Clay County is named for Henry Clay, who was from Kentucky and who was a United States Representative, a United States Senator and Secretary of State.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Cleburne County
E – Randolph County
S – Tallapoosa County and Coosa County
W – Talladega County
Created: December 7, 1866 
County Seat:
Ashland 1866 – present
County Courthouse – Ashland
Location: 25 Court Square / 1st Avenue
Built: 1903 – 1906
Style: Italian Renaissance Revival
Architect: Charles W Carlton
Contractor: Harper & Barnes of Cleveland, Tennessee
Description: The building faces south and is a three story buff colored colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Ashland. The south and north sides have projecting porticos with three arches and recessed entrance on the first story, and with two columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story with pediment above. On each corner of the building is a round dome. On the center of the roof is an octagonal dome with clock, small cupola and statue of Justice at the top. The roof line is flat. In the interior is dark wood trim, wood stairs and a rotunda rising to the top of the third story. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the south side of the second story. The courtroom has a high ceiling and galleries at either end. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 40th Judicial Circuit and the County District Court and County Probate Court.
History: The county was created in 1866 and Ashland was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a wood structure built in Ashland in 1867. The courthouse burned on December 18, 1875. The second courthouse was built in 1878. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1903 to 1906.
County Courthouse – Ashland
County Circuit Court courtroom
Picture 1878 County Courthouse
Photos taken 2010 and 2023