Clay County, Missouri
Clay County | |
|---|---|
South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty | |
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
Missouri's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 39°19′N 94°25′W / 39.31°N 94.42°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Founded | January 2, 1822 |
| Named after | Henry Clay |
| Seat | Liberty |
| Largest city | Kansas City |
| Area | |
• Total | 409 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
| • Land | 397 sq mi (1,030 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (30 km2) 2.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 253,335 |
| • Density | 620/sq mi (240/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 5th, 6th |
| Website | www |
Clay County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 253,335, making it the fifth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Liberty. The county was organized January 2, 1822, and named in honor of U.S. Representative Henry Clay from Kentucky, later a member of the United States Senate and United States Secretary of State. Clay County contains many of the area's northern suburbs, along with a portion of the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It also owns and operates the Midwest National Air Center in Excelsior Springs.