Clay County, Missouri

Founding: 1822
Parent counties: Ray and unorganized territory

Namesake: Henry Clay, Kentucky politician
Seat: Liberty (1822–)

Land area: 397 square miles

Population (2020): 253,335

Population (historic): 5,338 (1830); 10,382 (1850); 15,564 (1870); 18,903 (1900); 26,811 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1830–1890; 1900–2020

Subdivisions: 12 cities; seven villages; seven townships

National Register listings: 39

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,526 (4.7%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 47.8%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 10.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.1%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.1%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,937
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,178
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.1 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,973
Average farm size (1920): 102.2 acres
Sources of settlement: Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio
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Liberty

Namesake: The concept of liberty

Founding: 1822 (platting); 1822 (post office); 1829 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 30,167

Population (historic): 827 (1850); 1,700 (1870); 2,558 (1890); 2,980 (1910); 3,516 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1870; 1880s; 1900–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 911 (7.7%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *Adkins–Compton Log House (c. 1829). 5410 Oak Ridge Road. Chouteau.
2. Christopher Russell House (c. 1875). 4319 North Holmes Street. Gallatin. Italianate.
3. *Jonathan Atkins House (c. 1826/1853). 4109 Pleasant Valley Road. Gallatin.
4. *George Claybrook House (c. 1858). 21011 Jesse James Farm Road. Kearney. Greek Revival. Razed.
5. John Wilkerson House (c. 1840). 15813 Plattsburg Road. Kearney.
6. *Woodneath / Finetta Arnold House (1855–1856). 8900 Flintlock Road. Liberty. Greek Revival.
7. Whitehall / Darwin Adkins House (c. 1855). 1769 Oak Leaf Drive. Liberty. Greek Revival.
8. *Odd Fellows Home (1900). 1325 Odd Fellows Road. Liberty. Jacobethan Revival.
9. Thomas Gordon Farm (c. 1855). 12717 Mount Olivet Road. Platte. Greek Revival.
10. *Bethany / Waltus Watkins House (c. 1850). 17012 Watkins Road. Washington. Greek Revival.
11. *Watkins Woolen Mill (1859–1860). 17012 Watkins Road. Washington.
12. *Franklin School (c. 1860). Watkins Road, northwest of Endsley Road. Washington. Italianate.