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Clay County, Illinois

27 topographic sheets cover 19 settlements here, and 6 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

6 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Illinois within the United States
Clay County within Illinois

What the record shows

  • 182 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 6 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 6 buildings.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 19 populated places in this county; 19 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

6

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Depotbuilding199898000112
Clay County Courthousebuilding201515000224
Clay County Jailbuilding199898000986
Pearl and Bess Meyer Housebuilding200101000084
Paine Housebuilding198585002843
Shriver Housebuilding198383000306

Wildfire, 2009 to 2013

38 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 38 of them, burning about 76 acres. None started naturally and 7 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning17
Missing data/not specified/undetermined11
Arson/incendiarism7
Smoking2
Equipment and vehicle use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 March 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined15 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources27
3 March 2010Smoking10 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesCARTER
1 November 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesSMITH
17 February 2013Debris and open burning5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2710
10 December 2010Debris and open burning4.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesPIERSON
13 October 2013Debris and open burning4.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources17301
27 September 2013Debris and open burning3.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources16311
15 October 2010Debris and open burning3.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesSCHNEPPER

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1957 to 2026

60 of 365 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 365 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 20 injuries and about $25,093,100 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind193
Hail81
Flash Flood57
Tornado21
Flood8
Lightning5

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 1998Tornado (F2)Flora8 hurt, $2,100,000no account filed
April 2002Tornado (F1)Flora5 hurtA tornado touched down 2 miles southwest of Flora near the intersection of county road 1000E and 200N. At this location, it turned an unattached garage on its foundation. As the tornado travelled east along 200N it destroyed a mobile home. The three occupants sustained minor injuries. Debris from the mobile home was blown up to a mile away. It damaged 3 additional homes and a mobile home. Also, numerous trees were blown down and a propane tank was thrown a quarter of a mile. At the intersection of 1100E and 200N, a car was rolled three times and thrown into a ditch. Two occupants in the car had minor injuries, but refused treatment. As it continued east, the tornado destroyed an outbuilding. The last evidence of damage due to the tornado was located on county road 1500E, just north of 200N. Several powerlines and trees were blown over causing minor damage to a house and car.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindFlora3 hurt, $10,000A large tree limb was blown down onto a car along Route 50 west of Flora. 3 people inside the car were injured.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide3 hurtThunderstorm winds caused widespread damage throughout Clay County. However, the hardest hit areas were Flora and Clay City. The majority of the damage was to trees and power lines. Numerous structures sustained damage due to the trees falling on them. Also, several barns and grain bins were destroyed and a couple of mobile homes and trailers were flipped over. Three people sustained minor injuries.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindIngraham1 hurt, $100,000A mobile home was blown over and destroyed, injuring one person inside. A grain bin was blown 200 feet.
May 2024Tornado (EF2)Oskaloosa$10,000,000This tornado originally touched down in Marion County in the National Weather Service Saint Louis County Warning Area (CWA), then crossed into southwestern Clay County just north of the intersection of Beard Road and Songer Township Lane at 7:35 PM CDT. It knocked down several trees and power lines before tracking northeastward and doing its greatest damage at a farm on the north end of Penguin Drive where several large metal buildings were demolished. The tornado then lifted just east of Xenia-Iola Road between Songer Township Lane and Hickory Hill Lane at 7:43 PM CDT.
June 2013Flash FloodCruse$9,000,000Numerous thunderstorms produced 3 to 6 inches of rain on already saturated ground in nearly all of Clay County. Major flash flooding was reported in the town of Xenia and the city of Flora, where several people were evacuated from their flooded homes. Several water rescues were made for stranded motorists in and near Flora. In the northwest part of the county from Iola to Hord all roads were closed, including U.S. Highway 45.
May 2011Tornado (EF1)Clay City$510,000A tornado developed about 1 mile southwest of Clay City. The tornado tracked northeast and dissipated near Clay City High School. Structures damaged along the path of the tornado included a barn and several garages, and 15 homes sustained minor to moderate roof damage. One concrete block storage building collapsed. Numerous trees were also damaged.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindLouisville$500,000Two barns were destroyed by thunderstorm wind 6 miles north of Louisville. Large trees were blown down in Louisville.
June 1990Tornado (F4)not stated$250,000no account filed
December 1957Tornado (F3)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 2018Thunderstorm WindFlora$175,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down around Flora. Some large trees fell onto houses.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindHord$170,000A swath of damaging winds went through the town of Hord. 26 homes received minor damage. 20 outbuildings were damaged and 6 were destroyed. 2 businesses had minor damage. 10 utility poles were destroyed. Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down and several corn fields were flattened.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindLouisville$110,000Several houses sustained wind damage to their roofs near the high school in Louisville.
May 2013LightningIngraham$100,000Ten oil tank batteries were ignited by a lightning strike west of Ingraham.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$100,000Numerous trees were blown down across the county.
April 1998Tornado (F2)Clay City$100,000no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm WindFlora$80,000Numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down in and around Flora. One falling tree caused severe damage to a pickup truck. Several mobile homes had skirting and siding blown off.
