Clay County Population Charts

According to the most recent Clay County Iowa demographics data available from the 2022 Census Bureau released in the American Community Survey in November of 2022, Figure 1 Clay County depicts it has a Population 2021 of 16,410 which is the third most populous of all other counties in the greater Clay County region. The county with the highest population in the area is Buena Vista County which shows a population of 20,723 (26.3% larger). Figure 3 uses the Clay County population data for a comparison of the population growth/population change estimates from the years 2010 to 2021 and Clay County Iowa shows a decline of 257 (2%).

The total Clay County Iowa greater area population percent change for all areas for the years from 2010 to 2021 is shown in Figure 4 and for Clay County shows it has a Population Change of -1.5% which is the third most of all other counties in the local area.

Looking at the Clay County population density (measured as people per square mile) and providing comparisons to both the national and state average population density in Figure 5, Clay County Iowa shows it has 29 people per square mile which is the third most people per square mile of all other counties in the greater Clay County region. The next higher as measured by population density is Buena Vista County 24.6% larger with population density of 36. The county with the highest population density in the area is Dickinson County which shows a people per square mile of 46 (59.3% larger). Figure 6 provides Clay County demographics for the overall median age for all people in the region and Clay County shows it has a Median Age of 41.0 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest overall median age of all people in the area is Dickinson County which depicts an age of 47.8 (16.6% larger). The Clay County Iowa population data for median age broken out by gender for both men versus the median age of women is shown in Figure 7. Clay County Iowa depicts a median age of men only about 3.7% smaller as the median age of women.

The next demographic analysis (Figure 8) looks at large generational Clay County population groups (and can be useful internet research for employment related research or identifying areas with retirees). Key findings in this chart includes that Clay County Iowa has the largest proportion of people between 20 and 29 years old at 12.0% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people between 40 and 49 years old at 11.9% of the total.

Figure 9 illustrates the overall diversity breakdown for Clay County population and ethnicity groups in the area. (note: Hispanic/Latino is broken out separately in the next diagram and also the group denoted as Native ethnicity includes Native American, and Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.) Clay County Iowa has the percentage of Native population the second smallest when ranked by people who are white of all the other counties in the metro area at 4.0% of the total. Figure 10 shows the Clay County Iowa Hispanic (including non Hispanic whites) population household ethnicity in the region and Clay County depicts it has a Hispanic or Latino of 4.1% which is less than most other counties in the local area. Figure 11 compares the ratio of the amount of men to the amount of women and shows total male population only about 3.2% smaller as the total female population.

Clay County Marital Status and Families Charts

Figure 12 shows the detailed marriage characteristics broken down by %residents who are married, never married, single, divorced, and widowed. Clay County has one of the largest proportions of never married percent at 12% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Emmet County with 13%. Figure 14 compares the average household size using the average number of people in a family for Clay County households. Clay County shows it has a Family Size of 3.0 which is the second smallest in order of average family size of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average family size in the area is Buena Vista County which depicts an average family size of 3.6 (22.0% larger).

Figure 15 shows the overall ratio of Clay County households for families to the total number of Clay County households and that Clay County depicts it has a Families of 59% which is in the center range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest percent of people who are in a family in the area is OBrien County which depicts a families percent of 63% (6.4% larger).

Looking at Clay County households that are headed by a husband and wife as a percent of all families in Figure 16, Clay County depicts it has a Married-couple family of 77% which is the second smallest when sorted by percent of people in a husband and wife family of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percent of people in a husband and wife family in the area is OBrien County which depicts a husband and wife family percent of 87% (12.4% larger). Figure 17 shows Clay County demographics for the head of household for each place using a breakdown of married-couple, male-headed alone, and female-headed alone. Clay County Iowa has one of the largest proportions of households at 17.2% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Emmet County with 17.7%.

Clay County Mothers and Children Charts

The next section of charts provide a detailed look at mothers and baby births that occurred over the past 12 months. Figure 18 shows the rate of women aged 15 to 50 years old who have given birth. Clay County depicts it has a Birth Rate of 3.8% which is the smallest as measured by percent of women who gave birth of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest percent of women who gave birth in the area is OBrien County which shows a birth rate of 10.0% (approximately 2.6 times bigger). Figure 19 shows the breakdown of the mother's age for all baby births that occurred in the last 12 months and it has the largest proportion of percent of births to mothers aged 15 to 19 at 52% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of percent of births to mothers aged 25 to 29 at 7% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of percent of births to mothers aged 35 to 39 at 11% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 21, the percentage of all births in the last 12 months to mothers that were unmarried is shown (unwed mothers.) Clay County depicts it has a Unwed Births of 52% which is the second most percent of unwed women who have given birth of all the counties in the greater Clay County region. The county with the highest percent of unwed women who have given birth in the area is Emmet County which depicts an unwed mother birth rate of 65% (23.4% larger).

Unwed mothers who have given birth in the last 12 months are also shown broken down by age group in Figure 24. Clay County Iowa has the largest proportion of unwed mothers aged 15 to 19 at 100.0% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 25 shows the comparative demographic rate of unwed mothers who have given birth in the last 12 months are broken down by racial group (including the Hispanic birth rate.) Clay County Iowa has the largest proportion of Black unwed birth rate at 100.0% of the total and is ranked #1.

For all births to unwed mothers, Figure 27 breaks down the education level of the mother by less than high school through college and post graduate attainment it has one of the largest proportions of percent of unwed mothers with less than high school education at 97% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Osceola County with 100%. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by percent of unwed mothers with less than high school education of all the other counties in the area when ranked by percent of unwed mothers who are a high school graduate or equivalent at 3% of the total.

