Clay County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,581. Its county seat and only incorporated city is Celina. Clay County is named in honor of American statesman Henry Clay, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.

Clay County was formed in 1870 by combining pieces from surrounding Jackson and Overton counties. Secretary of State Cordell Hull's first law office (now a museum) was located in Clay County.

Clay County's early inhabitants farmed and worked the Cumberland River, which was the major method of transportation in the Cumberland area. There were many docks and ferry crossings throughout Clay County to transport local crops and livestock to major markets. The timber industry was a major employer throughout the 1800s and 1900s and provides many jobs today. Tobacco farming became important in the local area throughout the 1900s and many old tobacco barns are still standing. With the end of government subsidies and with foreign competition, tobacco farming is minimal. Cattle, poultry, and corn are the major agricultural influences today. Clay County is one of the top poultry-producing counties in Tennessee.

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.

The city of Celina is at the junction of the Obey and Cumberland rivers, and it 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. 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 narrow margin.

Clay County's rural location has restricted development and attraction of business and industry. This has resulted in the county having one of the highest unemployment rates annually in the state of Tennessee. The lack of jobs often results in the loss of educated young people who have limited opportunities locally. SR 52 has been upgraded to a 4-lane divided highway as part of the Corridor J project, which connects to I-40 in Cookeville, and work continues on developing a new industrial park within the Celina city limits. It is hoped this industrial park will help attract more jobs to the county. .

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 259 square miles (670 km), of which 237 square miles (610 km) is land and 23 square miles (60 km) (8.8%) is water. The Cumberland River flows through the center of the county from north to south, fed by the Obey River which flows through the city of Celina from its impoundment at Dale Hollow Lake, inundates much of the eastern part of the county.

• Monroe County, Kentucky (north)
• Cumberland County, Kentucky (northeast)
• Clinton County, Kentucky (northeast)
• Pickett County (east)
• Overton County (southeast)
• Jackson County (south)
• Macon County (west)

• Standing Stone State Forest (part)

• SR 51
• SR 52
• SR 53
• SR 135
• SR 292
• SR 294

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	6,987		—
1890	7,260		3.9%
1900	8,421		16.0%
1910	9,009		7.0%
1920	9,193		2.0%
1930	9,577		4.2%
1940	10,904		13.9%
1950	8,701		−20.2%
1960	7,289		−16.2%
1970	6,624		−9.1%
1980	7,676		15.9%
1990	7,238		−5.7%
2000	7,976		10.2%
2010	7,861		−1.4%
2020	7,581		−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 2020

Clay County racial composition

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	7,202	95.0%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	76	1.0%
Native American	17	0.22%
Asian	5	0.07%
Pacific Islander	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed	150	1.98%
Hispanic or Latino	130	1.71%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,581 people, 3,039 households, and 2,002 families residing in the county.

As of the census 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 population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km). There were 3,959 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km). The racial makeup of the county was 92.75% White, 1.44% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 4.99% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 married couples 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 per capita income for the county was $13,320. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 27.60% of those age 65 or over.

• Celina (county seat)

• Pea Ridge

• Willow Grove

Though a traditionally Democratic county like most of Middle Tennessee, Clay County has historically been more competitive compared to other counties in the region such as Stewart County. The county voted for GOP candidates in 1920, 1960, 1968, 1972, 1984 and 1988, and Herbert Hoover in 1928, Ronald Reagan in 1980, and George W. Bush in 2004 all came within less than 2 percentage points of winning Clay County. Like almost all of Tennessee, however, the county has turned solidly Republican in the 2010s.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Tennessee

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,117	82.90%	614	16.33%	29	0.77%
2020	2,733	77.95%	735	20.96%	38	1.08%
2016	2,141	73.32%	707	24.21%	72	2.47%
2012	1,747	61.95%	1,037	36.77%	36	1.28%
2008	1,676	55.98%	1,248	41.68%	70	2.34%
2004	1,650	49.15%	1,675	49.90%	32	0.95%
2000	1,468	42.65%	1,931	56.10%	43	1.25%
1996	1,108	36.86%	1,559	51.86%	339	11.28%
1992	1,072	33.23%	1,922	59.58%	232	7.19%
1988	1,291	51.78%	1,183	47.45%	19	0.76%
1984	1,338	50.80%	1,281	48.63%	15	0.57%
1980	1,344	48.61%	1,376	49.76%	45	1.63%
1976	982	36.67%	1,671	62.40%	25	0.93%
1972	982	59.01%	648	38.94%	34	2.04%
1968	814	42.13%	667	34.52%	451	23.34%
1964	622	34.21%	1,196	65.79%	0	0.00%
1960	1,098	52.14%	976	46.34%	32	1.52%
1956	902	48.31%	948	50.78%	17	0.91%
1952	842	46.24%	968	53.16%	11	0.60%
1948	703	36.98%	1,146	60.28%	52	2.74%
1944	650	46.30%	754	53.70%	0	0.00%
1940	537	29.42%	1,288	70.58%	0	0.00%
1936	378	35.69%	661	62.42%	20	1.89%
1932	361	30.18%	819	68.48%	16	1.34%
1928	556	48.99%	576	50.75%	3	0.26%
1924	488	41.67%	668	57.05%	15	1.28%
1920	1,044	57.14%	772	42.26%	11	0.60%
1916	578	44.98%	689	53.62%	18	1.40%
1912	440	35.12%	718	57.30%	95	7.58%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clay County, Tennessee

• Clay County Chamber of Commerce
• Clay County Schools
• Dale Hollow Lake tourism information
• Clay County, TNGenWeb - genealogy resources
• Dale Hollow Horizon – local newspaper

36°33′N 85°32′W / 36.55°N 85.54°W / 36.55; -85.54