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Clay County, Missouri
Clay County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor	Tracy Baldwin
Auditor	Victor S. Hurlbert
Circuit Clerk	Lee Bucksath
County Clerk	Stacey L. Tingle
Collector	Barbara O’Reilly
Commissioner; (Presiding)	Jerry Nolte
Commissioner; (Eastern District)	Megan Thompson
Commissioner; (Western District)	Jon Carpenter
Prosecuting Attorney	Zachary Thompson
Public Administrator	Sarah Mills Rottgers
Recorder	Katee Porter
Sheriff	Will Akin
Treasurer	Bob Nance

Clay County
Clay County
County
	South side of the Clay County Courthouse (designed by Wight and Wight) in Liberty
	Flag
	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 for	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.claycountymo.gov

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,^[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Liberty.^[2] 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.^[3]^[4] Clay County contains many of the area's northern suburbs, along with a substantial portion of the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It also owns and operates the Midwest National Air Center in Excelsior Springs.

History

Clay County was settled primarily from migrants from the Upper Southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. They brought enslaved persons and slaveholding traditions with them, and quickly started cultivating crops similar to those in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky: hemp and tobacco. Clay was one of several counties settled mostly by Southerners to the north and south of the Missouri River. Given their culture and traditions, this area became known as Little Dixie. In 1860, enslaved persons made up 25% or more of the county's population.^[5]

The 1828 execution of Annice, a slave owned by Jeremiah Prior, was the first to occur in Clay County.^[6] She was also the first female slave executed in the state of Missouri.^[7]

Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found refuge in Clay County in November 1833 after they were driven from Jackson County, Missouri. In 1836, mobs and the Missouri State militia viciously drove the members of the church from the county.^[8] Leaders of this church, most notably Joseph Smith, were imprisoned for some months in Clay County in the jail at Liberty. In May 2012, the LDS Church built the Kansas City Missouri Temple six miles southwest of the Liberty Jail site at 7001 Searcy Creek Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri.^[9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km²), of which 397 square miles (1,030 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (2.8%) is covered by water.^[10] It is the fourth-smallest county in Missouri by area.

Adjacent counties

Clinton County (north)
Ray County (east)
Jackson County (south)
Wyandotte County, Kansas (southwest)
Platte County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	5,338	—
1840	8,283	55.2%
1850	10,382	25.3%
1860	13,023	25.4%
1870	15,564	19.5%
1880	15,571	0.0%
1890	19,856	27.5%
1900	18,903	−4.8%
1910	20,302	7.4%
1920	20,455	0.8%
1930	26,811	31.1%
1940	30,417	13.4%
1950	45,221	48.7%
1960	87,474	93.4%
1970	123,322	41.0%
1980	136,488	10.7%
1990	153,411	12.4%
2000	184,006	19.9%
2010	221,939	20.6%
2020	253,335	14.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[11] 1790-1960^[12] 1900-1990^[13] 1990-2000^[14] 2010-2019^[15]

As of the census^[16] of 2010, 221,939 people, 72,558 households, and 50,137 families resided in the county. The population density was 558 people per square mile (215 people/km²). The 93,918 housing units averaged 236 per square mile (91/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.46% White, 5.18% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.05% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. About 5.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census^[17] of 2000, 23.3% were of German, 14.5% American, 11.0% English, 10.8% Irish, and 5.6% Italian ancestry.

Of the 72,558 households, 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were not families. About 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

In 2015 the median income for a household in Clay County was $62,099. The income per capita in Clay county was $29,793. ^[18]

In 2010 the median income for a household in the county was $48,347, and for a family was $56,772. Males had a median income of $40,148 versus $27,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,144. About 3.80% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

Registered voters number 151,042.^[19]

2020 Census

Clay County Racial Composition^[20]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	193,282	76.3%
Black or African American (NH)	17,853	7.04%
Native American (NH)	1,009	0.4%
Asian (NH)	6,059	2.4%
Pacific Islander (NH)	1,004	0.4%
Other/Mixed (NH)	15,278	6.03%
Hispanic or Latino	18,850	7.44%

