Clay County is located in the state of Illinois and is part of the Effingham, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Louisville.

The county was formed in 1824 out of parts of Fayette and Crawford counties. It was named for Henry Clay, a famous American statesman.

The county government is composed of a Board of Commissioners, which is the legislative body, and a County Administrator, who is the executive officer. The Board of Commissioners is composed of seven members, each elected from a single-member district. The County Administrator is appointed by the Board of Commissioners.

The county is divided into seven townships: Bible Grove, Clay City, Clay City-Hord, Hoosier, Louisville, Sailor Springs, and Xenia.

The county is served by two school districts: Clay City Community Unit School District 10 and Louisville Community Unit School District 103.

The county is home to several parks, including Clay County State Park, Clay City Park, and Louisville Park.

The county is served by two newspapers: The Clay County Advocate and The Clay County Republican.

For the most up-to-date and in-depth information, please check the public records links below.