Clay County Demographics

A map of Clay County's Population by Race

Clay County, Minnesota has an estimated population of 66,059, a slight increase from the 65,318 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.5% White, 5.0% Hispanic, 4.6% Black, 4.4% Multiracial, 1.6% Asian, and 1.0% 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 is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Minnesota 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 29.9% in 2020 and 29.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Clay County is ranked the 16th most populous county in Minnesota, out of 87 counties. Clay County was ranked the 16th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Clay County's White Population

55,133 residents of Clay County, or 83.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Clay County is higher than in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Clay County ranks 66th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.3%. White residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 83.5%.

Clay County is more White than neighboring Cass County (81.2% White), and Mahnomen County (44.4% White). Clay County is less White than neighboring Norman County (86.8% White), Wilkin County (90.4% White), and Richland County (88.8% White).

Clay County's Black Population

3,014 residents of Clay County, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Clay County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Clay County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Black population has declined by an estimated 4.0%. Black residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.6%.

Clay County is more Black than neighboring Norman County (0.5% Black), Wilkin County (0.4% Black), Richland County (0.8% Black), and Mahnomen County (0.1% Black). Clay County is less Black than neighboring Cass County (7% Black).

Clay County's Asian Population

1,035 residents of Clay County, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Clay County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Clay County ranks 28th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 35.5%. Asian residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Clay County is more Asian than neighboring Norman County (0.3% Asian), Wilkin County (0% Asian), Richland County (0.8% Asian), and Mahnomen County (0.5% Asian). Clay County is less Asian than neighboring Cass County (3.2% Asian).

Clay County's Hispanic Population

3,290 residents of Clay County, or 5.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Clay County ranks 38th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 9.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.0%.

Clay County is more Hispanic than neighboring Wilkin County (4% Hispanic), Cass County (3.6% Hispanic), Richland County (3.8% Hispanic), and Mahnomen County (4.1% Hispanic). Clay County is less Hispanic than neighboring Norman County (5.5% Hispanic).

Clay County's Native American/Other Population

654 residents of Clay County, or 1.0% 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 Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Clay County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 44.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Clay County's population has decreased from 1.8% to 1.0%.

Clay County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Norman County (2.1% Native American/Other), Wilkin County (1.9% Native American/Other), Cass County (1.4% Native American/Other), Richland County (2.6% Native American/Other), and Mahnomen County (34.2% Native American/Other).

Clay County's Multiracial Population

2,933 residents of Clay County, or 4.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Clay County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 4.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.4%.

Clay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Wilkin County (3.2% Multiracial), Cass County (3.7% Multiracial), and Richland County (3.3% Multiracial). Clay County is less Multiracial than neighboring Norman County (4.7% Multiracial), and Mahnomen County (16.7% 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.