History
Like many of its neighboring counties,
Clay County's early development can be traced to the westward movement
of the pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail in the 1840s and 1850s.
In later years the Pony Express paralleled the trail, leading to the
first settlement of the area.
John Weston established Pawnee Ranch
along the Little Blue River in 1857 and it served as one of the first
Pony Express stations. Within 10 years the Legislature defined the present
boundaries of the county, naming it after Kentucky statesman Henry Clay.
A steady influx of settlers would follow, particularly in the northern
half of the county.
By 1871 the young county had progressed
to the point where it had enough residents to officially organize and
elect officials. The settlement of Sutton, which was platted by the
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad on the county's eastern border,
was selected as the county seat. Within two years the county's first
courthouse was built here.
As the 1870s progressed settlers
began to favor a relocation of the county seat. Many, including those
with an interest in the railroad, suggested Harvard, which was located
farther west. Sutton residents knew the impact such a move would have
on their community so efforts were quickly begun to establish a new
town located toward the center of the county. Clay Center was platted
and in 1879, despite the fact it existed only on paper, it was chosen
by the voters of the county to become the county seat. The following
year a courthouse was built.
The 10 years that would follow brought
tremendous growth to the county. The railroads continued to advance
their lines and more farmers came to the area to plant corn and oats.
By the end of the 1880s Clay County enjoyed a population exceeding 16,000
residents. The growth and prosperity would be short-lived as the drought
and depression of the early 1890s caused many residents to leave the
area.
Within 10 to 15 years the local
economy took a turn for the better and the 20th century marked a return
of the agricultural economy.
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