Jay County, Indiana

County in Indiana, United States

County in Indiana

Jay County

County

Jay County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Indiana

Indiana's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 40°26′N 85°01′W﻿ / ﻿40.43°N 85.01°W﻿ / 40.43; -85.01
Country|  United States
State|  Indiana
Founded| February 7, 1835 (authorized)
1836 (organized)
Named after| John Jay
Seat| Portland
Largest city| Portland
Area

• Total

| 384.08 sq mi (994.8 km2)
• Land| 383.90 sq mi (994.3 km2)
• Water| 0.18 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.05%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 20,478

• Estimate

(2024)[1]

| 20,164
• Density| 52.5/sq mi (20.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| jaycounty.net
Indiana county number 38

Law enforcement agency

Jay County Sheriff's Department

Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction| Jay, Indiana, United States
Legal jurisdiction| As per operations jurisdiction
General nature|

* Local civilian police

Operational structure
Agency executives|

* Dwane Ford, Sheriff
* Patrick Wells, Chief Deputy

Facilities
Jails| 1

Jay County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 20,478.[2] The county seat is Portland.[3]

## History

[edit]

The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill on February 7, 1835[4] that authorized the creation of thirteen counties[5] in northeast Indiana, including Jay - the only county in the United States named for John Jay, co-author of The Federalist Papers, Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation, and first Chief Justice of the United States. John Jay had died in 1829.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

Jay County lies on the east side of Indiana; its east border abuts the western border of Ohio. Its low, rolling terrain is entirely devoted to agriculture or urban development.[7] Its highest point (1,121 feet/342 meters ASL) is a small rise on the east border with Ohio, 2,600 feet north of the county's SE corner.[8] The Salamonie River originates near Salamonia in southeastern Jay County and flows generally northwestwardly into Blackford County (It joins the Wabash River from the south in Wabash County). According to the 2010 United States Census, the county has a total area of 384.08 square miles (994.8 km2), of which 383.90 square miles (994.3 km2) (or 99.95%) is land and 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2) (or 0.05%) is water.[9]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Adams County \- north
* Mercer County, Ohio \- east
* Darke County, Ohio \- southeast
* Randolph County \- south
* Delaware County \- southwest
* Blackford County \- west
* Wells County \- northwest

### Cities & Towns

[edit]

* Bryant
* Dunkirk
* Pennville
* Portland
* Redkey
* Salamonia

### Townships

[edit]

* Bearcreek
* Greene
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Knox
* Madison
* Noble
* Penn
* Pike
* Richland
* Wabash
* Wayne

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Antioch
* Balbec
* Bellfountain
* Blaine
* Bloomfield
* Bluff Point
* Boundary City
* College Corner
* Collett
* Como
* Fiat
* Greene
* Jay City
* Liber
* New Corydon
* New Mount Pleasant
* Noble
* Pleasant Ridge
* Poling
* Powers
* Ridertown
* Salem
* West Liberty
* Westchester

### Major highways

[edit]

Sources: National Atlas,[10] US Census Bureau[11]

* US 27
* SR 1
* SR 18
* SR 26
* SR 67
* SR 167

## Climate and weather

[edit]

Portland, Indiana

Climate chart (explanation)

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1.9

1.9

2.6

3.6

3.9

4.1

4.4

2.7

2.6

2.5

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[12]
| Metric conversion

100

105

112

101

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Portland have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.87 inches (47 mm) in January to 4.40 inches (112 mm) in July.[12]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1840| 3,863| | —
1850| 7,047| | 82.4%
1860| 11,399| | 61.8%
1870| 15,000| | 31.6%
1880| 19,282| | 28.5%
1890| 23,478| | 21.8%
1900| 26,818| | 14.2%
1910| 24,961| | −6.9%
1920| 23,318| | −6.6%
1930| 20,846| | −10.6%
1940| 22,601| | 8.4%
1950| 23,157| | 2.5%
1960| 22,572| | −2.5%
1970| 23,575| | 4.4%
1980| 23,239| | −1.4%
1990| 21,512| | −7.4%
2000| 21,806| | 1.4%
2010| 21,253| | −2.5%
2020| 20,478| | −3.6%
2024 (est.)| 20,164| | −1.5%
US Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2024[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,253 people, 8,133 households, and 5,647 families in the county.[17] The population density was 55.4 inhabitants per square mile (21.4/km2). There were 9,221 housing units at an average density of 24.0 per square mile (9.3/km2).[9] The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.7% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 34.1% were German, 13.1% were American, 11.7% were English, and 11.6% were Irish.[18]

