Clay County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the eastern Cumberland Plateau coalfield. It had a population of 20,345 at the 2020 census and covers 471 square miles (1,220 km2) centred near 37°10′N 83°43′W.
Manchester is the county seat, and its postal code is 40962. The county has one incorporated city, one census-designated place, and dozens of unincorporated communities scattered along its creek hollows. Clay County is in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Clay County
Clay County has one incorporated city (Manchester, the seat), one census-designated place (Oneida), and more than 50 unincorporated communities and post-office settlements, most named for the creek or family that settled them. Kentucky counties have no civil townships, so the table below omits that column.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | City · seat | 1,486 | 40962 |
| Oneida | CDP | — | 40972 |
| Big Creek | Unincorp. | — | 40914 |
| Sextons Creek | Unincorp. | — | 40983 |
| Garrard | Unincorp. | — | 40941 |
| Fall Rock | Unincorp. | — | 40932 |
| Goose Rock | Unincorp. | — | 40944 |
| Hima | Unincorp. | — | 40951 |
| Alger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ammie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ashers Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barcreek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Benge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bernice | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bluehole | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Botto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brightshade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brutus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burning Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chestnutburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cottongim | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Creekville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deer Lick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eriline | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Felty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fogertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gardner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hector | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hensley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hooker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jacks Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Larue | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laurel Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lincoln | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Littleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marcum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mill Pond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ogle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Panco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peabody | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pigeonroost | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plank | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Portersburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Queendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shepherdtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sibert | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sidell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spurlock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tanksley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Teges | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trixie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Urban | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wild Cat | Unincorp. | — | — |
Manchester and Oneida are the only Census Bureau-recognized places in the county; every other name on the list is a rural community, post-office settlement, or creek hollow — the kind of granular local geography Clay County is known for.
ZIP Codes
- 40962 — Manchester (the county’s main delivery ZIP)
- 40972 — Oneida (also serves the Oneida Baptist Institute area)
- 40914 — Big Creek
- 40983 — Sextons Creek
- 40941 — Garrard (PO Box only)
- 40932 — Fall Rock (PO Box only)
- 40944 — Goose Rock (PO Box only)
- 40951 — Hima (PO Box only)
Most of the smaller communities listed above have no ZIP code of their own and are served by mail carried out of Manchester or one of the eight offices above.
Geography
Clay County sits on the eastern Cumberland Plateau, a landscape of steep, forested ridges cut by narrow creek hollows rather than open farmland. The county covers 471 square miles, of which 469 square miles are land and 1.8 square miles are water. The Goose Creek and Red Bird River systems, both tributaries of the Kentucky River’s South Fork, drain most of the county and gave many of the settlements listed above their names.
Clay County borders Owsley County to the north, Perry County to the northeast, Leslie County to the east, Bell County to the southeast, Knox County to the southwest, Laurel County to the west, and Jackson County to the northwest. Perry County and Knox County also link here.
Demographics
Clay County had 20,345 residents at the 2020 census. Manchester, the county seat, and Oneida are its two largest communities, with the remaining population spread across dozens of small unincorporated settlements. Clay County’s median household income runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting the county’s long-running economic challenges. Population density works out to roughly 43 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining shaped Clay County’s economy for most of the 20th century and remains part of it, alongside healthcare, education, and government employment. Manchester Memorial Hospital and the Clay County school system are among the county’s larger employers. The Oneida Baptist Institute, a K-12 boarding and day school founded in 1899, has long anchored the Oneida community and draws students from across the region.
History
Clay County was organized in 1807 from parts of Floyd, Knox, and Madison counties. It was named for Green Clay (1757–1826), a Virginia- and Kentucky-based legislator, land speculator, and militia general who was a first cousin once removed of U.S. Senator Henry Clay. The county’s salt-making industry along Goose Creek was one of the earliest commercial salt operations in Kentucky, and rivalries over salt and land in the 19th century contributed to some of the family feuds the region later became known for.
Getting There
U.S. Route 421 and Kentucky Route 80 are the county’s main highways, meeting at Manchester.
- London, Kentucky — 20 miles west
- Hazard, Kentucky — 30 miles northeast
- Barbourville, Kentucky — 25 miles southwest
- Berea, Kentucky — 45 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is London-Corbin Airport (LOZ), with fuller service available at Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clay County, Kentucky?
It’s in the eastern Cumberland Plateau region of Kentucky, on the Goose Creek and Red Bird River watersheds.
What is the population of Clay County?
20,345 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Clay County?
471 square miles (1,220 km2), of which 469 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Clay County?
Manchester is the county seat.
How many towns are in Clay County?
One incorporated city (Manchester), one census-designated place (Oneida), and more than 50 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Clay County?
Eight, led by 40962 for Manchester and 40972 for Oneida.
What school is Oneida known for?
The Oneida Baptist Institute, a boarding and day school founded in 1899.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.