Clay Center is the county seat of Clay County. Clay Center is the heart of the community and features cultural events, an arts council, Public Library, a City Zoo, City Parks, Public Utilities Department, a beautiful golf course, a municipal airport, retail and specialty stores.
In 1859, the town of Clifton was established in Clay County. Today, Clifton contains a number of churches, a good newspaper and school, a bank, and other stores in the community.
Longford sits among the rolling hills of southwest Clay County. Established in 1875 along a Santa Fe railroad spur to the cow town of Abilene, Kansas, it has been a vital part of history ever since.
The city of Oak Hill, established in 1866, was originally a settlement in Oakland Township. Oak Hill was incorporated in 1925 and has a Mayor-Council form of government.
Vining, or West Clifton, was laid out in the fall of 1877 by Amanda and Winslow Haynes, and Oliver Cooper. Amanda Haynes was the widow of John G. Haynes, who was the proprietor of the third Clifton town site.