Clay County Demographics

A map of Clay County's Population by Race

Clay County, Kansas has an estimated population of 8,048, a less than 1% change from the 8,117 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 90.0% White, 3.5% Hispanic, 3.0% Multiracial, 2.4% Black, 0.6% Asian, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Clay County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Clay has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Kansas overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Clay County, that probability was 14.8% in 2020 and 18.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Clay County is ranked the 47th most populous county in Kansas, out of 105 counties. Clay County was ranked the 47th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Clay County's White Population

7,247 residents of Clay County, or 90.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Clay County is significantly higher than in Kansas overall, where 72.7% of the population is White. Clay County ranks 14th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's White population has declined by an estimated 3.2%. White residents' share of Clay County's population has decreased from 92.2% to 90.0%.

Clay County is more White than neighboring Riley County (73.6% White), Washington County (89.9% White), Dickinson County (88.4% White), and Cloud County (89.3% White). Clay County is less White than neighboring Ottawa County (92.9% White).

Clay County's Black Population

193 residents of Clay County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Clay County is slightly lower than in Kansas overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Clay County ranks 56th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Black population has grown by an estimated 286.0%. Black residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 0.6% to 2.4%.

Clay County is more Black than neighboring Washington County (0.1% Black), Dickinson County (0.1% Black), Cloud County (0.8% Black), and Ottawa County (0.4% Black). Clay County is less Black than neighboring Riley County (6.4% Black).

Clay County's Asian Population

45 residents of Clay County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Clay County is slightly lower than in Kansas overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Clay County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 8.2%. Asian residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Clay County is more Asian than neighboring Washington County (0.4% Asian), Dickinson County (0.2% Asian), Cloud County (0.1% Asian), and Ottawa County (0.1% Asian). Clay County is less Asian than neighboring Riley County (4.1% Asian).

Clay County's Hispanic Population

284 residents of Clay County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Clay County is considerably lower than in Kansas overall, where 13.6% of the population is Hispanic. Clay County ranks 90th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 30.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 2.7% to 3.5%.

Clay County is more Hispanic than neighboring Ottawa County (3.3% Hispanic). Clay County is less Hispanic than neighboring Riley County (10% Hispanic), Washington County (4.9% Hispanic), Dickinson County (5.7% Hispanic), and Cloud County (3.9% Hispanic).

Clay County's Native American/Other Population

41 residents of Clay County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 0.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Clay County ranks 79th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 6.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Clay County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Riley County (1% Native American/Other), Washington County (1.4% Native American/Other), and Cloud County (1.7% Native American/Other).

Clay County's Multiracial Population

238 residents of Clay County, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 4.8% of the population is Multiracial. Clay County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 105 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 11.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.0%.

Clay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Ottawa County (2.8% Multiracial). Clay County is less Multiracial than neighboring Riley County (4.9% Multiracial), Washington County (3.3% Multiracial), Dickinson County (5.1% Multiracial), and Cloud County (4.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.