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Clay County KSGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the Kansas county. It is a member of KSGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Clay County ancestors.

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Co-County Coordinator: YOU? If you have a sincere interest in the genealogy of Clay County, and if you are willing to help others along their family history journey, but website maintenance doesn't appeal to you, consider becoming a Co-CC. As Co-CC you would reply to email inquiries, contribute content, monitor the website, .... Contact me to give it a try.

County Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney maloneys7193@gmail.com

State Coordinator: Carolyn Ward

Assistant State Coordinators: Linda K Lewis and Rebecca Maloney

COUNTY FORMATION

Clay County, Kansas, was founded in 1857 in the north-central part of the state and was named after Kentucky statesman Henry Clay. Settlers were drawn to the region's fertile soil, the Republican River Valley, and various creeks. The county seat, Clay Center, was established later, with settlement beginning around 1862.

Key details regarding the founding of Clay County:

Establishment: 1857.

Name Origin: Named in honor of Henry Clay, a famous Kentucky statesman and orator.

Geography: Located in north-central Kansas, characterized by the Republican River Valley.

Early Settlement: Attracted farmers due to the fertile, arable land and access to water sources like creeks and streams.

County Seat: Clay Center was founded in 1862, named for its location near the geographical center of the county. Some accounts suggest early settlers like Orville Huntress arrived around 1861, though early development was a mix of individual, often competitive, claims.

The area grew as a rural agricultural community, taking advantage of the natural resources in the river valley.