Clay County is a county in North Carolina, United States, tucked against the Georgia line in the mountains of the far southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 11,089 at the 2020 census and covers 220.78 square miles (571.8 km2) centred near 35°03′N 83°45′W.
Hayesville is the county seat, and its postal code is 28904. The county has one incorporated town and several unincorporated communities, and sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Clay County
Clay County has one incorporated town, Hayesville, and a handful of unincorporated communities scattered through the Hiwassee and Tusquitee valleys. Unincorp. below means the place has no town government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayesville | Town · seat | 461 | 28904 |
| Brasstown | Unincorp. | — | 28902 |
| Warne | Unincorp. | — | 28909 |
| Shooting Creek | Unincorp. | — | 28904 |
| Tusquitee | Unincorp. | — | 28904 |
| Elf | Unincorp. | — | 28904 |
| Pine Log | Unincorp. | — | 28904 |
Brasstown straddles the North Carolina–Georgia line, and its post office serves both sides; the ZIP 28902 covers the community on both states’ territory. Shewbird and Fires Creek, named on some older lists, are a valley and a wildlife-management creek drainage rather than settlements with their own populations, so they are omitted here; Fires Creek is covered instead under Geography below.
ZIP Codes
- 28904 — Hayesville (also serves Shooting Creek, Tusquitee, Elf and Pine Log)
- 28902 — Brasstown
- 28909 — Warne
Most of rural Clay County outside Brasstown and Warne is served by the Hayesville post office.
Geography
Clay County sits in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, drained by the Hiwassee River and its tributary the Tusquitee Creek; Chatuge Lake, a TVA reservoir formed by damming the Hiwassee, forms much of the county’s eastern and southern shoreline. The Fires Creek watershed, on the west side of the county, is a designated wildlife management area with a popular hiking loop. Terrain is steep and forested away from the river valleys, with elevations running from about 1,900 feet along the lake up to over 5,000 feet on the ridges bordering Macon County.
Clay County borders Macon County, North Carolina, to the east (Macon County); Cherokee County, North Carolina, to the northwest; and, across the state line, Towns County, Georgia, to the south (Towns County), Union County, Georgia, to the southwest (Union County), and Rabun County, Georgia, to the southeast (Rabun County).
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 11,089 residents. Hayesville, the only incorporated town, is by far the largest named place at 461 people; Brasstown is the next-largest recognised community. Clay County’s median household income runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, reflecting its rural, retirement- and tourism-oriented economy. Population density is about 51 people per square mile of land, low even by western North Carolina standards.
Economy & Local Life
County government and Clay County Schools are the largest employers, the latter with roughly 205 staff. Historically the economy ran on lumber and small manufacturing; Amazon opened a distribution facility in the county in 2025, adding to the job base. Tourism and retirees drawn by Chatuge Lake and the surrounding national forest land support a growing share of local business, from lakefront rentals to outfitters serving the Fires Creek trails.
History
Clay County was formed in 1861 from part of Cherokee County and named for Henry Clay, the Kentucky senator and statesman who never lived in North Carolina. Hayesville, its seat, predates the county and grew up around the old Cherokee County courthouse site before Clay County split off. The county’s population has skewed older than the state average for decades, and it now has one of North Carolina’s oldest median ages, a pattern tied to sustained in-migration of retirees to the Chatuge Lake shoreline since the mid-20th century.
Getting There
U.S. Route 64 and U.S. Route 74/64 (via the Macon County line) are the main highways through the county, linking Hayesville east to Franklin and west into Georgia toward Hiawassee.
- Franklin, North Carolina — about 20 miles east
- Murphy, North Carolina — about 20 miles northwest
- Hiawassee, Georgia — about 10 miles south
- Blairsville, Georgia — about 25 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Asheville Regional Airport, roughly 75 miles northeast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clay County, North Carolina?
It is in the far southwestern corner of the state, on the Georgia line, in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains.
What is the population of Clay County?
11,089 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Clay County?
220.78 square miles (571.8 km2), of which 214.98 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Clay County?
Hayesville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Clay County?
One incorporated town, Hayesville, plus several unincorporated communities including Brasstown, Warne, Shooting Creek, Tusquitee and Elf.
What ZIP codes are in Clay County?
28904 (Hayesville), 28902 (Brasstown) and 28909 (Warne).
What lake is in Clay County?
Chatuge Lake, a TVA reservoir on the Hiwassee River, forms much of the county’s eastern shoreline.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.