  clay county is a county located in the u.s. state of kentucky. as of the 2010 census, the population was 21,730. its county seat is manchester. the county was formed in 1807 and named in honor of green clay (1757â1826). clay was a member of the virginia and kentucky state legislatures, first cousin once removed of henry clay, u.s. senator from kentucky and secretary of state in the 19th century. ==history== clay county was established in 1807 from land given by floyd, knox and madison counties. the courthouse burned in january 1936. ==geography== according to the u.s. census bureau, the county has a total area of , of which  is land and  (0.4%) is water. ===adjacent counties=== *owsley county (north) *perry county (northeast) *leslie county (east) *bell county (southeast) *knox county (sout
Counties_of_Appalachia Kentucky_counties Populated_places_established_in_1807