Clay County Marital Status Charts

The next set of demographic data looks at the marital status for Clay County households which is useful for internet research. Figure 28 compares the total number of single people in each area. Clay County depicts it has a Total Single People of 48% which is the third most of all other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percent of people who are single for any reason in the area is Emmet County which indicates a percent single of 54% (12.4% larger). Comparing percent of people who are single for any reason to the United States average of 50%, Clay County is only about 3.8% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of Iowa, percent of people who are single for any reason of 48%, Clay County is only slightly larger.

Figure 30 compares the single people in each area broken down by never married, divorced, and widowed. Clay County Iowa has one of the largest proportions of percent never married at 12% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Emmet County with 13%. Figure 31 shows the demographics for the number of single men adults in each area broken out by never married, divorced and widowed. Clay County Iowa has the percentage of men who have never been married in the mid point range of other counties in the local area at 13% of the total. Figure 32 shows the number of single women adults in each area broken out by never married, divorced and widowed. Clay County Iowa has one of the largest proportions of women who have never been married at 12% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Dickinson County with 13%. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area as measured by women who are divorced at 11% of the total.

Figure 33 shows the Clay County demographics for the ratio of the number of single men between the age of 18 and 65, in each area, broken down by age group for the Clay County metro area. Clay County Iowa has the percentage of single men 18 to 24 in the mid range of other counties in the greater region at 14% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of single men 30 to 34 at 12% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being OBrien County with 13%.

Figure 34 shows the Clay County population data for the ratio of the number of single women between the age of 18 and 65, in each area, broken down by age group for the Clay County metro area. Clay County Iowa has the smallest proportion of single women 18 to 24 at 8% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of single women 25 to 29 at 12% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of single women 30 to 34 at 11% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of single women 40 to 44 at 10% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of single women 45 to 49 at 13% of the total.

Clay County Citizenship Demographics Charts

The next section of demographic information provides detailed data Clay County residents including: immigrants, citizenship, immigration, country of origin, non citizens and more. To start, Figure 35 shows a high level view of citizenship. Clay County Iowa has the percentage of citizens born In US the second smallest when sorted by percent of citizens born In US of all the other counties in the local area at 1% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of citizens by naturalization at 1% of the total.

In Figure 37, the demographic percentage of Clay County residents who were not born in the United States is shown (i.e. percent foreign born.) Clay County shows it has a Percent Foreign Born of 1.4% which is the smallest as measured by percent of population who was born in another country of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest percent of population who was born in another country in the area is Buena Vista County which depicts a percent born outside United States of 20.6% ( very much bigger). Comparing percent of population who was born in another country to the United States average of 13.6%, Clay County is approximately a tenth the size. Also, versus the state of Iowa, percent of population who was born in another country of 5.5%, Clay County is approximately a quarter the size.

Figure 39 provides a detailed analysis of non citizens by breaking them into two age groups: Under 18 and over the age of 18. Clay County Iowa depicts a percent of non citizens under 18 years old only about 2.2% the size as the percent of non citizens over 18 years old. Figure 40 provides further information for non citizen age by showing a comparison of the median age for all non citizens immigrants. it has a Non Citizen Median Age of 33.2 which is the third most median age of non citizens of all other counties in the greater Clay County region. The county with the highest median age of non citizens in the area is Buena Vista County which shows a median age of 35.9 (8.1% larger). The next diagram (Figure 41) shows the year of entry that non citizens entered the United States. The year of entry can show the rate of flow at various points of time in the past for when they entered the U.S. has the smallest proportion of non citizens who entered the US between 2000 to 2009 at 9% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of non citizens who entered the US between 1990 to 1999 at 41% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Palo Alto County with 72%. Third, it has in the mid point range of other counties in the local area when ranked by non citizens who entered the US before 1990 at 2% of the total.

For all foreign born people who have gone through naturalization (the process of becoming a legal U.S. resident citizen), Figure 42 shows the year when they became fully naturalized U.S. citizens. has the smallest proportion of people naturalized 2010 to 2014 at 1% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people naturalized 2005 to 2009 at 20% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people naturalized before 1990 at 73% of the total and is ranked #1.

Clay County Birthplace Demographic Charts

Figure 43 displays a map of the globe and shows Clay County demographic information for large regions of the world that people from this place originally came from. Clay County Iowa has one of the largest proportions of from Europe at 13% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Dickinson County (14%), and #1 Emmet County (14%) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of from Asia at 40% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Dickinson County with 46%. Third, it has the largest proportion of from Oceania at 7% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the second smallest as measured by percent of people born in Europe of all the other counties in the metro area in order of from the Americas at 40% of the total.

Figure 44 categorizes the location for where foreign born people originally come from based on very large continental geographic areas. Clay County Iowa has one of the largest proportions of from Europe at 40% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Dickinson County with 46%. Second, it has the largest proportion of from Africa at 7% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the second smallest as measured by percent of people born in Europe of all the other counties in the greater region when ranked by from Oceania at 40% of the total.

Figure 45 is a table that breaks out all the people who were foreign born by which large geographic region where they were born. Clay County Iowa has the largest proportion of people who were born in Northern Europe at 4.3% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in Eastern Asia at 19.3% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in the Oceania region at 7.3% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who were born in Central America at 25.8% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who were born in North America at 6.4% of the total and is ranked #1.