Clay County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 601.1 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 307.3 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 339.2%. On the 2000 census form, 98.0% of the population reported only one race, with 6.7% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 4.3% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.77 persons compared to an average family size of 3.11 persons. In 2007 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $22,372. Per capita income grew by 9.2% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2007) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	184,727	327	Covered Employment	44,921	509
Growth (%) since 1990	74.3%	138	Avg wage per job	$31,079	1390
Households (2000)	50,243	405	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	3.9%	2425
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	95,036	321	Avg wage per job	$43,632	819
Unemployment Rate (2008)	5.3	1710	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	0.4%	2958
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$32,364	932	Avg wage per job	$50,151	219
Median Household Income (2007)	$58,696	248	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	13.3%	633
Poverty Rate (2007)	8.0	2885	Avg wage per job	$36,619	633
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	86.4	423	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	2.1%	1950
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	20.1	714	Avg wage per job	$46,562	540