Clay County Nebraska 30
Clay County, Nebraska
Clay County is a south-central Nebraska county covering 572 square miles of fertile agricultural land. The county seat is Clay Center, situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 6 and Nebraska Highway 14. Clay County's economy is anchored by corn, soybean, and cattle production across the Republican River watershed. The county was organized in 1871 and named for Kentucky statesman Henry Clay.
Clay County is home to 13 communities and approximately 6,000 residents. It borders Hamilton County (north), Fillmore County (east), Nuckolls County (south), and Adams County (west). Notable Clay County figures include Baseball Hall of Fame manager Billy Southworth, arctic explorer Walter Wellman, Medal of Honor recipient Jacob Volz, and Governor Samuel McKelvie.
Towns in Clay County
Browse all towns: Clay County Town Index →
Clay Center, Nebraska (68933)
County seat at the junction of US-6 and NE-14. Founded 1879, named for Henry Clay. Clay Center High School consistently ranks above state academic averages.
Pop: ~735 | Highways: US-6, NE-14 | City, County Seat
Sutton, Nebraska (68979)
Clay County's largest city, founded 1871 on the Burlington railroad and named for Sutton, Massachusetts. Birthplace of Medal of Honor recipient Jacob Volz and arctic explorer Walter Wellman.
Pop: ~1,447 | Highways: US-6 | City
Harvard, Nebraska (68944)
Founded 1871, named after Harvard University. Birthplace of Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Southworth and musician Paul Revere (Paul Revere and the Raiders).
Pop: ~951 | City
Edgar, Nebraska (68935)
City in southern Clay County, platted 1873. Named for the son of a pioneer settler.
Pop: ~428 | City
Fairfield, Nebraska (68938)
Founded 1872. Birthplace of Governor Samuel Roy McKelvie (19th Governor of Nebraska). Sandy Creek Jr/Sr. High School serves the area.
Pop: ~330 | City
Glenvil, Nebraska (68941)
Village founded 1873. The 1903 Glenville School is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1997, Bill Gates donated $5,000 for a community playground after residents wrote celebrity letters.
Pop: ~267 | Village
More Clay County Communities
Trumbull (68980) · Deweese (68934) · Saronville (68975) · Ong (68452) · Inland (68954) · Verona · Eldorado
Clay County Cameras
Highways & Corridors
U.S. Highway 6 runs east-west through Clay Center and Sutton, connecting Clay County to Hastings (Adams County, west) and York (east).
Nebraska Highway 14 runs north-south through Clay Center, linking Hamilton County (north) to Nuckolls County (south).
Browse all Nebraska Corridors →
Clay County Directory
Region
Clay County is part of South Central Nebraska — a region of agricultural communities across the Republican River watershed.
Adjacent Counties
Hamilton County (north, #28) · Fillmore County (east, #34) · Nuckolls County (south, #42) · Adams County (west, #14)