Education

School districts include:^[21]

K-12:

Elementary-only district:

Missouri City 56 School District

Public schools

Excelsior Springs School District No. 40 – Excelsior Springs
- Lewis Elementary School (PK–5)
- Cornerstone Elementary School (K–5)
- Elkhorn Elementary School (K-5)
- Excelsior Springs Middle School (6–8)
- Excelsior Springs High School (9–12)
- Excelsior Springs Technical High School (12) – Alternative/Technical School
Kearney R-I School District – Kearney
- Dogwood Elementary School (K–5)
- Hawthorne Elementary School (K–5)
- Kearney Elementary School (K–5)
- Southview Elementary School (K–5)
- Kearney Middle School (6–7)
- Kearney Junior High School (8–9)
- Kearney High School (10–12)
Liberty School District No. 53 – Liberty
- Liberty Early Childhood Education Center (PreK)
- Alexander Doniphan Elementary School (K–5)
- Franklin Elementary School (K–5)
- Kellybrook Elementary School (K–5) – Kansas City
- Lewis & Clark Elementary School (K–5)
- Liberty Oaks Elementary School (K–5) – Kansas City
- Lillian Schumacher Elementary School (K–5)
- Manor Hill Elementary School (K–5)
- Ridgeview Elementary School (K–5)
- Shoal Creek Elementary School (K–5)
- Warren Hills Elementary School (K–5)
- Liberty Middle School (6–8)
- South Valley Middle School (6–8)
- Heritage Middle School (6–8)
- Discovery Middle School (6–8)
- Liberty High School (9–12)
- Liberty North High School (9–12)
Missouri City School District No. 56 – Missouri City
- Missouri City Elementary School (K–8)
North Kansas City School District No. 74 – North Kansas City
- Bell Prairie Elementary School (K–5)
- Briarcliff Elementary School (K–5)
- Chapel Hill Elementary School (K–5)
- Chouteu Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Clardy Elementary School (2–5)
- Crestview Elementary School (K–5)
- Davidson Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Fox Hill Elementary School (K–5)
- Gashland Elementary School (K–1)
- Gracemor Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Lakewood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Linden West Elementary School (K–5) – Gladstone
- Maplewood Elementary School (K–5)
- Meadowbrook Elementary School (K–5)
- Nashua Elementary School (K–5)
- Northview Elementary School (K–5)
- Oakwood Manor Elementary School (K–5)
- Ravenwood Elementary School (K–5)
- Rising Hill Elementary School (K-5)
- Topping Elementary School (K–5)
- West Englewood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Winnwood Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Antioch Middle School (6–8)
- Eastgate 6th Grade Center (6)
- Gateway 6th Grade Center (6)
- Maple Park Middle School (6–8)
- New Mark Middle School (6–8)
- Northgate Middle School (6–8)
- North Kansas City High School (9–12)
- Oak Park High School (Kansas City) (9–12)
- Staley High School (9–12)
- Winnetonka High School (9–12)
Smithville R-II School District – Smithville
- Smithville Maple Elementary School (Pre-K–6)
- Smithville Horizon Elementary School (Pre-K-6)
- Smithville Eagle Heights Elementary School (Pre-K-6)
- Smithville Middle School (7–8)
- Smithville High School (9–12)

Private schools

Northland Christian School - Kansas City (Preschool-12) - Independent Christian
Outreach Christian Early Education Center – Avondale (Pre-K–12) – Nondenominational Christian
Oakhill Day School – Gladstone (Pre-K–7) – Nonsectarian – (Special Programs Emphasis)
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish School – Gladstone (K–9) – Roman Catholic
Northern Hills Christian Academy – Holt (K–9) – Baptist
Prairie Church School – Holt (K–6)
Covenant Memorial Baptist Day School – Kansas City (K) – Baptist
Eagle Heights Christian School – Kansas City (Pre-K–12) – Baptist
Faith Academy – Kansas City (Pre-K–12) – Nondenominational Christian
St. Charles Borromeo School – Kansas City (K–9) – Roman Catholic
St. Gabriel Catholic School –Kansas City (K–9) – Roman Catholic
St. Patrick School – Kansas City (NS/Pre-K–8) – Roman Catholic
St. Pius X High School – Kansas City (9–12) – Roman Catholic
Liberty Montessori Center – Liberty (K–1) – Montessori
St. James School – Liberty (K–9) – Roman Catholic

Postsecondary

Maple Woods :: Metropolitan Community College—Kansas City—A public, two-year Liberal Arts college
William Jewell College – Liberty – A private, four-year Liberal Arts college.

