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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Clay County

Arkansas · 18,107 residents · 639.224 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $16,219. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $29,600. With a median age of 39.7, the population is older than the US median of 33.0.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 39.7
US median: 33.0
Less educated
5% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,107
+3%vs 2000
vs 17,609 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.7
−2%vs 2000
vs 40.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K16K17K18K1990201020202024Clay County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.7%(1,035)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 95.9%(1,066)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147%(1,276)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.9%(1,258)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.6%(1,022)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3413.2%(2,387)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.5%(2,269)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411%(1,983)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6411.4%(2,065)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7410.9%(1,980)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 847.4%(1,333)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.4%(433)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$16,219
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $25,345 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,018
−38%vs 2000
vs $14,512 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
21.2%
+3.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 17.5% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$29,600
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $40,100 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$235
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $320 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
74.0%
−0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 74.9% in 2000
26.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Clay County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(17,177)
Black0.2%(29)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(140)
Asian0.1%(14)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.7%(18,056)
Black0%(9)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(65)
Asian0%(6)
Other0.2%(36)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(127)
Panamanian0.1%(9)
Nicaraguan0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Ancestry
English13.9%(1,984)
German13.4%(1,915)
American11.5%(1,637)
Irish10.4%(1,478)
Norwegian1.1%(156)
French0.9%(130)
Italian0.9%(124)
Scottish0.8%(117)
Welsh0.5%(69)
Dutch0.4%(61)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(43)
Czech0.3%(36)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(27)
British0.2%(25)
Swedish0.2%(25)
Canadian0.1%(13)
Portuguese0.1%(9)
Danish0%(1)
Swiss0%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
5.2%
−2.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.4% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
47.9%
−12.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 60.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.0%
−0.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.4% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.9 min
+18%vs 2000
vs 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married23.2%(1,328)
Married55.7%(3,187)
Widowed5.1%(292)
Divorced16%(917)
Women 15+
Never married18.8%(1,137)
Married51.1%(3,091)
Widowed13.7%(827)
Divorced16.4%(995)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Clay County

Las Animas County
Pop 14,391
Hamilton County
Pop 14,180
Screven County
Pop 14,408
Lamar County
Pop 13,587
Places similar to Clay County
Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income$57,839+257%
Home value$169,300+472%
Population47,411+237%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Butler County
Income$49,089+203%
Home value$145,100+390%
Population41,904+198%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Dunklin County
Income$47,849+195%
Home value$97,600+230%
Population26,855+91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Ripley County
Income$42,037+159%
Home value$119,600+304%
Population10,717−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Arkansas?

Clay County, Arkansas has about 18,107 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Clay County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Clay County, Arkansas earns about $16,219 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Arkansas expensive?

In Clay County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $29,600, and the typical rent is about $235 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Arkansas?

About 5.2% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Arkansas?

About 21.2% of people in Clay County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 72454ZIP 72422ZIP 72461ZIP 72430ZIP 72456ZIP 72470ZIP 72435ZIP 72453ZIP 72424ZIP 72441ZIP 72464
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →