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Clay County, Indiana

61 topographic sheets cover 49 settlements here, and 15 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

15 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service

Indiana within the United States
Clay County within Indiana

What the record shows

  • 751 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 15 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 6 buildings, 5 structures and 4 districts.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 50 populated places in this county; 49 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

15

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
Aqueduct Bridgestructure200000000209
Brazil Downtown Historic Districtdistrict199797000601
Clay County Courthousebuilding199999001109
Clay County Hospitalbuilding199999001154
Eaglefield Placebuilding199898001104
Feeder Dam Bridgestructure200000000215
Indiana State Highway Bridge 42-11-3101structure200000000210
Indiana State Highway Bridge 46-11-1316structure200000000211
Jeffers Bridgestructure200000000213
Kennedy-Hoffa Housebuilding2024100010746
Meridian-Forest Historic Districtdistrict199797000600
Poland Presbyterian Church and Cemeterybuilding199090001932
Shakamak State Park Historic Districtdistrict200000000199
Tide Water Pumping Stationdistrict199999001076
US Post Office-Brazilbuilding199494001132

Wildfire, 2001 to 2003

3 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 3 of them, burning about 41 acres. 1 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural1
Debris and open burning1
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 October 2001Missing data/not specified/undetermined40 acresIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
10 November 2003Debris and open burningunder an acreIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
15 July 2003Naturalunder an acreIndiana State Fire Marshal's Officenot named

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

Storms, 1956 to 2026

60 of 203 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 203 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 2 injuries and about $47,176,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind114
Hail44
Flash Flood20
Flood14
Tornado8
Lightning2
Heavy Rain1

