The Cities and communities of Clay County, Alabama *

Ashland - County Seat

Barfield, Bluff Springs

Cleveland Crossroads, Cragford

Delta

Hollins

Lineville

Mellow Valley, Millerville

*This list of cities may not be complete. The list may contain towns, cities, villages, boroughs, townships, ghost towns and other populated places.

If you have information about any of these unlinked communities, please send it to us and we will add a page for that community. Some of these places above may only be neighborhoods or local area names and are not listed with the census at all or just included in a larger surrounding designated census area..

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Information & Facts about Clay County, Alabama

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

County Government
P.O. Box 187
County Courthouse
Ashland, AL 36251
Phone: (256)354-7888

The county is governed by a five member commission that is elected by the public.

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Population:

1980 - 13,706
1990 - 13,252
1991 - 13,282
1992 - 13,293
1993 - 13,387
1994 - 13,469
1995 - 13,485
1996 - 13,504
1997 - 13,631
1998 - 13,860
2000 - 14,254
2003 - 14,213
2004 - 14,092
2006 - 13,829
2007 - 13,788

population density
2000 - 23.4 persons per square mile

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Location:

in east-central Alabama.

Neighboring Counties:
North - Cleburne County
East - Randolph County
South - Tallapoosa County
Southwest - Coosa County
West - Talladega County

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Climate:

Temperatures reach 70’s in the spring and fall, climb into the 90’s in the summer and rarely dip below freezing in the winter.

Average Annual Precipitation: 59.4 inches

Winter temperature range: 33 to 52 degrees F.
Spring temperature range: 49 to 73 degrees F.
Summer temperature range: 69 to 88 degrees F.
Fall temperature range: 52 to 73 degrees F.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Number of Housing Units:
2000 - 6,612

Median age:
2000 - 39 years
2003 - 38.7 years

Median household income:
2000 - $27,885
2004 - $31,194
2007 - $33,128

Per capita income:
2000 - $13,785
2002 - $20,436

Estimated median house value:
2000 - $58,000
2007 - $89,172

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History:

Clay County was carved out from Randolph and Talladega Counties on 26 December 1866. A second date for the founding has been given as 7 December 1866. It was named for the famous stateman, Henry Clay. The county seat, Ashland, was named for Clay's estate in Lexington, Kentucky. Clay county is considered to be a "dry" county. In the early years, settlers found the land ill suited for farming due to lack of good soil and much hilly terrain. During the 1880's, the county became part of a popular movement known as the Populist movement. In fact, the county was known as the "Cradle of Alabama populism." So many of the local farmers were in debt that people threw their support to the Populist Party who they hoped would help their situations. Gradually, both the party and farming declined in Clay County with the economy focusing more on mining and manufacturing rather than farming. Even today, the county remains one of the most rural and thinly populated in the state.

History page for Clay County - several different historical accounts

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Geography:

Total area: 606 square miles
Total land area: 605 square miles
Total water area: 1 square mile

Mountain Peaks & Summits in the county

Creeks and rivers in the county area include Ketchepedrakee Creek in the north and Little Hillabee Creek in the south. Hatchett Creek runs from north to south.

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Genealogy:

Political Graveyard

Cemeteries in Clay County
Clay County history for genealogists
Clay County US GenWeb page

My Alabama Genealogy page for Clay County
Linkpendium page for Clay County
World War II Casualties for the county

Clay County Vital Records
Judge of Probate
P.O. Box 187
Ashland, AL 36251
Phone: 256-354-2198
The Clay County Vital Records office has marriage records from the 1870's. There is a cost to obtain copies.

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Libraries:

Ashland City Public Library
Address 113 North 2nd Avenue, W
P.O. Box 296
Ashland, AL 36251-0296
Phone (256)-354-3427
HOURS: Monday - Friday 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Lineville City Library
Address 60119 Highway 9
Lineville, AL 36266-0482
Phone: 256-396-5162
HOURS: Monday - Friday 9:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.

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Schools:

Clay County Board of Education
62 Court Square
Ashland, AL 36251
Phone: 256-354-5414

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Economy:

Though many tried to make farming successful in the county, it just never took hold and gradually declined in popularity. Now the main sectors of the county economy are manufacturing, education, health and social services and retail trade

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Organizations & Groups

Clay County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 85
Lineville, AL 36266
Phone: (256) 396-2828
Fax: (256) 396-5532

Clay County Historical Society
P. O. Box 998
Ashland, Alabama 36251
The Clay County Historical Society meets the third Monday of each month in Ashland at the Wynn Building at 6:30 P.M

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Attractions & Other Information

The Talladega National Forest is partially located in the county along with Cheaha State Park and Lake Wedowee (also known as Harris Lake).

Ashland-Lineville Airport

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