April 2016Thunderstorm WindFlora$70,000Several trees and tree branches were blown down in Flora, knocking out power to half the town. One house was severely damaged by a falling tree.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindIola$70,000Numerous trees, tree branches, and power lines were blown down in Iola and Xenia.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindClay City$60,000Numerous trees, tree branches, and power lines were blown down in Clay City.
October 2010Thunderstorm WindFlora$55,000Numerous trees were blown down in Flora. Two of the trees fell on houses and another hit a parked vehicle. A grain trailer was blown 100 yards away from the Cargill building, and the siding was ripped off a garage.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindXenia$55,000Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down. 5 homes sustained minor damage from falling trees and tree limbs. One home had some of its windows blown in from the high winds.
July 2009Flash FloodXenia$50,000Nearly 2.50 inches of rain in one hour created flash flooding in southern Clay County. Popeberry Lane near Fairfield Road, 1.5 miles south of Xenia, was washed out due to the flooding. Several rural roads near Flora and Clay City had water flowing across them.
May 2021Tornado (EF0)Sailor Spgs$45,000A tornado touched down 1.8 miles southeast of Sailor Springs at 3:43 PM CDT. The tornado tracked southeastward and knocked down a few trees and did minor damage to a barn before dissipating at 3:49 PM CDT about 4.6 miles southeast of Sailor Springs.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindLouisville$45,000Numerous small trees were blown down and a barn was severely damaged.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindFlora$40,000Several large tree branches and power lines were blown down in Flora. Shingles were blown off a roof on Austin Avenue.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindClay City$35,000A tree was blown down onto a trailer.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindFlora$35,000Several trees were blown down in Flora.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindXenia$35,000A 61 MPH wind gust was measured at the Flora Airport. Numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down between Xenia and Sailor Springs, including the Flora area. In addition, siding was torn off mobile homes in Flora and a semi was blown over near Sailor Springs.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindXenia$30,000Multiple trees were blown down in Xenia.
April 2016LightningXenia$30,000Lightning struck a garage in Xenia. The resulting fire completely destroyed the garage.
December 2015Thunderstorm WindXenia$30,000A 40 by 80-foot barn was damaged on Butternut Road about 4 miles north of Xenia. The barn doors were blown in on the south side, the east wall was bowed out, and the roof was partially torn off.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindClay City$30,000Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down in Clay City.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindFlora$30,000Twenty-five to thirty feet of hangar roof was blown off the Flora Airport and blocked the road on the west side of the airport.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindFlora$30,000Numerous 6-inch diameter tree branches and powerlines were blown down on the northeast side of Flora.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindWendelin$25,000A pole barn was severely damaged on Silver Lane just west of Beryl Road.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindFlora$25,000A large pole barn had half its roof blown off.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindXenia$25,000Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down in Xenia.
March 2012Thunderstorm WindXenia$25,000Numerous trees were blown down about 2 miles southeast of Xenia.
October 2010Thunderstorm WindSailor Spgs$25,000An 18-inch diameter tree was blown onto a trailer.
March 1961Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1960Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2010Thunderstorm WindFlora$24,000Several 10-inch diameter tree branches were blown down in Flora.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindClay City$21,000A tree was blown onto a car.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindLouisville$20,000Large tree limbs were blown down on the southwest side of Louisville.
June 2015Flash FloodHoosier$20,000Thunderstorms produced 3.00 to 5.00 of rainfall in a large part of Clay County, mainly between 0000 and 0300 local standard time. Flash flooding rapidly developed, which made many rural roads impassable from Iola to Louisville. U.S. Highway 45 near Louisville was also flooded, and was closed after floodwaters swept a car off the highway. The driver was rescued and no injuries were reported.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindFlora$20,000Several large tree branches were blown down in Flora, including one that landed on a house.
August 2013LightningFlora$20,000Lightning struck a garage on East 9th Street in Flora. The resulting fire caused significant damage to the garage.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindClay City$20,000The roof of a building was blown off at the corner of 5th and Walnut Street in Clay City. The roof of a trailer was also blown off, and a tree was knocked down onto a house.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindFlora$20,000Several trees were blown down.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindXenia$20,000Several trees were blown down.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindFlora$20,000Several trees and power lines were blown down in Flora.
March 2009Tornado (EF0)Camp Travis$20,000The tornado initially touched down in the National Weather Service Paducah County Warning Area (CWA) in Wayne County at 11:58 AM CST. It then tracked northeastward and crossed into southern Clay County at 12:03 PM CST. The tornado quickly dissipated by 12:04 PM CST 7.3 miles southeast of Clay City. One home experienced minor damage and numerous trees were blown down.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindXenia$20,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindClay City$18,000Several trees and tree limbs were blown down. Power lines were also knocked down.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindXenia$15,000A tree was blown onto a house in Xenia.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindLouisville$15,000A tree was blown down onto a vehicle in Louisville.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindFlora$15,000Five power poles were snapped along U.S. 45 north of Flora.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindXenia$15,000Numerous 6-inch diameter tree limbs were blown down.

Mines and quarries

8 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 8 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 7 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken7
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Speaks Clay Exposure ShaleClayProspect
Clay Cty Hwy DeptStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Iola QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Louisville City EngStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Shoots Stone Quarry No. 2Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

19

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Clay County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.