Clay County, Nebraska

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Clay County was founded on March 07, 1855 from Unorganized area of the Nebraska Territory.

Currently the Clay County Seat is located in Clay Center and also the county government website is http://www.claycounty.ne.gov/

Places adjoining Clay County are Fillmore County, Nuckolls County, Adams County, Hamilton County .

Townships located in the county include Edgar, Eldorado, Fairfield, Glenvil, Harvard, Inland, Leicester, Lewis, Logan, Lone Tree, Lynn, Marshall, School Creek, Sheridan, Spring Ranch, Sutton.

Clay County has Federal Census Schedules to assist in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules exist for 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. Mortality Schedules are available for 1880. Industry and Agriculture Schedules exist for 1880. The Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. There are free downloadable and printable census forms to help with your research.

Clay County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Clay County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• Nebraska State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Clay County, Nebraska Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Clay County, Nebraska Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• USGenWeb Archives for Clay County (usgwarchives.net)

Clay County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers often fail to notice the great importance of Clay County court, probate, and land records as a resource of family history and genealogy information. Buried away in Nebraska courthouses and archives just about everywhere could be the aspirations and frustrations of the many Nebraska citizens. The chances are excellent that your particular ancestors have left a in-depth record of at least quite a few facets of their lives in the Clay County court records. Even if your forefathers is not referred to in a Court case, give some thought to all of the other procedures which could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.

• Clay County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 111 W Fairfield St, Clay Center, NE 68933
  • Phone: (402) 762-3651
• Clay County Clerk
  • Marriage Records: 1871
• Clay County Register of Deeds
  • Land Records: 1872
• Clay Clerk of Courts
  • Probate Records: 1871
  • Court Records: 1872
• Nebraska Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Nebraska for current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events.
  • Ordering Vital Records – You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Nebraska Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate Applications to mail.

Clay County Links

The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Clay County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a fee. This is merely a list that has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to submit your own preferred Clay County genealogy or family history related sites.

Clay Co. NE Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Nebraska Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Nebraska historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Nebraska (1868–1983) (genealogybank.com)
• Clay County, Nebraska Books (amazon.com)
• Search Nebraska Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Clay County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

Clay Co. NE Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• Nebraska Vital Records Research Guide
• Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com)

Clay Co. NE Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• Nebraska Court Records Research Guide
• BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)

Clay Co. NE Census Records

• Nebraska Census Records Research Guide
• Clay County, NE Census Records Links
• Clay County, NE Census QuickFacts

Clay Co. NE Cemeteries & Church Records

• Nebraska Cemetery Research Guide
• Clay Co., Nebraska Graves (findagrave.com)
• Clay County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Clay Co., Nebraska Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Clay County, Nebraska
• Clay Co., Nebraska Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Nebraska Church & Bible Research Guide
• Topographic Church List and Map for Clay County, Nebraska
• Clay County, Nebraska Church Books (amazon.com)

Clay Co. NE Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

•  Nebraska Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Clay Co. NE General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Nebraska
• Clay County, Nebraska Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska  (search.ancestry.com)
• Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Webster and Nuckolls Counties, Nebraska : comprising a condensed history of  (search.ancestry.com)
• Adams, Clay, Hall, and Hamilton Counties, Nebraska Biographical and Historical Memoirs  (search.ancestry.com)
• Clay County, Nebraska Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Clay Co. NE Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Clay County, Nebraska (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Nebraska – Counties – Clay (cyndislist.com)
• Clay County Nebraska (genealogytrails.com)
• Clay Co. NEGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Clay County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Clay Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Clay Co. NE Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Nebraska Links and Information
• 1895 Clay County Map (livgenmi.com)

Clay Co. NE Military Records

• Nebraska Military Records Research Guide
• Nebraska Military Records (fold3.com) provides you with access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Nebraska both males and females that served. Suitable for Clay County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.