Libraries, archives, museums

Libraries

Mid-Continent Public Library
North Kansas City Public Library^[22]

Museums

Clay County Museum
Jesse James Bank Museum

Communities

Cities and towns

Avondale
Birmingham
Claycomo
Excelsior Estates (mostly in Ray County)
Excelsior Springs (small part in Ray County)
Gladstone
Glenaire
Holt (partly in Clinton County)
Kansas City (partly in Jackson and Platte Counties and a small part in Cass County)
Kearney
Lawson (partly in Ray County)
Liberty (county seat)
Missouri City
Mosby
North Kansas City
Oaks
Oakview
Oakwood
Oakwood Park
Pleasant Valley
Prathersville
Randolph
Smithville (small part in Platte County)
Sugar Creek

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor
Wallace Beery (1885–1949), actor
Obediah Summers (1844–1896), formerly enslaved, AME minister, and Civil War veteran; born in Clay County^[23]^[24]
Frank James (1843–1915), outlaw, Confederate States guerrilla, and train robber; born in Clay County
Jesse James (1847–1882), outlaw, born in Clay County
John Ellis Martineau (1873–1937), Governor of Arkansas from 1927 to 1928, born in Clay County
Jesse Sexton (1885–1948), state senator 1936 to 1948

Politics

Local

The three-person Clay County Commission oversees the issues of Clay County. The current makeup of the commissioners is two Republicans and one Democrat.

State

**Past Gubernatorial Elections Results**
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	51.38% 64,682	46.25% 58,224	2.36% 2,972
2016	48.97% 53,883	47.65% 52,429	3.37% 3,712
2012	41.53% 43,398	55.47% 57,962	3.00% 3,138
2008	38.64% 41,518	58.95% 63,341	2.40% 2,583
2004	46.70% 44,763	51.72% 49,573	1.58% 1,520
2000	46.57% 36,983	51.31% 40,747	2.12% 1,689
1996	34.29% 23,524	63.54% 43,593	2.18% 1,493

Clay County is divided into eight legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, five of which are held by Republicans and three by Democrats.

District 8 — Randy Railsback (R— Hamilton) — Consists of Holt and Lawson.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Randy Railsback	1,657	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	James W. (Jim) Neely	1,102	67.94%
	Democratic	Caleb McKnight	518	31.94%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	James W. (Jim) Neely	1,603	100.00%	+25.52

Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	James W. (Jim) Neely	686	74.48%	+9.46
	Democratic	Ted Rights	235	25.52%	−9.46

Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	James W. (Jim) Neely	1,106	65.02%
	Democratic	James T. (Jim) Crenshaw	595	34.98%

District 12 — Josh Hurlbert (R— Smithville) — consists of Smithville, a part of Kansas City, and a part of Kearney.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 12 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Josh Hurlbert	11,313	64.70%
	Democratic	Wade Hugh Kiefer	6,172	35.30%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 12 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kenneth Wilson	7,725	59.63%
	Democratic	Sandy Van Wagner	5,221	40.30%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 12 — Clay County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Kenneth Wilson	8,930	60.90%	−4.80
Democratic	Sandy Van Wagner	5,307	36.19%	+1.89
Libertarian	Glenn Gustitus	427	2.91%	+2.91

Missouri House of Representatives — District 12 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kenneth Wilson	5,077	65.70%	−34.30
	Democratic	Sandy Van Wagner	2,651	34.30%	+34.30

Missouri House of Representatives — District 12 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kenneth Wilson	11,540	100.00%

