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Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Clay County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Minnesota state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.

Clay County — Key Numbers (2026)

Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Clay County, Minnesota — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
66,848
Population
Census estimate
25,512
Households
Census estimate
$75,006
Median income
Annual household
$241,400
Median home value
Census ACS
Moorhead
County seat
In Minnesota
Clay County Records Availability Map
Criminal records
1 source
Court records
3 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
3 sources
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources   One source   Use state portal

Clay County Records at a Glance

Record typeClay County verified sources
Court recordsClay County District Court
Clay County District Court
Criminal recordsInmates
Wants & warrantsNo verified source — see Clay County state portal below
Property recordsProperty Map Search | Clay County, MN - Official Website
Clay County Treasurer
Vital recordsMinnesota Official Marriage System - MACO/MOMS®
Voter recordsNo verified source — see Clay County state portal below
Professional licensesNo verified source — see Clay County state portal below
Recorded documentsNo verified source — see Clay County state portal below
Clay County — Verified Record Sources by Type (2026)
Court records3Criminal records1Wants & warrants0Property records3Vital records1Voter records0Licenses0Recorded docs0
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Clay County. Data verified June 04, 2026.

What Changed in 2026 — Clay County Records

2026
Clay County official government portal active
The official Clay County government website at claycountymn.gov continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Clay County court records portal verified
State court system links for Clay County verified against the Minnesota judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Clay County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Clay County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Clay County property records online
Clay County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.

The 4-Step Clay County Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Start at the Clay County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Clay County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Minnesota statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Minnesota state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Clay County Records

❌ Myth: "Clay County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Clay County are held by the Minnesota state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Clay County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Clay County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Minnesota state repository has verified, current Clay County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Clay County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Clay County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).

Primary Sources (All Verified)

Related — Clay County & Minnesota Records

For records not specific to Clay County, use Minnesota's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Minnesota statewide record systems:
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Other counties in Minnesota: Chippewa · Chisago · Clearwater · Cook · Cottonwood

About Clay County, Minnesota

Clay County is located in west-central Minnesota. The county seat is Moorhead (official site: http://claycountymn.gov/).

  • Population: 66,848
  • Households: 25,512
  • Median household income: $75,006
  • Median home value: $241,400
  • Below poverty line: 14.7%
  • Land area: 1,045.2 sq mi
  • Population density: 64.0 people / sq mi
  • Public libraries indexed: 3
  • NCES schools indexed: 24
Marriage License | Clay County, MN - Official Website
Official Free
The premarital education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister or the minister's designee, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under Minnesota Statutes, Section 517.18 or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under Minnesota Statutes, Section 148B.33.
CT
Clay County District Court
Official Free
This district court has original jurisdiction in all civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic cases filed in Clay County . This court is part of the Seventh Judicial District. For District information, Administrative Orders and District Policies visit the Seventh Judicial District ...
CT
Clay County District Court
Official Free
This district court has original jurisdiction in all civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic cases filed in Clay County . This court is part of the Seventh Judicial District. For District information, Administrative Orders and District Policies visit the Seventh Judicial District ...
CT
Case Search - Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
Official Free
Case records are displayed for all Minnesota district (trial) courts. The information available on MCRO is limited to case, hearing, and monetary judgment search results; case record information; Registers of Actions; monetary judgment details; and documents for publicly accessible district court case records that may also be available online, as defined by Rule 8, subd.
PR
Property Map Search | Clay County, MN - Official Website
Official Free
Online access to property information maintained by Clay County is available for parcels of property in the county . Use this online interactive map for all of Clay County. Tools are presented on the top of the map screen, click on the map to identify and retrieve details.
PR
Clay County Treasurer
Official Free
;Lori J. Johnson;Clay County Auditor-Treasurer;3510 12th Ave S;Moorhead, MN 56560;(218) 299-5011;cctreasurer@claycountymn.gov ;;
PR
Recorder's Office | Clay County, MN - Official Website
Official Free
The Clay County Recorder is the custodian of all legal records pertaining to: Real Estate · Birth Certificates · Death Certificates · Marriage Certificates · Marriage License · Marriage Officiant Registration Forms · Marriage Ceremony · Notary Public Registration · State / Federal Tax ...
CR
Inmates
Official Free
Log in to the federal Judiciary’s electronic public access services. Close PACER Case Locator PACER Log in Manage PACER Account
CR
VINELink
Official Free
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
VR
Minnesota Official Marriage System - MACO/MOMS®
Official Free
Apply for MN Marriage License or Minnesota Marriage Certificate Search
VT
Minnesota Vital Records and Certificates - MN Dept. of Health
Official Free
If the birth or death did not occur in Minnesota, see Where to Write for Vital Records on the CDC website. For fastest service, request your records in person at a county vital records office - find one near you using the Directory of County Offices. Most of the time, you can receive your order ...
VR
Ballot Tracker: Status of Minnesota Absentee or Mail Ballot - MNVotes
Official Free
This website is updated nightly. Election officials may take up to several days to process your application. It will appear on this website the day after it is processed · If you did not provide an ID number on your absentee ballot application, you cannot use this service.
BZ
Code
Official Free
Field notes are the narrative record of the cadastral survey . They are written in tabular format and contain the detailed descriptions of entire survey process including the instrumentation and procedures utilized, calling all physical evidence evaluated in the survey process, and listing all ...
BZ
History of Clay County | Clay County, MN - Official Website
Official Free
Once the State of Minnesota was created in 1858, the legislature created counties as settlement took place. Clay County, located along the west border of Minnesota , was established in 1860 as Breckinridge County, named for John C.
BZ
Agenda Center • Clay County, MN • CivicEngage
Official Free
View agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions. The Archive Center (http://www.claycountymn.gov/Archive.aspx) may include information from previous years. See web page related to the specific board or commission for links to the related Archive Center category ·
BZ
Plats, Corners & Surveys Online | Clay County, MN - Official Website
Official Free
Instead of a metes and bounds description, a lot, block and name of a plat are used to describe the property once it is platted. The Clay County Recorder's Office began filing surveys in 1991 when the county required a survey according to county ordinance. Searches can be done by document / survey number, location (section, township and range) or by parcel number. Parcel numbers are not entered on older surveys. If no survey is found by parcel number, search using the section, township and range option or by the city name. Minnesota’s original PLS maps are available for Clay County from MN…
BZ
Business Filings - Minnesota Secretary Of State
Business, Voter & Other

Minnesota SOS business search.

mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up court cases in Clay County?
Clay County court cases are searchable through the Clay County District Court portal: https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/clay. Minnesota also operates a state-level case lookup through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system. For federal matters, see PACER.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Minnesota law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
Are Minnesota marriage records public?
Marriage records in Minnesota are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
How do I run a Minnesota background check?
Minnesota background checks are handled by the Minnesota BCA. Name-based searches are available through the official state portal (per-search fee applies). Fingerprint-based checks — required for licensing, foster care, and many employers — must be submitted through an approved vendor.