Clay County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Clay County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Henry Clay, a famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky, and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.[2]The County is located in the Northeast area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Clay County Courthouse
PO Box 698
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043-0698
Phone: 904-284-6317
Clay County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, probate, court, and land records from 1872, and divorce records from 1859. County Health Department has birth and death rec from 1973 [4]
Clay County, Florida Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1973 | 1872 | 1973 | 1872 | 1872 | 1872 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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1872 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Additional Information
The county is named after U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (1777-1852).[8]
Clay County was created on December 31, 1858, from a section of Duval. 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.[9]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 1,914 | — |
| 1870 | 2,098 | 9.6% |
| 1880 | 2,838 | 35.3% |
| 1890 | 5,154 | 81.6% |
| 1900 | 5,635 | 9.3% |
| 1910 | 6,116 | 8.5% |
| 1920 | 5,621 | −8.1% |
| 1930 | 6,859 | 22.0% |
| 1940 | 6,468 | −5.7% |
| 1950 | 14,323 | 121.4% |
| 1960 | 19,535 | 36.4% |
| 1970 | 32,059 | 64.1% |
| 1980 | 67,052 | 109.2% |
| 1990 | 105,986 | 58.1% |
| 2000 | 140,814 | 32.9% |
| 2010 | 190,865 | 35.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- 1783 Spanish Census- USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1821 Census/Tax List Index- USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1823 Census/Tax List Index- USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1880 Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos - USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
- Federal Census Information from National Archives- USGenWeb Archives Project
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives- USGenWeb Archives Project
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service- USGenWeb Archives Project
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Doctors Inlet
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1885-1925 Chancery Orders, 1885-1925(*); Clerk of the Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- Florida African American Griots Project - USGenWeb
- Afrigeneas - African Ancestor Genealogy
- 1880 Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos - USGenWeb Archives Project
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Orange Park
- Broadus Raines Funeral Home in Green Cove Springs
- Hardage - Giddens Holly Hill Funeral Home in Middleburg
- Helm Gallagher Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Green Cove Springs
- Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery in Orange Park
- Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Keystone Heights
- Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Home in Green Cove Springs
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
History of Clay County, FLGenWeb
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Florida (1821-1997)
- 1870 Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of State - USGenWeb Archives Project
- 1882 Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of State- USGenWeb Archives Project
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Clay County Military Files (USGenWeb Archives)
- Florida State Military Files - USGenWeb Archives Project
- Pension Transcriptions- Florida state pension records from various wars - USGenWeb Pension Project
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1883 1883 Pension Files for St. Johns, Duval and Clay Counties (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1885-1955 Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Civil War Pensioners, Clay Co. FLGenWeb
World War I
- 1917-1918 Clay County, Florida - 1917-18 Civilian Draft Registration, Surnames A-K (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1917-1918 Clay County, Florida - 1917-18 Civilian Draft Registration, Surnames L-Z (USGenWeb Archives)
- 1917-1920 Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- Clay County, Florida Army Enlistees, Names Adans - Hinson (USGenWeb Archives)
- Clay County, Florida Army Enlistees, Names Holcy - Young (USGenWeb Archives)
- Clay County World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel (Genealogy Trails)
- 1940-1945 Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Korean War
- Clay County Korean War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
- Distantcousin Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict
Vietnam War
- Clay County Vietnam War Casualties (Genealogy Trails)
- Distantcousin Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Digitized Newspapers relating to Clay Co, at the FLGenWeb
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Florida Obituaries - Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties - USGenWeb Obituaries Project
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Indexes and Records
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
- 1859-1924 Probate Records, 1859-1924(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1861-1930 Wills, 1861-1930(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1880-1935 Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1802-1998 Florida, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927 - 2001 Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1957 Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Florida State Archives
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1939 Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1927-2001 Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 at Ancestry $
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Voter Records[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Clay County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Clay County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Clay County Public Library System
There are five branches in the county library system
Website
Fleming Island
1895 Town Center Blvd
Fleming Island, FL 32003
Telephone: 904-278-3720
Green Cove Springs
403 Ferris Street
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Telephone: 904-284-6315
Keystone Heights
175 Oriole Street
Keystone Heights, FL 32656
Telephone: 352-473-4286
Middleburg
2245 Aster Ave
Middleburg, FL 32068
Telephone: 904-541-5855
Orange Park
2054 Plainfield Ave.
Orange Park, FL 32073
Telephone: 904-278-4750
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Clay County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Clay County Florida Genealogy and Graveyards
Facebook
Clay County Historical Society
Email historicsociety@aol.com
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- Clay County, USGenWeb Archives
- Clay County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Clay County, FLGenWeb Project, Inc
- Clay County, Florida Genealogy Trails
- Clay County FL Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Clay County, Florida Genealogy and History”, genealogytrails accessed 04/24/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clay County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/24/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Clay County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 25 September 2018
- ↑ "Henry Clay," Wikipedia.
- ↑ Clay County, FLGenWeb, 2011.