District 14 — Ashley Aune (D- Kansas City) — consists of a small part of Kansas City.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ashley Aune	508	64.63%
	Republican	Eric Holmes	278	35.37%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Clay County (2018)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kevin Corlew	185	35.92%	−10.05
	Democratic	Matt Sain	330	64.08%	+10.05

Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kevin Corlew	211	45.87%	−5.24
	Democratic	Martin T. Rucker II	249	54.13%	+5.24

Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kevin Corlew	92	51.11%	−0.41
	Democratic	Stephanie Isaacson	88	48.89%	+0.41

Missouri House of Representatives — District 14 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ron Scheiber	204	51.52%
	Democratic	Eric Pendell	192	48.48%

District 15 — Maggie Nurrenbern (D—Kansas City) — consists of Gladstone, Oaks, Oakview, Oakwood, Oakwood Park, and a part of Kansas City.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 15 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Maggie Nurrenbern	10,581	58.12%
	Republican	Steve West	7,624	41.88%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 15 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jon Carpenter	9,281	62.91%
	Republican	Steve West	5,411	36.68%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 15 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jon Carpenter	12,835	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 15 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jon Carpenter	5,541	100.00%	+43.83

Missouri House of Representatives — District 15 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jon Carpenter	9,294	56.17%
	Republican	Kevin Corlew	7,251	43.83%

District 16 — Chris Brown (R—Kansas City) — consists of a part of Kansas City.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 16 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Chris Brown	15,638	57.48%
	Democratic	James Shackelford	11,567	42.52%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 16 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Noel J. Shull	10,771	55.11%
	Democratic	Tom Gorenc	8,746	44.75%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 16 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Noel J. Shull	16,969	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 16 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Noel J. Shull	7,010	100.00%	+38.73

Missouri House of Representatives — District 16 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Noel J. Shull	11,290	61.27%
	Democratic	Jim Sweere	7,138	38.73%

District 17 — Mark Ellebracht (D— Liberty) — consists of the communities of Birmingham, Claycomo, Glenaire, a part of Kansas City, and a part of Liberty.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 17 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mark Ellebracht	10,497	55.61%
	Republican	Brandt Vircks	8,378	44.39%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 17 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mark Ellebracht	8,649	56.58%
	Republican	Mary Hill	6,612	43.26%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 17 — Clay County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Democratic	Mark Ellebracht	8,979	50.52%	+0.92
Republican	Mary Hill	8,146	45.83%	−4.57
Libertarian	Erik S. Buck	649	3.65%	+3.65

Missouri House of Representatives — District 17 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mark Ellebracht	4,504	49.60%	+0.22
	Republican	S. Nick King	4,576	50.40%	−0.22

Missouri House of Representatives — District 17 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mark Ellebracht	8,500	49.38%
	Republican	Myron Neth	8,713	50.62%

District 18 — Wes Rogers (D— Kansas City) — consists of the communities of Avondale, part of Kansas City, and North Kansas City.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 18 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Wes Rogers	13,737	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 18 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Wes Rogers	8,358	56.87%
	Republican	Sarah Mills	6,316	42.98%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 18 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lauren Arthur	12,734	100.00%	+43.80

Missouri House of Representatives — District 18 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lauren Arthur	4,284	56.20%	−43.80
	Republican	Robert Rowland	3,339	43.80%	+43.80

Missouri House of Representatives — District 18 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jay Swearingen	12,694	100.00%

District 38 — Doug Richey (R— Excelsior Springs) — consists of Excelsior Springs, part of Kansas City, part of Kearney, part of Liberty, Missouri City, Mosby, and Prathersville.

Missouri House of Representatives — District 38 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Doug Richey	16,385	100.00%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 38 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Doug Richey	9,341	57.72%
	Democratic	Abby Zavos	6,823	42.16%

Missouri House of Representatives — District 38 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	T.J. Berry	13,391	77.03%	−22.97
	Libertarian	Brian Lautenschlager	3,993	22.97%	+22.97

Missouri House of Representatives — District 38 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	T.J. Berry	7,044	100.00%	+40.65

Missouri House of Representatives — District 38 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	T.J. Berry	10,215	59.35%
	Democratic	Kevin Morgan	6,997	40.65%

Clay County is divided into two districts in the Missouri Senate.

