Clay County, Missouri

Clay County
County
South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty
South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty
Flag of Clay County
Flag
Map of Missouri highlighting Clay County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°19′N 94°25′W / 39.31°N 94.42°W / 39.31; -94.42
Country United States
State Missouri
FoundedJanuary 2, 1822
Named forHenry Clay
SeatLiberty
Largest cityKansas City
Area
 • Total
409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land397 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
253,335 Increase
 • Density620/sq mi (240/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts5th, 6th
Websitewww.claycountymo.gov

Clay County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 253,335,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Liberty.[2] The county was organized January 2, 1822, and named in honor of U.S. Representative Henry Clay from Kentucky, later a member of the United States Senate and United States Secretary of State.[3][4] Clay County contains many of the area's northern suburbs, along with a substantial portion of the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It also owns and operates the Midwest National Air Center in Excelsior Springs.

  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Eaton, David Wolfe (1916). How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named. The State Historical Society of Missouri. p. 277.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 83.