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
September 1988Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurt, $2,500no account filed
June 2008FloodBowling Green$45,000,000Flooding occurred along the Eel River in Clay County, including near Bowling Green, due to heavy rainfall.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindBrazil$600,000Numerous reports of downed trees with structural damage caused by thunderstorm wind gusts. Over 10000 power outages reported across the county with the extensive damage to both vegetation and power poles.
May 1996Tornado (F1)Brazil$250,000no account filed
April 2025Flash FloodArt$100,000Numerous roads closed across the county with several cars stranded in Brazil. Total rainfall ranged from 2.5 to 4.1 inches.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindOld Hill$100,000Numerous trees and powerlines snapped or damaged by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindClay City$100,000Strong thunderstorm wind gusts knocked over corn crop and snapped large old growth trees over plus several large limbs of others landing on power lines with enough force to snap the cables. 1 tree landed across a lane of in sr 246.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindCoalmont$75,000Several trees uprooted, a couple snapped, some power lines down from trees, and a little structural damage mainly from trees falling on homes caused by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2008Flash FloodBrazil$75,000Homes, vehicles, and bridges have been destroyed due to heavy rain that caused flash flooding. There was a 100 foot section of the road missing on County Road 200 South. Sixty percent of the roads in the county have sustained some form of damage with thirty percent suffering severe damage, meaning being totally washed out. The streets in Brazil also have experienced some damage.
May 2002Flash FloodCountywide$75,000Numerous roads flooded
June 2008Flash FloodTurner$50,000Interstate 70 was closed due to heavy rain that caused flash flooding.
June 2007Tornado (EF0)Ashboro$50,000An EF0 tornado touched down near the town of Ashboro in Clay County at approximately 630 PM EDT on the evening of June 4, 2007. The tornado tracked towards the southeast, and produced several areas of minor to moderate tree damage. Some of the damage to structures included three homes sustaining minor damage, a carport lifted off of the ground and damaged, a mini barn moved off of its blocks, and trees blown down onto a trampoline and a truck.
June 2006LightningClay City$50,000A lightning strike set a home ablaze and killed a breeder calf standing 60 yards away from the home.
May 2002Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
May 2002Flash FloodHarmony$50,000no account filed
May 2002Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
May 1994HailRoyal$50,000no account filed
July 2023Thunderstorm WindBrazil$40,000Tree downed onto home by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindPrairie City$25,000Part of roof ripped off by thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 1998Tornado (F0)Billville$25,000no account filed
June 1973Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 2018Thunderstorm WindBogle Corner$20,000Trees and power lines were downed and a camper was turned over due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. This report was relayed by dispatch.
July 2016Flash FloodBrazil$20,000A culvert was washed out on County Road 1100 North, about 0.5 miles east of State Road 59, due to thunderstorm heavy rainfall.
June 2008Flash FloodBrazil$20,000A Cocorahs observer reported flash flooding due to heavy rainfall.
July 2001Flash FloodClay City$20,000no account filed
May 2000Thunderstorm WindBrazil$20,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindBrazil$20,000no account filed
March 2008FloodBowling Green$15,000Flooding occurred along the Eel River in Clay County, including near Bowling Green, due to heavy rain.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindKnightsville$10,000Trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts near the intersection of US Highway 40 and County Road 100 East along with structural damage to a 3 car garage.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindClay City$10,000Several large trees were uprooted and numerous tree limbs were snapped with power outages reported in Clay City due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindCardonia$10,000Numerous trees were downed across northern Clay County due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
February 2008FloodBowling Green$10,000Flooding occurred along the Eel River in Clay County, including near Bowling Green, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
October 2007Thunderstorm WindBrazil$10,000Damaging thunderstorm winds caused a tree to fall onto a garage and back porch.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindBrazil$10,000no account filed
April 2000Thunderstorm WindClay City$10,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindBrazil$10,000no account filed
June 2019Thunderstorm WindCoalmont$8,000Dispatch reported several trees down in Coalmont due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindCoalmont$7,000Trees were reported down in the southern portion of Shakamak State Park.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindBrazil$7,000Trees down. Gas station sign fell on vehicle.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindCardonia$5,000Numerous trees and power lines down by thunderstorm wind gusts across northern Clay County.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindBowling Green$5,000Several power lines and large trees downed due to thunderstorm wind gusts in Bowling Green. Additional damage was reported in surrounding areas with 2 trees downed on vehicles.
September 2018Flash FloodCenter Pt$5,000Several county roads were closed in portions of Clay County with water flowing over them due to heavy rainfall. Portions of County Roads 300 East and 400 East were closed.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindBrazil$5,000Trees and power poles were reported down across the county due to damaging thunderstorm winds.
June 2008Flash FloodHoffman Crossing$5,000Roadways were covered and previous flooding conditions were exacerbated due to heavy rainfall that caused renewed flash flooding.
June 2008Flash FloodCarbon$5,000Roadways were covered and previous flooding conditions were exacerbated due to heavy rainfall that caused renewed flash flooding.
June 2008Flash FloodBrazil$5,000Many roads are closed due to flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindBrazil$5,000Trees blown down and few shed roofs blown off.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$5,000no account filed
May 2013Thunderstorm WindBrazil$4,000Multiple trees were reported down in the area due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindBrazil$3,000Trees damaged by thunderstorm wind gusts on the west side of Brazil.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindAsherville$3,000Thunderstorm wind gusts caused tree damage near I-70 north of Center Point. Report via social media.
February 2024Thunderstorm WindBowling Green$3,000A 22 foot Coleman pool was lifted and caved in by thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2012Tornado (EF0)Old Hill$3,000A small storm, with a weak radar signature, produced a brief tornado near Cory in Clay County. This EF-0 tornado had a path length of 0.1 mile and was 50 yards wide, touching down at 2:33 PM EDT. A few trees and some corn stalks were damaged from this tornado.
October 2010Thunderstorm WindCoalmont$3,000A tree was reported down on a garage at 1973 E State Route 48. Power lines were also reported down.
April 2007Tornado (EF0)Knightsville$3,000The initial tornado touchdown was reported by a storm spotter at 4:20 P.M. EDT in Harmony, about 22 miles east of Terre Haute . Minor tree damage resulted from this storm in addition to damage to a metal carport and a shed. This tornado was rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita intensity scale with winds estimated around 70 mph.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindPrairie City$2,000Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts near the area of Interstate 70 and State Road 42.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindSmithville$2,000Several trees downed along State Road 59 north of Clay City.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindArt$2,000Power lines and power poles downed due to thunderstorm wind gusts near this location.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindHarmony$2,000Multiple trees were downed due to thunderstorm wind gusts along US 40 east of Brazil.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindSaline City$2,000Power lines were downed due to thunderstorm wind gusts. Exact locations were not noted.

Mines and quarries

18 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 18 workings inside this county. 10 still produce and 8 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Fire Clay (Refractory)7
Clay6
Zinc2
Sulfur2
Coal2
Clay, Stone1
Clay, Coal1
Coal, Clay1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
C & F Shale Pit 1Clay, StoneProducer
Indiana Clay Sales PitCoal, ClayPast Producer
S. L. Turner Coal & Clay PitClay, CoalProducer
Ashboro North PitClay, CoalProducer
Cardonia PitClay, CoalPast Producer
Sphalerite OccurrenceZinc, SulfurOccurrenceStratabound
Sphalerite Occurrence Z83Zinc, SulfurOccurrenceStratabound
Ashboro PitClayPast Producer
C & F Shale Pit 2ClayProducer
E and E Clay PitClayProducer
Hoosierville PitClayPast Producer
Arketex Ceramic Plant #2Fire Clay (Refractory)Producer
Arketex Ceramic Plants #'s 3 & 4Fire Clay (Refractory)Producer
Brazil Brick PlantFire Clay (Refractory)Producer
Clay City PlantFire Clay (Refractory)Producer
Irwin Clay PlantFire Clay (Refractory)Producer
Logan Clay and Shale PlantFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Marion Brick Clay and Shale PlantFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer

The county's history books

328,207 words

One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 1 chapter in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.

A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) (1909)

ChapterLength
The whole text328,207 words in 21 parts

Every populated place in the county

50

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.

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.