District 12 — Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby) – consists of the communities of Excelsior Springs, Holt, Kearney, Lawson, Missouri City, Mosby, Prathersville, and Smithville.

Missouri Senate — Senate 12 — Clay County (2018)^[26]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Dan Hegeman	12,666	63.50%
	Democratic	Terry Richard	7,253	36.36%

Missouri Senate — Senate 12 — Clay County (2014)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Dan Hegeman	9,718	100.00%

District 17 – Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City) - consists of the communities of Avondale, Birmingham, Claycomo, Gladstone, Glenaire, Liberty, North Kansas City, Oaks, Oakview, Oakwood, Oakwood Park, Pleasant Valley, Randolph, Sugar Creek, and a part of Kansas City.

Missouri Senate — District 17 — Clay County (2020)^[25]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lauren Arthur	51,690	53.38%
	Republican	Mickey Younghanz	45,141	46.62%

Missouri Senate — District 17 — Clay County (2016)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ryan Silvey	51,262	61.26%	+8.47
	Democratic	J. Ranen Bechthold	32,422	38.74%	−8.47

Missouri Senate — District 17 — Clay County (2012)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ryan Silvey	42,491	52.79%
	Democratic	Sandra Reeves	37,997	47.21%

Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Clay County (2018)^[26]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	Claire McCaskill	48,096	49.43%
Republican	Josh Hawley	45,947	47.22%
Independent	Craig O'Dear	1,513	1.55%
Libertarian	Japheth Campbell	1,117	1.15%
Green	Jo Crain	523	0.54%

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Clay County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Roy Blunt	49,173	44.66%	+8.24
Democratic	Jason Kander	55,322	50.25%	−5.05
Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	3,507	3.19%	−5.09
Green	Johnatan McFarland	1,197	1.09%	+1.09
Constitution	Fred Ryman	896	0.81%	+0.81

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Clay County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Todd Akin	37,967	36.42%
Democratic	Claire McCaskill	57,654	55.30%
Libertarian	Jonathan Dine	8,631	8.28%

Clay County is split between the 5th and 6th congressional districts of Missouri. The southern 30% of the county is represented by Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City).

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Clay County (2020)^[25]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	19,072	54.16%
Republican	Ryan Derks	15,000	42.59%
Libertarian	Robin Dominick	1,142	3.24%

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Clay County (2018)^[26]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	16,101	56.42%
Republican	Jacob Turk	11,381	39.88%
Libertarian	Alexander Copeland	713	2.50%
Green	Alexander Copeland	224	0.78%
Constitution	E.C. Fredland	94	0.33%

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Clay County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	17,151	52.94%	+8.73
Republican	Jacob Turk	13,804	42.60%	−7.67
Libertarian	Roy Welborn	1,445	4.46%	−1.06

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Clay County (2014)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	6,711	44.21%	−10.50
Republican	Jacob Turk	7,631	50.27%	+8.99
Libertarian	Roy Welborn	838	5.52%	+1.51

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Clay County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver II	17,449	54.71%
Republican	Jacob Turk	13,163	41.28%
Libertarian	Randy Langkraehr	1,278	4.01%

The northern 70% of the county is represented by Sam Graves (R-Tarkio).

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clay County (2020)^[25]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Sam Graves	52,532	59.00%
Democratic	Gena L. Ross	34,575	38.83%
Libertarian	Jim Higgiins	1,930	2.17%

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clay County (2018)^[26]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Sam Graves	39,598	58.35%
Democratic	Henry Robert Martini	26,440	38.96%
Libertarian	Dan Hogan	1,777	2.62%

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clay County (2016)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Sam Graves	47,760	63.14%	−1.00
Democratic	David M. Blackwell	25,056	33.12%	+1.70
Libertarian	Russ Lee Monchil	1,943	2.57%	−1.87
Green	Mike Diel	886	1.17%	+1.17

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clay County (2014)
	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Republican	Sam Graves	23,092	64.14%	+1.12
Democratic	Bill Hedge	11,311	31.42%	−3.05
Libertarian	Russ Lee Monchil	1,599	4.44%	+1.93

