Clay County, Tennessee

Clay County is a located in the  of. Its name is in honor of, famous American statesman, member of the from  and  in the 19th century. As of the of 2000, there were 7,976 people, 3,379 households, and 2,331 families residing in the county. Its and the only incorporated city in the county is.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 671 (259 ). 612 km² (236 sq mi) of it is land and 60 km² (23 sq mi) of it (8.93%) is water. The flows through the center of the county from north to south, fed by the  which flows through the city of Celina from its impoundment at the. The reservoir, known as, inundates much of the eastern part of the county.

Adjacent Counties

 * (north)
 * (northeast)
 * (east)
 * (southeast)
 * (south)
 * (west)

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 7,976 people, 3,379 households, and 2,331 families residing in the county. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 7,992. The was 13/km² (34/sq mi). There were 3,959 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (17/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 96.75%, 1.44% or , 0.33% , 0.14% , 0.11% , 0.24% from , and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 3,379 households out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.50% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,958, and the median income for a family was $29,784. Males had a median income of $23,513 versus $16,219 for females. The for the county was $13,320. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 27.60% of those age 65 or over.

History
The county was formed in 1870 by combining pieces from surrounding and. Clay County has been part of 3 states: North Carolina, Tennessee, and the northern portion was south of Walkers Line, which put this portion in Kentucky. It has been part of six counties: Davidson, Sumner, Smith, Jackson, and Overton Counties in Tennessee with the part that was south of Walkers line being in Cumberland County, Kentucky.

Its name is in honor of, famous American statesman, member of the from  and  in the 19th century. Clay County is the home of 's first law office, which is now part of the county museum.

Some of the earliest inhabitants are believed to be the Mississippian Indians, forerunners of the Cherokee. Other Indian Tribes who once dwelt in the Clay County area were the Shawnee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Iroquois. Many tribal fights took place near the Cumberland and Obey Rivers and many arrowheads can still be found in the bottomlands around the waterways.

The earliest white man that came to the area to hunt was a Frenchman, Martin Chartier, who is believed to have been here as early 1691 with the Shawnee. One of the first permanent settlers in Clay County was, who arrived about 1770. The is named for him.

Clay county's early inhabitants farmed and worked the Cumberland River transportation center, which was the major way to get around the Cumberland area. There were many docks and ferry crossings throughout Clay county to get local crops and livestock to major markets. The timber industry was a large player throughout the 1800s and 1900s and still provides many jobs today.

Butler's Landing was used as a storage depot with large warehouses owned and operated by the Butler family. The first Clay County Court meeting was held in a store near the river at Butler's Landing on March 6, 1871. Butler's Landing nearly became the county seat, but Celina won the vote by a thin margin.

The city of Celina is at the junction of the Obey and Cumberland rivers, and was a major port during the steamboat years between Nashville and Burnside, Kentucky. Although the Celina ferry landing no longer exists, Celina still connects the north and south by highway.

During the Civil War, many skirmishes took place up and down the Cumberland River to control the movement of barges laden with supplies. Local communities were split in their loyalties, with many families at odds with each other. Some of these animosities remain today between family groups.

Tobacco farming became an important crop in the local area throughout the 1900s and many old tobacco barns are still standing. With the end of government subsidies and foreign competition, tobacco farming has decreased to minuscule participation. Cattle and corn are the major agricultural influences today.

Clay County's rural location and lack of major four-lane highway connections continues to hamper development and recruitment of businesses. This has resulted in the county having the highest unemployment rating in the State of Tennessee many months of the year and the loss of educated young people who have no opportunities locally.

Cities and towns

 * (the only incorporated municipality in the county)

Lincoln Connection
Hananiah Lincoln (1756 to 1814) is buried in a cemetery near Tinsley Bottom in Clay County. He is the half second cousin of President. Hananiah's first born son was named Thomas Lincoln (1780 to 1844). President Lincoln's father was also a (1778 to 1851). As a result of the two Thomas Lincolns living in Kentucky over a 25 year period between 1789 and 1814, area residents in both Tennessee and Kentucky often confuse Hananiah's son as the Father of President Lincoln and Hananiah Lincoln as the paternal Grandfather of President Lincoln. On Route 53 in Clay County there is a Tennessee Historical Marker perpetuating the falsehood of Hananiah Lincoln as the paternal Grandfather of President Abraham Lincoln. Hananiah and his son lived in in the Meshack Creek area. In 1799, Martha Gee and Hananiah's son, Thomas Lincoln were married in Cumberland County, Kentucky. President Abraham Lincoln's Father, Thomas Lincoln married Nancy Hanks in 1806 in Washington County, Kentucky. Part of present day Clay County was once the southern most area of Cumberland County, Kentucky.