Clay County since Jimmy Carter in 1976, and Bill Clinton in 1996 was the last to reach forty percent of the county’s vote. Before the Progressive Era, Clay County was uniformly Democratic, but since Charles Evans Hughes became the first Republican to carry the county in 1916, it has voted for the GOP in all but five elections.

Presidential elections results

Presidential elections results^[14]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	73.8% 4,437	22.8% 1,367	3.4% 206
2012	70.4% 3,973	28.0% 1,579	1.6% 90
2008	66.9% 3,707	31.3% 1,734	1.8% 102
2004	66.0% 3,209	33.5% 1,628	0.6% 29
2000	62.7% 2,416	35.3% 1,361	2.0% 75
1996	48.4% 1,769	40.0% 1,462	11.6% 424
1992	47.7% 1,890	40.4% 1,600	11.9% 470
1988	62.5% 2,174	37.0% 1,289	0.5% 17
1984	62.4% 2,259	37.0% 1,340	0.6% 20
1980	60.2% 2,136	37.3% 1,324	2.5% 87
1976	47.4% 1,428	52.1% 1,569	0.5% 15
1972	65.2% 1,545	33.6% 797	1.2% 28
1968	54.9% 1,390	33.5% 847	11.6% 293
1964	46.9% 1,286	53.1% 1,457
1960	56.7% 1,657	43.3% 1,264
1956	52.8% 1,442	47.2% 1,287
1952	50.1% 1,443	49.9% 1,439
1948	47.1% 1,213	50.8% 1,307	2.1% 55
1944	50.4% 1,263	49.6% 1,245
1940	46.6% 1,176	53.4% 1,349
1936	53.2% 1,525	46.8% 1,340
1932	48.4% 1,265	51.3% 1,341	0.3% 8
1928	55.1% 1,106	45.0% 903
1924	52.9% 1,090	46.2% 953	0.9% 18
1920	54.7% 911	45.3% 755
1916	53.1% 453	46.9% 400
1912	2.2% 17	47.9% 372	49.9% 387

The county government is a constitutional body and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of North Carolina, most of which are determined by the state’s General Assembly. In the North Carolina Senate, Clay County is part of the 50th Senate District and is represented by Republican Jim Davis. In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Clay County is part of the 120th District, represented by Republican Kevin Corbin. Clay County is a member of the regional Southwestern Commission Council of Governments.

Notable people

• 
  George Washington Truett, Baptist clergyman

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, North Carolina

References

1. 
   ^ ^ab "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2013. 
   


2. 
   ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
   


3. 
   ^ ^abc "Welcome to the Clay County Chamber of Commerce". Ncmtnchamber.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-10-27. 
   


4. 
   ^ "Hayesville, North Carolina - Home Page". Hayesville.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-24. Retrieved 2012-10-27. 
   


5. 
   ^ Smoky Mountain Sentinel, official website; accessed 27 July 2016
   


6. 
   ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015. 
   


7. 
   ^ "Koppen Climate Classification Chart". Geography.about.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2012-10-27. 
   


8. 
   ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017. 
   


9. 
   ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015. 
   


10. 
    ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 13, 2015. 
    


11. 
    ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 13, 2015. 
    


12. 
    ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 13, 2015. 
    


13. 
    ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
    


14. 
    ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-15. 
    

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clay County, North Carolina.

• Official website


• Clay County History Wiki


• 
  Smoky Mountain Sentinel, official website of newspaper in Clay County

Places adjacent to Clay County, North Carolina
Cherokee County Macon County Clay County, North Carolina Union County, Georgia Towns County, Georgia Rabun County, Georgia

v t e Municipalities and communities of Clay County, North Carolina, United States
County seat: Hayesville
Town	Hayesville
Unincorporated communities	Brasstown Tusquittee Warne
Townships	Brasstown Hayesville Hiawassee Sweetwater Shooting Creek Tusquittee

v t e  State of North Carolina
Raleigh (capital)
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Society	Culture Music Sports Crime Demographics Economy Education Elections Gambling
Regions	Western Foothills High Country Piedmont Metrolina (Charlotte) Piedmont Triad Triangle Eastern Sandhills Cape Fear Crystal Coast Inner Banks Outer Banks
Largest cities	Asheville Cary Chapel Hill Charlotte Concord Durham Fayetteville Gastonia Greensboro Greenville High Point Jacksonville Raleigh Wilmington Winston‑Salem
Smaller cities	Albemarle Apex Asheboro Burlington Conover Eden Elizabeth City Garner Goldsboro Graham Havelock Henderson Hendersonville Hickory Kannapolis Kings Mountain Kinston Laurinburg Lenoir Lexington Lumberton Monroe Morganton New Bern Newton Reidsville Roanoke Rapids Rocky Mount Salisbury Sanford Shelby Statesville Thomasville Wake Forest Wilson
Major towns	Beaufort Boone Brevard Carrboro Clayton Cornelius Dunn Fuquay-Varina Harrisburg Holly Springs Hope Mills Huntersville Indian Trail Kernersville Knightdale Leland Matthews Midland Mint Hill Mooresville Morehead City Morrisville Mount Pleasant Oxford Shallotte Smithfield Southern Pines Tarboro Waynesville Winterville
Counties	Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey

Coordinates: 35°04′N 83°46′W / 35.06°N 83.76°W / 35.06; -83.76