Clay County Demographics

A map of Clay County's Population by Race

Clay County, South Dakota has an estimated population of 15,219, a slight increase from the 14,967 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 84.2% White, 5.1% Multiracial, 3.3% Hispanic, 3.0% Asian, 2.6% Native American/Other, and 1.8% Black. 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 South Dakota 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 28.0% in 2020 and 28.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Clay County is ranked the 14th most populous county in South Dakota, out of 66 counties. Clay County was ranked the 14th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Clay County's White Population

12,807 residents of Clay County, or 84.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Clay County is slightly higher than in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Clay County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.2%. White residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 84.2%.

Clay County is more White than neighboring Dixon County (80.9% White). Clay County is less White than neighboring Union County (88.4% White), Cedar County (95% White), Yankton County (86.9% White), and Turner County (93% White).

Clay County's Black Population

278 residents of Clay County, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Clay County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Black population has grown by an estimated 18.3%. Black residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.8%.

Clay County is more Black than neighboring Union County (0.9% Black), Cedar County (0.1% Black), Yankton County (1.6% Black), Turner County (0.4% Black), and Dixon County (0% Black).

Clay County's Asian Population

452 residents of Clay County, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Clay County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 25.2%. Asian residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 2.4% to 3.0%.

Clay County is more Asian than neighboring Union County (1.1% Asian), Cedar County (0.3% Asian), Yankton County (0.3% Asian), Turner County (0.3% Asian), and Dixon County (0.1% Asian).

Clay County's Hispanic Population

504 residents of Clay County, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Clay County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 10.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Clay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.3%.

Clay County is more Hispanic than neighboring Cedar County (2.5% Hispanic). Clay County is less Hispanic than neighboring Union County (4.8% Hispanic), Yankton County (5.9% Hispanic), Turner County (3.5% Hispanic), and Dixon County (15.8% Hispanic).

Clay County's Native American/Other Population

398 residents of Clay County, or 2.6% 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 slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Clay County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 33.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Clay County's population has decreased from 4.0% to 2.6%.

Clay County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Union County (1% Native American/Other), Cedar County (0.3% Native American/Other), Yankton County (2.1% Native American/Other), Turner County (0.7% Native American/Other), and Dixon County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Clay County's Multiracial Population

780 residents of Clay County, or 5.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Clay County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Clay County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Clay County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 17.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Clay County's population has increased from 4.4% to 5.1%.

Clay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Union County (3.7% Multiracial), Cedar County (1.7% Multiracial), Yankton County (3.3% Multiracial), Turner County (2% Multiracial), and Dixon County (2.5% 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.