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 302.8 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 2006 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $22,242. Per capita income grew by 11.7% between 1996 and 2006 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2006) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2007)	182,023	328	Covered Employment	44,785	504
Growth (%) since 1990	71.7%	140	Avg wage per job	$30,475	1261
Households (2000)	50,243	405	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	4.2%	2385
Labor Force (persons) (2007)	92,879	328	Avg wage per job	$40,930	912
Unemployment Rate (2007)	3.5	2464	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	0.4%	2960
Per Capita Personal Income (2006)	$31,983	673	Avg wage per job	$48,954	196
Median Household Income (2005)	$54,277	235	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	13.1%	646
Poverty Rate (2005)	8.1	2845	Avg wage per job	$35,573	610
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	86.4	423	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	2.4%	1623
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	20.1	714	Avg wage per job	$44,004	572