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Clay Center, Kansas

Clay Center, Kansas

In 1862 John and Alonzo Dexter came to what is now Clay Center. The Dexter's selected almost the exact center of Clay County for the town and hoped it would become the county seat. Their hopes were realized in 1866.

As was the common practice, the Dexter brothers used "center" as part of the name, hoping this would help give the city the county seat. Original spelling was Clay Centre.

The county was named for Henry Clay, the famous U.S. statesman, so Clay Center implies the center of Clay County. For one day in its history, Clay Center was called Reynolds for General Reynolds.

Clay Center is a traditionally built community with an historic center that surrounds the Clay County Courthouse. The core area is still pedestrian friendly which allows one to park and walk anywhere within a matter of minutes. With its increasingly vibrant downtown business and entertainment district, Clay Center is a unique place. While many communities of the 60's and 70's were spoiled by the unsightly sprawl development of big box discount retailers, fast food chains and parking lots fronting miles of highway, Clay Center was not. Clay Center's design resembles that from which many of neo-traditional communities are being patterned.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Clay County Historical Museum

The Clay County Museum is housed in the former Clay Center Hospital building constructed in 1925. The structure served as a nursing home before it became the location of the museum in 1975.

Clay Center, KS Museums

Band Shell

The Clay Center Municipal Band Shell was built in 1934, it is a W.P.A. project and is on the Kansas Register of Historic Places. The Band Shell hosts many City Band Concerts throughout the year.

Clay Center, KS Historic Buildings

Clay Center Post Office

The Clay Center Post Office is a stately building built in 1911

Clay Center, KS Historic Buildings

Heritage Row Museum Complex

Heritage Row is representative of the early founders of our community. Some of the first buildings of Clay Center can be found there. It is located at the West end of Clay Center on highway 24

Clay Center, KS Museums

Carnegie Library

Circa 1912, the Library is on the National Register of Historic Places

Clay Center, KS Carnegie Libraries

Things to do near Clay Center, KS

Hunting

There are more than 108,000 acres of public hunting land in the Manhattan area. All are free and open to licensed hunters dur...

Abilene Driving Tour of Historic Markers

28 bronze markers have been placed through-out the city of Abilene indicating historic sites....