Clay County Public RecordsIllinois

As of 2024, Clay County, IL, has approximately 8,150 registered voters. The county conducts primary, general, and special elections, with two major parties: Republican and Democratic; in the 2022 general election, the Republican candidate secured 72% of the vote. Polling locations include the Flora Depot and Clay City Village Hall. Key issues are local economic development and school funding. Elections are overseen by the Clay County Clerk’s office. Recent voter turnout was around 55%. The county typically leans conservative in federal and state elections but engages in bipartisan local initiatives.

Clay County, IL has around 10 public schools, including high schools like Clay City High with a graduation rate of about 92%. Approximately 10% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. School safety is rated average; 67% of students report feeling safe. The district offers diverse educational programs such as dual-credit college courses and career-technical education. Average standardized test scores are below the Illinois state average. Adult education and GED preparation are available through local community colleges, supporting lifelong learning for residents.

As of 2022, Clay County, IL has an employment rate of approximately 55%. The leading industries are healthcare and social assistance (20.5% of jobs), manufacturing (16.4%), and retail trade (12%). Major occupation types include production (13%), sales and office (19%), and management/business/finance (9%). About 63% of workers commute outside the county for work, with an average travel time of 23 minutes. The primary employment locations outside Clay County include Effingham and Flora.

Clay County, IL, has a homeownership rate of about 75%, with median home values around $95,000 as of 2023. Median gross rents are approximately $650 per month. The housing stock mainly consists of single-family homes, with some apartments and mobile homes. Neighborhoods are largely rural or small-town, notably in Flora and Louisville. Property values have shown stable trends, with minor increases in recent years. Average property tax rates are roughly 1.7%, meaning annual taxes on a median home are about $1,615. The county features affordable housing options in friendly, close-knit communities.

Clay County, IL, maintains a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. Recent FBI data from 2022 reports around 140 total crimes, with approximately 20 violent crimes and 120 property crimes annually. The violent crime rate hovers near 2.0 per 1,000 residents, while property crime stands at roughly 12 per 1,000. Local law enforcement encourages prompt crime reporting through non-emergency hotlines and community programs, contributing to improved safety. Overall, Clay County's crime rate is significantly lower than Illinois's statewide average.

As of the 2020 Census, Clay County, Illinois had a population of approximately 13,288. The median age was around 42.5 years. The gender distribution was fairly even, with about 49.3% male and 50.7% female. Racially, the county was predominantly White (95.1%), with small minorities of individuals identifying as Hispanic or Latino (2.4%), two or more races (2.1%), African American (0.4%), Asian (0.2%), and others.