Clay County Demographics

A map of Clay County's Population by Race

Clay County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 11,610, an increase from the 11,089 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 90.2% White, 4.1% Hispanic, 2.2% Black, 1.8% Multiracial, 1.1% Native American/Other, and 0.6% Asian. 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 slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina 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 17.6% in 2020 and 18.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Clay County is ranked the 92nd most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Clay County was ranked the 92nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Clay County's White Population

10,469 residents of Clay County, or 90.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Clay County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Clay County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's White population has grown by an estimated 4.2%. White residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 90.2%.

Clay County is more White than neighboring Graham County (84.9% White), Cherokee County (89.3% White), and Macon County (85.2% White). Clay County is less White than neighboring Towns County (92.9% White), and Union County (92.5% White).

Clay County's Black Population

254 residents of Clay County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Clay County is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Clay County ranks 98th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Black population has grown by an estimated 323.3%. Black residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 0.5% to 2.2%.

Clay County is more Black than neighboring Towns County (1.4% Black), Graham County (0.4% Black), Cherokee County (1.8% Black), Union County (0.7% Black), and Macon County (1.4% Black).

Clay County's Asian Population

66 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 North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Clay County ranks 77th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 65.0%. Asian residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Clay County is more Asian than neighboring Towns County (0% Asian), Cherokee County (0.5% Asian), and Union County (0.4% Asian). Clay County is less Asian than neighboring Graham County (0.7% Asian).

Clay County's Hispanic Population

481 residents of Clay County, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Clay County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Clay County ranks 86th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 9.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.1%.

Clay County is more Hispanic than neighboring Towns County (3.3% Hispanic), Graham County (3% Hispanic), Cherokee County (3.7% Hispanic), and Union County (3.8% Hispanic). Clay County is less Hispanic than neighboring Macon County (10% Hispanic).

Clay County's Native American/Other Population

129 residents of Clay County, or 1.1% 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 North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Clay County ranks 60th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 74.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Clay County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Towns County (0% Native American/Other), Union County (0% Native American/Other), and Macon County (0.4% Native American/Other). Clay County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Graham County (10% Native American/Other), and Cherokee County (1.3% Native American/Other).

Clay County's Multiracial Population

211 residents of Clay County, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Clay County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Clay County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 51.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Clay County's population has decreased from 3.9% to 1.8%.

Clay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Graham County (1.1% Multiracial). Clay County is less Multiracial than neighboring Towns County (2.3% Multiracial), Cherokee County (3.4% Multiracial), Union County (2.6% Multiracial), and Macon County (2.4% 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.