Clay County, named for the "great compromiser" Henry Clay, was founded in 1858.
The original county seat, as designated by legislation, was Middleburg. An 1859
election moved the seat to the "McRae House," or Whitesville, thereafter renamed
Webster in honor of Daniel Webster. The selection was controversial, eventually
resolved by a judge, and in
1872 this "very insecure house" was burned and with it most of the county's
judicial records. The current county seat is Green Cove Springs. The latter town
dates from about 1830 and is one of many in the state whose promoters wistfully reputed it
the site of Ponce DeLeon's fountain of youth.
 The historic Clay
County Courthouse is among the state's oldest, built in 1889. Combining Italianate and
Second Renaissance elements, it is constructed of stuccoed brick with a round arched
entrance and arcaded porch. It was designed by A. E. McClure of Jacksonville.
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