Of the 8,133 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age was 39.0 years.[17]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $47,926. Males had a median income of $38,142 versus $26,928 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,946. About 10.0% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[19]

## Government

[edit]

See also: Government of Indiana

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and by the Indiana Code.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives, elected to four-year terms from county districts, are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.[20][21]

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[20][21]

Court: The county maintains circuit and superior courts with the latter having a small claims division. Both courts have general jurisdiction with the circuit court having exclusive jurisdiction of juvenile and probate matters. The court's judges are elected to six-year terms, and must be admitted to practice law before the state supreme court. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[21]

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including prosecuting attorney, assessor, sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk Each officer is elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[21]

Jay County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district; Indiana Senate district 19;[22] and Indiana House of Representatives district 33.[23]

United States presidential election results for Jay County, Indiana[24] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 6,217  | 76.61% | 1,747  | 21.53%  | 151  | 1.86%
2020 | 6,361  | 75.14% | 1,926  | 22.75%  | 179  | 2.11%
2016 | 5,697  | 71.02% | 1,889  | 23.55%  | 436  | 5.44%
2012 | 4,645  | 58.79% | 3,063  | 38.77%  | 193  | 2.44%
2008 | 4,401  | 52.88% | 3,748  | 45.03%  | 174  | 2.09%
2004 | 5,427  | 65.93% | 2,740  | 33.28%  | 65  | 0.79%
2000 | 4,687  | 58.37% | 3,167  | 39.44%  | 176  | 2.19%
1996 | 3,584  | 44.71% | 3,356  | 41.86%  | 1,077  | 13.43%
1992 | 3,609  | 40.84% | 3,208  | 36.31%  | 2,019  | 22.85%
1988 | 5,363  | 62.22% | 3,212  | 37.26%  | 45  | 0.52%
1984 | 5,975  | 64.90% | 3,174  | 34.47%  | 58  | 0.63%
1980 | 5,351  | 58.06% | 3,256  | 35.33%  | 610  | 6.62%
1976 | 4,606  | 52.24% | 4,124  | 46.77%  | 87  | 0.99%
1972 | 6,090  | 64.21% | 3,349  | 35.31%  | 45  | 0.47%
1968 | 5,460  | 51.00% | 4,290  | 40.07%  | 955  | 8.92%
1964 | 4,439  | 39.22%  | 6,781  | 59.91% | 98  | 0.87%
1960 | 6,519  | 56.73% | 4,899  | 42.63%  | 74  | 0.64%
1956 | 6,767  | 59.08% | 4,571  | 39.91%  | 116  | 1.01%
1952 | 7,270  | 58.96% | 4,764  | 38.63%  | 297  | 2.41%
1948 | 5,635  | 49.25% | 5,520  | 48.24%  | 287  | 2.51%
1944 | 6,207  | 53.38% | 5,166  | 44.42%  | 256  | 2.20%
1940 | 6,478  | 49.27%  | 6,554  | 49.84% | 117  | 0.89%
1936 | 5,233  | 43.73%  | 6,535  | 54.61% | 199  | 1.66%
1932 | 5,018  | 42.85%  | 6,693  | 57.15% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 5,998  | 55.31% | 4,759  | 43.89%  | 87  | 0.80%
1924 | 5,753  | 52.83% | 4,812  | 44.19%  | 325  | 2.98%
1920 | 6,089  | 53.35% | 4,759  | 41.69%  | 566  | 4.96%
1916 | 3,075  | 46.49% | 3,070  | 46.41%  | 470  | 7.11%
1912 | 1,282  | 20.38%  | 2,786  | 44.29% | 2,222  | 35.33%
1908 | 3,256  | 45.75%  | 3,370  | 47.35% | 491  | 6.90%
1904 | 3,612  | 51.78% | 2,702  | 38.74%  | 661  | 9.48%
1900 | 3,518  | 48.90% | 3,422  | 47.57%  | 254  | 3.53%
1896 | 3,473  | 47.66%  | 3,680  | 50.50% | 134  | 1.84%
1892 | 2,414  | 41.78% | 2,359  | 40.83%  | 1,005  | 17.39%
1888 | 2,811  | 48.42% | 2,741  | 47.22%  | 253  | 4.36%

