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Clay County, Georgia

Clay County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 2,848, making it the third-least populous county in Georgia. The county seat is Fort Gaines.

History
This area was historically occupied by the Creek Indians until Indian Removal in the 1830s. European Americans pushed them out and developed the land for cotton, bringing in thousands of African slaves to work the land. The county is named 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. Part of the Black Belt geological formation of Georgia, prior to the American Civil War the county's chief commodity crop was cotton, cultivated and processed by farmers and African-American slaves. After the war, the economy continued to be agricultural, but timber was also harvested. Clay was created by a February 16, 1854, act of the Georgia General Assembly, and organized from portions of Early and Randolph counties. Clay County's population is one-third of what it was in 1910. ==Geography==
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (10.1%) is water. The central and southwestern portions of Clay County, from west of Bluffton to northwest of Coleman, are located in the Lower Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The county's northwestern corner, which is bisected by State Route 39 running north from Fort Gaines, is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Walter F. George Lake sub-basin of the same ACF River Basin. Just the very southeastern corner of Clay County is located in the Spring Creek sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin. Major highwaysU.S. Route 27State Route 1State Route 37State Route 39State Route 266 Adjacent countiesQuitman County - north • Randolph County - northeast • Calhoun County - east • Early County - south • Henry County, Alabama - west • Barbour County, Alabama - northwest ==Demographics==
Demographics
Historical racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 2,848 people, 1,250 households, and 708 families residing in the county. Of the residents, 21.1% were under the age of 18 and 25.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.9 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas. The racial makeup of the county was 40.4% White, 56.1% Black or African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population. The population density was . There were 2,102 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% black or African American, 37.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. Of the 1,331 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 22.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 45.8 years. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 3,357 people, 1,347 households, and 928 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 1,925 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 60.47% Black or African American, 38.43% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,347 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.70% were married couples living together, 23.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 21.00% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 83.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $21,448, and the median income for a family was $27,837. Males had a median income of $26,557 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,819. About 28.10% of families and 31.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.40% of those under age 18 and 23.90% of those age 65 or over. ==Education==
Communities
CitiesFort Gaines TownsBluffton Unincorporated communitiesPecanSuttons CornerZetto Ghost townOketeyeconne ==Politics==
Politics
As of the 2020s, Clay County is a Democratic stronghold, voting 53% for Kamala Harris in 2024. Clay County was previously one of the most consistently voting Democratic counties in the country. It voted for the Democratic nominee in every election from 1868 until 1960, and then again since 1976. In the 2022 Georgia state elections, however, Clay County voted for every Republican candidate except Herschel Walker. This has resulted in the county becoming a swing county. In 2024, Donald Trump lost the county by less than 8 points, the closest a Republican presidential candidate has come to carrying the county since Richard Nixon won it in his 1972 landslide. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Clay County is part of Georgia's 2nd congressional district, currently represented by Sanford Bishop. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Clay County is part of District 12. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Clay County is part of District 154. ==See also==
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