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Jay County, Indiana
Jay County Courthouse P4020129
Jay County Courthouse
Map of Indiana highlighting Jay County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the U.S
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 7 February 1835 (authorized)
1836 (organized)
Named for John Jay
Seat Portland
Largest city Portland
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

384.08 sq mi (995 km²)
383.90 sq mi (994 km²)
0.18 sq mi (0 km²), 0.05%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

20,478
54/sq mi (20.9/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.co.jay.in.us
Footnotes: Indiana county number 38
Jay County Sheriff's Department
Agency overview
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
Notables
Website

Jay County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 20,478.[1] The county seat is Portland.[2]

History[]

The Indiana State Legislature passed an omnibus county bill on 7 February 1835[3] that authorized the creation of thirteen counties[4] 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.[5]

Geography[]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Adjacent counties[]

Cities & Towns[]

  • Dunkirk
  • Bryant
  • Pennville
  • Portland
  • Redkey
  • Salamonia

Townships[]

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

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Antioch
  • Antiville
  • Balbec
  • Bellfountain
  • Blaine
  • Bloomfield
  • Bluff Point
  • Boundary City
  • Brice
  • Center
  • College Corner
  • Collett
  • Como
  • Fiat
  • Greene
  • Jay City
  • Kitt
  • Liber
  • New Corydon
  • New Mount Pleasant
  • Noble
  • Pleasant Ridge
  • Poling
  • Pony
  • Powers
  • Ridertown
  • Salem
  • Trinity
  • West Liberty
  • Westchester

Major highways[]

Sources: National Atlas,[9] US Census Bureau[10]

  • US 27 US 27
  • Indiana 1 SR 1
  • Indiana 18 SR 18
  • Indiana 26 SR 26
  • Indiana 67 SR 67
  • Indiana 167 SR 167

Climate and weather[]

Climate chart for Portland, Indiana
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.87
 
32
15
 
 
1.93
 
37
18
 
 
2.60
 
48
27
 
 
3.61
 
60
38
 
 
3.94
 
71
49
 
 
4.13
 
80
59
 
 
4.40
 
84
62
 
 
3.96
 
82
60
 
 
2.71
 
76
52
 
 
2.58
 
64
40
 
 
3.04
 
50
32
 
 
2.48
 
37
21
temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mm
source: The Weather Channel[11]

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 (−33.9 °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.[11]

Government[]

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.[12][13]

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.[12][13]

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.[13]

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.[13]

Jay County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district; Indiana Senate district 19;[14] and Indiana House of Representatives district 33.[15]

United States presidential election results for Jay County, Indiana[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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%



Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
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%
US Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010-2020[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,253 people, 8,133 households, and 5,647 families in the county.[21] 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).[8] 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.[21] In terms of ancestry, 34.1% were German, 13.1% were American, 11.7% were English, and 11.6% were Irish.[22]

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.[21]

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.[23]

Literary reference[]

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[]

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

Further reading[]

  • Montgomery, M.W. History Of Jay County, Indiana (1864). Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing (2010). ISBN 1-166-18084-0

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Jay County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18075.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ John W. Tyndall & OE Lesh, Standard history of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana. pp. 284-6 (accessed 9 August 2020)
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. pp. 168. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  6. ^ Jay County IN (Google Maps, accessed 25 July 2020)
  7. ^ Jay County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 25 July 2020)
  8. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18075. 
  9. ^ National Atlas Archived 5 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "US Census Bureau TIGER shape files". https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/. 
  11. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Portland IN". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0544. 
  12. ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html. 
  13. ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf. 
  14. ^ "Indiana Senate District 19". Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana_State_Senate_District_19. 
  15. ^ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm. 
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  17. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  18. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  19. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt. 
  20. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  21. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18075. 
  22. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18075. 
  23. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18075. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 40°26′N 85°01′W / 40.43, -85.01


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Jay County, Indiana. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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