Clay County, Minnesota

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Clay County, Minnesota
Map
Map of Minnesota highlighting Clay County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the U.S. highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded March 8, 1862 [1]
Seat Moorhead
Largest city Moorhead
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,053 sq mi (2,727 km²)
1,045 sq mi (2,707 km²)
7 sq mi (19 km²), 0.71%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

51,229
49/sq mi (19/km²)
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.co.clay.mn.us
Named for: Henry Clay

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2000, the population was 51,229. Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. Its county seat is Moorhead[1]. It was originally called Breckenridge County, but changed to its current name in 1862.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,053 square miles (2,727 km²), of which, 1,045 square miles (2,707 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (19 km²) of it (0.71%) is water.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Law and government

Clay County is governed by a board of five commissioners.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 51,229 people, 18,670 households, and 12,340 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 19,746 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.99% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.44% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 3.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.4% were of Norwegian and 26.8% German ancestry according to Census 2000.

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data.
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data.

There were 18,670 households out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,889, and the median income for a family was $49,192. Males had a median income of $34,176 versus $23,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,557. About 7.40% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

Cities Townships CDP Other communities

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 46°54′N 96°29′W / 46.90, -96.49