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Clay County, Florida

Clay County, Florida
GCS FL crths new02.jpg
Clay County Courthouse
Flag of Clay County, Florida
Flag
Seal of Clay County, Florida
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Clay County
Location in the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Founded December 31, 1858
Named for Henry Clay
Seat Green Cove Springs
Largest community Lakeside
Area
 • Total 644 sq mi (1,668 km2)
 • Land 604 sq mi (1,564 km2)
 • Water 39 sq mi (101 km2), 6.1%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 203,967
 • Density 331/sq mi (128/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.claycountygov.com

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Clay County is included in the Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Clay County was created on December 31, 1858, from a section of Duval County. Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, a famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky, and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.

Clay County was once a popular destination for tourists visiting from the northern states. The therapeutic, warm springs and mild climate were major draws for visitors. Steamboats brought them to various hotels in Green Cove Springs - the St. Elmo, Clarendon and the Oakland. President Grover Cleveland was the most prominent of such tourists; he had spring water shipped to the White House. Clay County's popularity among tourists peaked during the last three decades of the 19th century. It was later eclipsed by Henry Flagler's extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to points south such as Palm Beach and Miami.

The military has also played an important role in Clay County history. In 1939, Camp Blanding opened on Kingsley Lake in southwest Clay County. The Florida National Guard developed this 28,000 acres (110 km2) complex. During World War II, it trained over 90,000 troops and became the fourth largest "city" in the state. In Green Cove Springs, Lee Field was a flight training center. After World War II, Lee Field became a base for the mothball fleet. Although Lee Field closed in the early 1960s, Camp Blanding continues to operate today as a base for military training. Clay County is also a popular choice of residence for military personnel stationed on bases in nearby Duval County (NAS Jacksonville, NS Mayport, and, before it closed, NAS Cecil Field).


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