County · code 19043
Clayton CountyIowa
Clayton County is a county in Iowa with its seat in Elkader, formed in 1837.
- Founded1837
- County seatElkader
- Named forJohn M. Clayton
- Land area779 sq mi + 14 sq mi water
- Population17,043 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped32,240 checked 13 October 2026
Where it is
Clayton on the map of Iowa
Iowa has 99 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1837 from Dubuque County and Fayette County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Clayton County was created by Wisconsin Territory in 1837 from Dubuque County. The county was named after John M. Clayton. Clayton became part of Iowa Territory in 1838 when Iowa Territory was created from Wisconsin Territory, and became an Iowa county when the state of Iowa was created from Iowa Territory in 1846.
- 1837Clayton County created Clayton created by Wisconsin Territory from Dubuque; Fayette attached to Clayton "for temporary purposes." · Wis. Terr. Laws 1837, no. 6, sec. 1/p. 133
- 1838Became part of Iowa Clayton became an Iowa Territory county when Iowa Territory was created from Wisconsin Territory. · U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 96[1838]/pp. 235-241
- 1843Lost territory Fayette attachment to Clayton reduced when Fayette lost substantial territory to Non-County Area 6. · Iowa Terr. Rev. Stat. 1843, ch. 34, sec. 11/p. 134
- 1846Became part of Iowa Clayton became an Iowa county when the state of Iowa was created from Iowa Territory. Fayette attachment to Clayton reduced further when Fayette lost all area north of present state boundary. · U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 1[1847]/p. 117
- 1847Gained territory Clayton gained from Fayette, lost to Non-County Area 10; Fayette remained attached to Clayton. · Iowa Acts 1846-1847, ch. 23, secs. 1-2/pp. 39-40
- 1850Changed Fayette fully organized, detached from Clayton. · Swisher, "Organization of Counties," 575
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Clayton
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 32,240 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 30 April 2025 · checked 13 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for Clayton County yet.
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Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Clayton by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
Permits
Zoning and code
County government
- County government
The official website of Clayton County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Clayton County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Clayton County
- When was Clayton County founded?
- Clayton County was founded in 1837, formed from Dubuque County and Fayette County, and named after John M. Clayton.
- What is the county seat of Clayton County?
- The county seat of Clayton County is Elkader.
- Is there an online parcel map for Clayton County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 32,240 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Clayton County's boundary or name changed?
- Clayton County was created in 1837 from Dubuque County and Fayette County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 5 later changes, chiefly involving Fayette County.
- Who issues building permits in Clayton County?
- The county's page on building permits: GeoPermits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Clayton County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health department: septic and well.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Clayton County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby