Geography of Clay County
Small towns and open country define Clay County. Its 10,764 residents are spread across 1,098 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 33.79° N, 98.21° W and is 50th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Oklahoma. Clay County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Wichita Falls (about 18 miles away in a straight line) and Fort Worth (about 88 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Clay County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 10,764 residents across 1,098 square miles, Clay County has a population density of about 9.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Henrietta
If you need an official record from Clay County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Henrietta is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Henrietta combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Clay County was established in 1857 and was named for Henry Clay, U.S. Senator from Kentucky and ninth secretary of state of the United States (1825–1829). It was carved from territory previously part of Cooke County.
Clay County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Clay County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Clay County, Texas located?+
Clay County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 33.785° N, 98.209° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48077. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Clay County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Clay County in square miles?+
Clay County covers approximately 1,098 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 50th out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Clay County, Texas?+
Clay County has a population of approximately 10,764 residents. With 1,098 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 9.8 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Clay County the 161st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Clay County?+
Henrietta is the county seat of Clay County, Texas, which was organized in 1857 and named for Henry Clay, U.S. Senator from Kentucky and ninth secretary of state of the United States (1825–1829). Clay County was originally carved out of Cooke County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Clay County are located in Henrietta.
Which Texas counties border Clay County?+
Clay County shares borders with Jack, Montague, Archer, and Wichita counties. These 4 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Clay County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Clay County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Clay County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Clay County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Clay County is 48077, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 077. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.