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Photograph of Clay County Courthouse
Photograph by Ammodramus, Public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Clay County Courthouse

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

From the record

“The Clay County Courthouse in Clay Center, Nebraska, was built during 1917-1919. Gernandt in Beaux Arts style, and is an "exceptionally fine" example of the ten Nebraska courthouses that he designed.”

Wikipedia article Clay County Courthouse (Nebraska), CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 10 National Register listings published here for Clay County · listed in 1990 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. Fairfield St. between Alexander and Brown Aves., Clay Center, 68933
  • When was it listed? January 1990
  • Category. building
  • Also known as. County Courthouses of Nebraska MPS
  • City. Clay Center city
  • Architectural style. Beaux-Arts
  • National Register reference number. 89002240 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

14 since 2005

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 14 fires within 5 miles of Clay County Courthouse between 2005 and 2020, burning about 53 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined5
Equipment and vehicle use4
Debris and open burning4
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
27 July 2020Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreRainwater Basin Wetland Management DistrictMASSIE
15 June 2018Debris and open burning2.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
7 April 2016Power generation/transmission/distribution28 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
26 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
15 April 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresRainwater Basin Wetland Management DistrictWILKENS
12 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
10 April 2018Debris and open burning3.5 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
15 March 2018Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named

Every fire recorded in Clay County

Storms near this property

60 of 117 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Clay Center, the town this property stands in, in 117 storm reports between 1995 and 2024: 56 hail, 41 thunderstorm wind, 16 heavy rain, 3 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center$250,000Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH resulted in damage across Clay Center. Emergency management reported widespread tree damage and power outages across town and much of Clay County. A couple metal buildings in town sustained damage, including one at the grain elevator. A few power poles were also damaged.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindClay Center$250,000no account filed
April 2024Thunderstorm WindClay Center$200,000Wind gusts were estimated to be between 60 and 70 MPH by the NWS Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center. Clay County Emergency management reported two irrigation pivots were knocked over four miles north of Clay Center.
May 2013Tornado (EF1)Clay Center$200,000This was the second tornado to touch down approximately 2 miles north-northeast of Clay Center this day, with this one traveling along a 4 mile path before lifting 6 miles north-northeast of Clay Center. This tornado had a maximum width of 75 yards and maximum wind speed estimated to be 100 MPH. One home suffered minor damage, as did an outbuilding, with metal panels being pulled from the roof and walls.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindClay Center$200,000Wind gusts estimated at 70 mph resulted in a few center irrigation pivots being overturned.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindClay Center$150,000Numerous large trees fell onto homes.
August 2007Flash FloodClay Center$150,000Flash flooding throughout the county with many county roads under water.
May 2018HailClay Center$150,000no account filed
June 1998HailClay Center$125,000no account filed
July 2024Thunderstorm WindClay Center$100,000A wind gust of 72 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles west-northwest of Clay Center and a gust of 71 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile southeast of Clay Center. The NWS Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center estimated gusts to be between 60 and 70 MPH and reported downed tree limbs, some up to 8 inches in diameter. Tree damage was also reported in Clay Center. This wind was accompanied by dime size hail.
August 2013HailClay Center$100,000The time of occurrence was estimated from radar data and also using a nearby report. Severe hail damage to crops occurred. This report was from Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network (NERAIN).
June 2008HailClay Center$100,000Hail accompanied by wind gusts estimated at 70 mph.
August 2020HailClay Center$100,000no account filed
August 2020HailClay Center$100,000no account filed
August 2013HailClay Center$100,000no account filed
June 2015HailClay Center$75,000Quarter to golf ball size hail fell during this time in Clay Center.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindClay Center$75,000no account filed
June 2004HailClay Center$50,000no account filed
June 2004HailClay Center$50,000no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindClay Center$50,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindClay Center$50,000no account filed
May 2001HailClay Center$40,000no account filed
July 2024Thunderstorm WindClay Center$25,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH, resulting in damage to large trees in the area.
August 2020HailClay Center$25,000Hail ranging in size from golf balls to baseballs was reported along this path. A vehicle's windshield was cracked approximately 6 miles southeast of Clay Center.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindClay Center$25,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH.
June 2014Heavy RainClay Center$25,000A 24 hour rainfall total of 4.07 inches fell 4 miles west southwest of Clay Center. This was an NERAIN report. The rain occurred from late evening into the overnight hours.
May 2006HailClay Center$25,000Quarter sized hail was accompanied by 50 to 60 mph winds.
May 2012HailClay Center$25,000no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindClay Center$25,000no account filed
September 2001HailClay Center$25,000no account filed
June 1998HailClay Center$25,000no account filed
May 2012HailClay Center$20,000no account filed
May 2007HailClay Center$20,000no account filed
September 2006Thunderstorm WindClay Center$20,000no account filed
September 2006Thunderstorm WindClay Center$20,000no account filed
May 1999HailClay Center$20,000no account filed
May 2007HailClay Center$10,000no account filed
April 2005HailClay Center$10,000no account filed
September 1997HailClay Center$10,000no account filed
October 2020Thunderstorm WindClay Center$5,000Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH caused minor tree damage and downed power lines in Clay Center.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindClay Center$5,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH. A gustnado was also reported in the area.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindClay Center$5,000no account filed
May 2004Thunderstorm WindClay Center$5,000no account filed
June 2024Thunderstorm WindClay Center$2,000Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH downed a few tree limbs, one of which was at least 6 inches in diameter.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center$2,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH, resulting in minor tree damage.
April 2023HailClay Center-Hail up to the size of half dollars was reported along and near this path.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH downed a few tree branches of 3 to 4 inches in diameter.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Emergency management estimated wind gusts near 60 MPH.
October 2023Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH resulted in grain bins being destroyed as well as a nearby outbuilding located two miles west-northwest of Clay Center. A wind gust of 66 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile north of Clay Center.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center-A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Fairfield.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center-A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles southeast of Clay Center. An NWS Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center noted wind gusts estimated to be between 55 and 65 MPH, damaging two cedar trees, one of which was 12 inches in diameter.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center-A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Fairfield.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindClay Center-A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Fairfield.
May 2021Tornado (EFU)Clay Center-This landspout tornado briefly touched down 4 miles south-southeast of Clay Center.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Thunderstorm wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph occurred near Road T and Road 311.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH. Visibility was near zero due to rain and wind. A wind gusts of 63 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles southeast of Clay Center.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindClay Center-A wind gust of 63 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Fairfield.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Wind gusts were estimated to be near 65 MPH. Tree damage was reported in Clay Center, including tree limbs landing on a few homes.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindClay Center-Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.

Every storm recorded in Clay County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

3 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Clay Center Library and Gymnasiumunder 500 feet2022
Fairfield Carnegie Library6.8 miles2001
Harvard Carnegie Library7.1 miles2022

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 89002240 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Clay CountyAll 10 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • 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.
  • 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.