What Towns Are In Clay County Florida?

Clay County is located in northeastern Florida, situated along the west bank of the St. Johns River. The county’s northeast border lies on the river, across from Jacksonville in Duval County. Clay County covers a total area of 644 square miles, with 601 square miles being land and 43 square miles being water.

The county seat and largest city is Green Cove Springs. Other incorporated areas include Keystone Heights and Orange Park. Clay County is part of the Jacksonville metropolitan area.

Some key facts about Clay County:

– Founded in 1858, it was named for Henry Clay, famous American statesman from Kentucky.

– As of 2019, the population was 212,230.

– It contains the Evelyn Hamblen Mounds, an archaeological site with 30 earthwork mounds built by the St. Johns culture circa 500-1565 CE.

– The USS Clay County (LST-603) was a tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. It was named after the county.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_County,_Florida
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_County,_Florida

History

Clay County was created on December 31, 1858, from a section of Duval County. The bill establishing Clay County was signed into law by Governor Madison S. Perry. Clay County was named after statesman Henry Clay, famous for his role in the Missouri Compromise. [1]

The original county seat was in McGirts Creek, but it was later moved to Green Cove Springs after the Civil War. The first Clay County Courthouse opened in 1871. [2]

Some key moments in Clay County’s history include:

• 1858 – Clay County established
• 1861 – Clay County votes against secession from the Union
• 1871 – First courthouse built in Green Cove Springs
• 1883 – Railroad connects Green Cove Springs to Jacksonville
• 1914 – Spring Park Hotel opens, ushering in tourism boom
• 1917 – Camp Johnston WWI training base established

Geography

Clay County is located in northeast Florida, about 15 miles south of the Georgia border. According to the Clay County, Florida Wikipedia page, the county has a total area of 644 square miles, of which 598 square miles is land and 46 square miles (7.1%) is water.

Clay County stretches from the St. Johns River on its eastern border to the Black Creek on its western border. It’s terrain consists of gentle hills and valleys draining eastward into the St. Johns River basin. The highest point is Kingsley Heights at 250 feet above sea level.

The county has diverse ecosystems including hardwood hammocks, sandhills, floodplains, lakes, springs, swamps, and marshes. Large areas of Clay County are still undeveloped, with abundant forests and wetlands.

Demographics

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Clay County has a population of 216,995 as of 2021. The county’s racial makeup is 78.6% White, 13.9% Black or African American, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 3.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 2.7% Two or More Races.

Clay County has become increasingly diverse over the past couple of decades. In 2000, the population was 90.3% White and only 7.6% Black or African American. The Hispanic/Latino population has grown from 2.8% in 2000 to 5.6% in 2021.

The median household income in Clay County is $75,061 according to 2021 Census data, which is higher than the statewide median of $59,227. However, there are still pockets of poverty, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns. Approximately 8.7% of Clay County residents live below the poverty line.

Economy

The economy of Clay County employs around 100,000 people across various industries. Some of the largest sectors include healthcare, retail trade, and construction (Clay County, FL).

Major employers in Clay County include the Clay County School District, Orange Park Medical Center, Camp Blanding, Clay County government, and Walmart. The school district is the county’s largest employer with over 5,000 employees (Economic Development).

The median household income in Clay County is $65,294, which is higher than the statewide median. However, around 11% of residents live below the poverty line. The largest numbers of jobs are in office administration, sales, food service, transportation, and healthcare (Clay County, FL).

Clay County’s economic development organization works to attract new businesses and jobs to the area. Some of their targets industries include aviation, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and information technology (Clay County Economic Development Corporation). Major recent projects includeFedEx and Amazon distribution centers.

Government

Clay County has a commission-manager form of government. The Board of County Commissioners is the legislative body of Clay County and has five districts, each represented by a commissioner elected for a four-year term. The Board appoints a county manager who oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and implements policies set by the Board.

Some of the services provided by Clay County government include:https://www.claycountygov.com/

• Law enforcement through the Clay County Sheriff’s Office
• Fire and rescue services
• Waste collection and disposal
• Parks and recreation facilities
• Public transportation through the Clay Transit bus system
• Building permits and inspections
• Road and bridge construction and maintenance
• Animal control services
• Tax collection

The county seat and administrative center is located in Green Cove Springs. There are also branch offices located throughout the county to serve residents.

Education

The primary public school district serving Clay County is the Clay County District Schools. The district has over 37,000 students across 41 schools, including 28 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 5 high schools, and several alternative and adult education centers.^{https://www.myoneclay.net/} The district’s headquarters are located in Green Cove Springs.

There are no major colleges or universities located within Clay County. The nearest public university is the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Several private and technical colleges have campuses in Clay County, including St. Johns River State College, Everest University, and Fortis College.

Healthcare

Clay County is served by several major hospitals and medical centers that provide quality healthcare to residents. The Florida Department of Health in Clay County https://clay.floridahealth.gov/ operates clinics and health services throughout the county. Major hospitals in Clay County include Orange Park Medical Center, a 196-bed hospital owned by HCA Healthcare, St. Vincent’s Medical Center Clay County, part of Ascension Health network, and Baptist Clay Medical Campus, part of Baptist Health. These hospitals offer emergency care, surgeries, cancer treatment, maternity care, and other medical services. Clay County is also home to specialty clinics such as Clay Eye Physicians & Surgeons and several walk-in urgent care centers. Overall, Clay County residents have access to comprehensive medical care within the county through the network of hospitals, clinics, private practices, and county health department facilities.

Transportation

Clay County is served by several major highways, public transit options, and airports. The main highways are I-295, which runs through the middle of the county from southeast to northwest, FL-16 and FL-21, which run east-west, and FL-224, which runs north-south. Public transportation in Clay County consists of bus and on-demand services provided by Clay Community Transportation, including the Clay Blue Line bus route and Flex On-Demand services covering most of the county.

There are two public airports in the county. Keystone Heights Airport (42J) in Keystone Heights has a 4,355 foot runway and is used for general aviation. Green Cove Springs Airport (GNV) in Green Cove Springs has a 5,002 foot runway and offers commercial aviation services. Several major airports are located just outside the county, including Jacksonville International Airport and St. Augustine Airport.

Towns and Cities

There are 4 incorporated municipalities in Clay County, Florida:

Green Cove Springs is the county seat and largest city in Clay County. Located along the St. Johns River, it has a population of around 7,000 residents. Green Cove Springs was founded in 1854 and became the county seat in 1871. It is home to the Clay County Courthouse and features historic buildings, parks, and springs along the riverfront downtown area. Some key attractions include Spring Park and the Clay County History Museum.

Keystone Heights is a city along the southern border of Clay County. It has around 1,500 residents. Keystone Heights was developed around its location along Lake Geneva in the 1920s. Outdoor recreation at its lakes and natural areas makes tourism a key industry. Melrose Bay Park and Lake Geneva Park are popular spots.

Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville located in western Clay County, with around 9,000 residents. It began growing rapidly in the 1960s. Oakleaf Plantation is a large master-planned community within Orange Park. Notable places include Moosehaven, a retirement community, and Orange Park Mall.

Penney Farms is a small town in northern Clay County with under 1,000 residents. It was developed in the 1920s by retail businessman J.C. Penney as a retirement community for Penney employees, built in the Spanish Mission style. It still retains a quaint, small-town feel today.