## Literary reference

[edit]

Jens looked at a map he'd filched from an abandoned gas station. If he was where he thought he was, he'd soon be approaching the grand metropolis of Fiat, by God, Indiana. He managed a smile when he saw that, and declaimed, "And God said, Fiat, Indiana, and there was Indiana."

\--Harry Turtledove, Worldwar: In the Balance, New York: Random House (1994), Chapter 14, copyright 1994 by Harry Turtledove. The reference is to the unincorporated town of Fiat near the intersection of Indiana State Routes 1 and 18 in Jay County.

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Jay County, Indiana

## Further reading

[edit]

* Montgomery, M. W. (1864). History of Jay County, Indiana. Chicago: Church, Goodman, & Cushing. OCLC 3558118. (History of Jay County, Indiana at the Internet Archive Jay County, Indiana at the HathiTrust Digital Library, also republished by Kessinger Publishing as ISBN 1-166-18084-0)
* Jay, Milton T. (1922). History of Jay County, Indiana: Including Its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History. Historical Publishing Company. OCLC 607766443. (History of Jay County, Indiana: Including Its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History at the HathiTrust Digital Library)
* Biographical Memoirs of Jay County, Indiana. County and regional histories of the "Old Northwest.": Indiana. Chicago: B.F. Bowen & Co. 1901. OCLC 11892546. (Biographical Memoirs of Jay County, Indiana at the HathiTrust Digital Library)
* "History of Jay County". Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. 1887. pp. 179ff. OCLC 15560416. (Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana at the Internet Archive Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana at the HathiTrust Digital Library)
* "Jay County, Indiana". Historical hand-atlas, illustrated; twelve farm maps, and History of Jay County, Indiana. Chicago: H. H. Hardesty. 1881. pp. 179ff. (Historical hand-atlas, illustrated; twelve farm maps, and History of Jay County, Indiana at the Internet Archive)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Jay County, Indiana". Census.gov.
2. ^ "Jay County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ John W. Tyndall & OE Lesh, Standard history of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana. pp. 284-6 (accessed 9 August 2020)
5. ^ The counties are Dekalb, Fulton, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Marshall, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Stark, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley. Newton County was merged with Jasper County in 1839, and was re-authorized as a separate county in 1859.
6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
7. ^ Jay County IN (Google Maps, accessed 25 July 2020)
8. ^ Jay County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 25 July 2020)
9. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
10. ^ National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
11. ^ "US Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
12. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Portland IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
13. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
17. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
18. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
19. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
20. ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
21. ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
22. ^ "Indiana Senate District 19". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
23. ^ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
24. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 17, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jay County, Indiana.

* Jay County, Indiana Archived April 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine

Places adjacent to Jay County, Indiana

| Wells County | Adams County |

|
|

|  |
Blackford County |

Jay County, Indiana

| Mercer County, Ohio
|  |
Delaware County | Randolph County | Darke County, Ohio

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Jay County, Indiana, United States

County seat: Portland

Cities|

* Dunkirk‡
* Portland

Map of Indiana highlighting Jay County

Towns|

* Bryant
* Pennville
* Redkey
* Salamonia

Townships|

* Bearcreek
* Greene
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Knox
* Madison
* Noble
* Penn
* Pike
* Richland
* Wabash
* Wayne

former municipalities|

* Jay City

Unincorporated
communities|

* Antioch
* Balbec
* Bellfountain
* Blaine
* Bloomfield
* Bluff Point
* Boundary City
* College Corner
* Collett
* Como
* Fiat
* Greene
* Liber
* New Corydon
* New Mount Pleasant
* Noble
* Pleasant Ridge
* Poling
* Powers
* Ridertown
* Salem
* West Liberty
* Westchester

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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40°26′N 85°01′W﻿ / ﻿40.43°N 85.01°W﻿ / 40.43; -85.01

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