Clay County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Clay County, Florida. With a population of 218,245 living across 601 square miles of land, Clay County is one of 8 counties in the Northeast Florida region. The county seat is Green Cove Springs, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12019 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
A fast-growing suburban county on Jacksonville's southern flank, Clay stretches from the St. Johns River west into the sand-hill lake country around Keystone Heights.
Clay County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Clay County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Clay County
- County seat
- Green Cove Springs
- FIPS code
- 12019
- Region
- Northeast Florida
- Established
- 1858
- Named for
- Henry Clay, U.S. senator from Kentucky.
- Land area
- 601 sq mi
- Water area
- 43 sq mi
- Total area
- 644 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 218,245
- Population density
- 363 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Eastern Time
Where is Clay County, Florida?
Clay County is located in the Northeast Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Green Cove Springs, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.
The county spans a total of 644 square miles — 601 of land and 43 of water — and operates on Eastern Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12019, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Clay County shares borders with 5 neighboring counties: Duval County, St. Johns County, Putnam County, Bradford County, Alachua County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.
Clay County geography & landscape
St. Johns River floodplain on the east; rolling sand-hill karst with dozens of lakes (Kingsley, Brooklyn, Geneva) in the west. Camp Blanding — a large National Guard training installation — occupies the center.
The county's overall footprint — 601 square miles of land plus 43 square miles of water — places it in the mid-range of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.
Economy & industry in Clay County
Bedroom communities for Jacksonville and NAS Jacksonville drive employment. Cecil Airport industrial park (in Duval) provides jobs; growing retail and health care serve residents.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Clay County reflect its location in Northeast Florida and its position in the state's middle tier of population. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.
History of Clay County
Split from Duval County in 1858. Green Cove Springs was a Gilded Age tourism spa; the Naval Air Station Green Cove Springs (WWII/Korea era) became today's Reynolds Industrial Park.
Established in 1858, Clay County is one of Florida's 19th-century counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Clay County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Clay County
Camp Blanding Museum, Black Creek, Gold Head Branch State Park, and Green Cove Springs' sulfur spring pool.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Clay County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Northeast Florida identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).
Cities, towns & communities in Clay County
Clay County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.
Getting to Clay County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Clay County.
- US-17
- SR-21
- SR-16
- First Coast Expressway
- Jacksonville International (JAX) nearby
Clay County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Clay County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12019.
You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.
Frequently asked about Clay County
Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.
Nearby Florida counties
Counties that share a border with Clay County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.