Clay County

Clay County was formed on March 24, 1873, from parts of Randolph and Greene counties. It was named for Senator James M. Clayton. After moving the county seat several times, officials finally settled on two county seats, as flooding on the Black and Cache Rivers often made passage impossible from one side of the county to the other. Clay County has two courthouses -- the courthouse in Corning is in a residential area whereas the courthouse in Piggott is located in the center of town. The major economy comes from general farming and raising livestock. Rice is the major crop, followed by cotton, soybeans, corn, hay, and milo. Two rivers, the Cashe and the Black River offer many recreational sports such as duck hunting and fishing, horseback riding along the trails, hiking and picnicking. As of the 2000 census, Clay County had a population of 17,609 residents.