U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 6th Congressional District — Clay County (2012)
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Sam Graves	44,573	63.02%
Democratic	Kyle Yarber	24,385	34.47%
Libertarian	Russ Lee Monchil	1,777	2.51%

Clay County, like the rest of Missouri, has swung to the Republican Party in the 21st century, though the margins have been very close. In 2000, Al Gore famously won the county by one vote. The county, holding Kansas City, is mainly suburban in culture and remains competitive. In 2016, Donald Trump won the county while Hillary Clinton failed to improve on Barack Obama's percentages with only 41% of the vote. Joe Biden, however, did improve on those margins, winning nearly 47% of the vote in 2020; Trump still carried the county by 4%.

United States presidential election results for Clay County, Missouri^[27]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	67,688	51.75%	60,345	46.14%	2,756	2.11%
2020	64,605	51.04%	59,400	46.93%	2,564	2.03%
2016	57,476	51.70%	45,304	40.75%	8,390	7.55%
2012	56,191	52.99%	47,310	44.61%	2,542	2.40%
2008	54,516	49.55%	53,761	48.86%	1,748	1.59%
2004	51,193	53.07%	44,670	46.31%	597	0.62%
2000	39,083	48.75%	39,084	48.75%	2,006	2.50%
1996	28,935	41.85%	32,603	47.15%	7,609	11.00%
1992	23,798	31.40%	30,565	40.33%	21,415	28.26%
1988	30,293	50.26%	29,620	49.15%	357	0.59%
1984	36,529	61.79%	22,586	38.21%	0	0.00%
1980	28,521	50.65%	24,250	43.06%	3,543	6.29%
1976	24,962	47.71%	26,609	50.86%	744	1.42%
1972	33,017	69.43%	14,538	30.57%	0	0.00%
1968	19,643	44.48%	17,547	39.73%	6,972	15.79%
1964	13,997	36.84%	23,993	63.16%	0	0.00%
1960	18,955	52.26%	17,318	47.74%	0	0.00%
1956	13,436	49.69%	13,605	50.31%	0	0.00%
1952	13,043	50.95%	12,502	48.84%	53	0.21%
1948	6,408	35.01%	11,855	64.77%	41	0.22%
1944	6,724	43.53%	8,682	56.21%	40	0.26%
1940	6,159	38.83%	9,672	60.98%	30	0.19%
1936	4,491	31.89%	9,535	67.70%	58	0.41%
1932	3,117	24.71%	9,398	74.52%	97	0.77%
1928	5,584	49.92%	5,574	49.83%	27	0.24%
1924	2,998	31.69%	6,076	64.24%	385	4.07%
1920	2,804	30.75%	6,283	68.91%	31	0.34%
1916	1,307	24.83%	3,902	74.13%	55	1.04%
1912	592	12.47%	3,417	72.00%	737	15.53%
1908	1,166	24.63%	3,513	74.19%	56	1.18%
1904	1,077	26.70%	2,832	70.22%	124	3.07%
1900	921	20.04%	3,585	78.00%	90	1.96%
1896	924	18.25%	4,071	80.42%	67	1.32%
1892	738	16.73%	3,085	69.92%	589	13.35%
1888	1,103	22.62%	3,628	74.39%	146	2.99%

References

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^ T. J. Stiles, Jesse James: The Last Rebel of the Civil War, New York: Vintage Books, 2003, pp.10-11
^ "In 1828 a slave woman named Annice drowned two of her small children in a stream; she was put upon trial, convicted, and was hung in Liberty, August 23rd following, this being the first legal execution in the county." County History: Clay County, Missouri. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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^ IT, Missouri Secretary of State -. "Registered Voters in Missouri". www.sos.mo.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clay County, Missouri".
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^ Anderson, Gene (December 7, 2015). Legendary Locals of Oakland. Arcadia Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-4396-5405-7.
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^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Clay County 2020 Election Results" (PDF). Clay County Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Clay County 2018 Election Results" (PDF). Clay County Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.