Clay county was formed in 1807. It is located in the Eastern Coal Field region of the state. The elevation in the county ranges from 690 to 2235 feet above sea level. In 2000 the county population was 24,556 in a land area of 471.01 square miles, an average of 52.1 people per square mile. The county seat is Manchester. Most of Clay county is within the Daniel Boone National Forest.