West Virginia Explorer

Clay County, West Virginia

A ridgetop farm opens among the hilly woodlands of Clay County, West Virginia.

A ridgetop farm opens among the hilly woodlands of Clay County, in central West Virginia.

Clay County, WV (West Virginia), was created in 1858 from parts of Braxton, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties and was named in honor of Henry Clay, American statesman and Whig Party leader. Its county seat is at Clay, West Virginia on the Elk River.

The Clay County Courthouse rises along Main Street in Clay, West Virginia.

The Clay County Courthouse rises along Main Street in Clay.

Leading industries in Clay County include farming, forestry, and gas drilling. The county is the renowned home of the Golden Delicious Apple, which was discovered in Porter, West Virginia, near the Elk River. The county annually hosts the Golden Delicious Apple Festival. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 9,386.

Elk River Trail State Park courses across the county from northeast to southwest, following the winding route of the Elk River. The county includes vast tracts of forest.

Cities & Towns in Clay County

Bentree, West Virginia
Bickmore, West Virginia
Big Otter, West Virginia
Bomont, West Virginia
Clay, West Virginia
Cressmont, West Virginia
Dille, West Virginia
Enoch, West Virginia
Glen, West Virginia
Harrison, West Virginia
Indore, West Virginia
Ivydale, West Virginia
Lizemores, West Virginia
Maysel, West Virginia
Mountain Home, West Virginia
Ovapa, West Virginia
Procious, West Virginia
Queen Shoals, West Virginia
Valley Fork, West Virginia
Wallback, West Virginia
Widen, West Virginia

Parks & Public Recreation Facilities

  • Mary Chilton Roadside Park
  • Morris Creek Wildlife Management Area
  • Wallback Wildlife Management Area
  • Elk River Trail State Park

Clay County Historic Landmarks

Old Clay County Courthouse (Clay County, WV)

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Regional Information for Clay County, West Virginia

Further information on lodging, dining, and recreation in Clay County can be found in our guide to travel in the Heartland Region of central West Virginia, where the county is located.

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