Clay County

General

Population:  6,104
Land area (sq. mi.):  572.29
Population per square mile:  10.7

Race & Age

Race  2020

White: 88.0%
African American: 0.1%
American Indian: 0.2%
Asian: 0.2%
Hispanic: 8.6%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 2.7%

Age  2020

0-17: 24.8%
18-64: 54.0%
65+: 21.2%

Households

Total households:  2,509  2020
With one child:  270  2022
With 2+ children:  450  2022
With seniors (65+):  740  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $59,478  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  9.9%  2022
# of Housing Units:  2,817  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  11  
Owner-occupied rate:  78.5%  2020
Median home price:  $162,000  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  69.9%  2021

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau (building permits), U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  2.4%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://claycounty.ne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  92.8%  2020

School Districts:  Adams Central Public Schools, Bruning-Davenport Public Schools, Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools, Harvard Public Schools, Sandy Creek Public Schools, Sutton Public Schools, Shickley Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  19.9%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Central Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  11 providers; 208 children

Find child care:  For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Clay County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $398,117,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $57,087,611  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $209,730,000  2022

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships & sole proprietorships and do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations. Nonfarm wage income may include wages earned from Clay County businesses by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $581,577,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $27,317,000  2022

• Farm & ranch receipt totals for commodity sales and operations are reported by producers operating principally in Clay County and include those producers' receipts from production in other counties. The totals do not include receipts from sales and operations in Clay County reported by producers operating principally in other counties.

Cattle Producers:  119

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $41/acre/yr  2024

Crop Producers:  283

• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $297/acre/yr  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Anan Siding (Annandale): AGP (629,000)
• Clay Center: Aurora (1,912,000)
• Fairfield: AGP (1,393,000)
• Harvard: CPI (5,520,000)
• Ong: Aurora
• Saronville: CPI (466,000)
• Sutton: CPI (3,429,000)
• Trumbull: CPI (2,862,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Other Grain Purchasers:  Fairfield Non-Stock Cooperative

Railroad Miles:  72.88 main, 11.06 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Edgar, Fairfield, Glenvil, Harvard, Inland, Saronville, Sutton

Local Grain Market:  Click for today's grain prices in Clay County

Electricity Providers:  City of Hastings, City of Sutton, Perennial PPD, South Central PPD, Southern PPD

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  2,446  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  4.27  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  204  2024

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Public Service Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury (IRS), Warehouse and Commodity Management Division (USDA)

2023 Levies and Valuations

County levy rate: $0.2656 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $6,225,993

Total local government property taxes levied: $29,596,864

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,344,124,663

Click here for all levy rates in Clay County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits:

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Dave Murman (District 38)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education (chairperson)
• Revenue

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 38

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Clay County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 12

Year Authorized: 1855

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: Henry Clay (U.S. Senator and Congressman)

     Clay County was established in 1867 and was named after Henry Clay, a statesman and politician from Kentucky known as the "Great Compromiser." The first settlers in Clay County were homesteaders who arrived in the late 1800s, attracted to the fertile soil. The county quickly became an agricultural center, producing crops such as corn, wheat, and oats.

     In 1857, the Pony Express established a station in the county along the Little Blue River, bolstering a steady influx of settlers to the region. In the early 1860’s, the county achieved a sufficient population to warrant official organization and the election of local officials. Originally, Sutton was selected as the county seat, but within a decade, a relocation debate began. The county entertained several ideas, but eventually, officials selected Clay Center as the county seat due to its centralized location.

     The next few decades witnessed a minor population explosion. In 1870, Clay County had 54 residents, but by 1890, the population had grown to over 16,000. The railroad brought considerable development to the region and provided essential infrastructure for transporting farmers’ crops to a wide range of markets. Agriculture remains an important part of Clay County today, but conservation and ecotourism are also priorities; the county has sixteen protected wildlife areas.

Highlight an important program in your county in this space! Send an email to:

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  30

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  364  2024

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  115

Number of County-Owned Dams:  2

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  80.86%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  4,178  2024

Number of Precincts:  11  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  All Voting by Mail

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: South Central

Natural Resource Districts: Little Blue NRD, Upper Big Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Bluewing WMA (314.26), Bulrush WMA (240), Greenhead WMA (60), Green Wing WMA (80), Kissinger Basin WMA (485.84), South Central Ag Lab (640), White Front WMA (280.83)

Federal Lands (acres): Eckhardt WPA (175.21), Glenville Basin WPA (119.46), Green Acres WPA (63.66), Hansen WPA (642), Harms WPA (60), Harvard Marsh WPA (1,484), Hultine WPA (1,000), Lange WPA (158.76), Massie WPA (853), Meadowlark WPA (80), Moger WPA (196.70), Schuck WPA (80), Smith WPA (565), Theesen WPA (80.29), U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (36,350), Verona WPA (160)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)