Clay County, FL
| Clay County, Florida | |||
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Clay County Courthouse
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 Location in the U.S. state of Florida |
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 Florida's location in the U.S. |
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| 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 |
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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.
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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