Jay County, Indiana
County in Indiana, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
United States1836 (organized)
Jay County, Indiana | |
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 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Indiana | |
| Coordinates: 40°26′N 85°01′W | |
| 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 (0.47 km2) 0.05% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,478 |
20,118  | |
| • Density | 52.5/sq mi (20.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | jaycounty |
| Indiana county number 38 | |
- Dwane Ford, Sheriff
- Patrick Wells, Chief Deputy
| Jay County Sheriff's Department | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Jay, Indiana, United States |
| Legal jurisdiction | As per operations jurisdiction |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Agency executives |
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| Facilities | |
| Jails | 1 |
History
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
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
- Adams County - north
- Mercer County, Ohio - east
- Darke County, Ohio - southeast
- Randolph County - south
- Delaware County - southwest
- Blackford County - west
- Wells County - northwest
Cities and towns
Townships
Unincorporated communities
Major highways
Climate and weather
| Portland, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
| 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% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 20,118 | −1.8% | |
| Sources:[13][14][15][16][17] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 20,478. The median age was 39.9 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.2 males age 18 and over.[18][19]
The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.6% of the population.[19]
31.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 68.9% lived in rural areas.[20]
There were 7,902 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.9% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 8,890 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.6% were owner-occupied and 25.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%.[18]
2010 census
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).[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.[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]
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.[24][25]
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.[24][25]
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.[25]
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.[25]
Jay County is part of Indiana's 3rd congressional district; Indiana Senate district 19;[26] and Indiana House of Representatives district 33.[27]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,811 | 48.42% | 2,741 | 47.22% | 253 | 4.36% |
| 1892 | 2,414 | 41.78% | 2,359 | 40.83% | 1,005 | 17.39% |
| 1896 | 3,473 | 47.66% | 3,680 | 50.50% | 134 | 1.84% |
| 1900 | 3,518 | 48.90% | 3,422 | 47.57% | 254 | 3.53% |
| 1904 | 3,612 | 51.78% | 2,702 | 38.74% | 661 | 9.48% |
| 1908 | 3,256 | 45.75% | 3,370 | 47.35% | 491 | 6.90% |
| 1912 | 1,282 | 20.38% | 2,786 | 44.29% | 2,222 | 35.33% |
| 1916 | 3,075 | 46.49% | 3,070 | 46.41% | 470 | 7.11% |
| 1920 | 6,089 | 53.35% | 4,759 | 41.69% | 566 | 4.96% |
| 1924 | 5,753 | 52.83% | 4,812 | 44.19% | 325 | 2.98% |
| 1928 | 5,998 | 55.31% | 4,759 | 43.89% | 87 | 0.80% |
| 1932 | 5,018 | 42.85% | 6,693 | 57.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 5,233 | 43.73% | 6,535 | 54.61% | 199 | 1.66% |
| 1940 | 6,478 | 49.27% | 6,554 | 49.84% | 117 | 0.89% |
| 1944 | 6,207 | 53.38% | 5,166 | 44.42% | 256 | 2.20% |
| 1948 | 5,635 | 49.25% | 5,520 | 48.24% | 287 | 2.51% |
| 1952 | 7,270 | 58.96% | 4,764 | 38.63% | 297 | 2.41% |
| 1956 | 6,767 | 59.08% | 4,571 | 39.91% | 116 | 1.01% |
| 1960 | 6,519 | 56.73% | 4,899 | 42.63% | 74 | 0.64% |
| 1964 | 4,439 | 39.22% | 6,781 | 59.91% | 98 | 0.87% |
| 1968 | 5,460 | 51.00% | 4,290 | 40.07% | 955 | 8.92% |
| 1972 | 6,090 | 64.21% | 3,349 | 35.31% | 45 | 0.47% |
| 1976 | 4,606 | 52.24% | 4,124 | 46.77% | 87 | 0.99% |
| 1980 | 5,351 | 58.06% | 3,256 | 35.33% | 610 | 6.62% |
| 1984 | 5,975 | 64.90% | 3,174 | 34.47% | 58 | 0.63% |
| 1988 | 5,363 | 62.22% | 3,212 | 37.26% | 45 | 0.52% |
| 1992 | 3,609 | 40.84% | 3,208 | 36.31% | 2,019 | 22.85% |
| 1996 | 3,584 | 44.71% | 3,356 | 41.86% | 1,077 | 13.43% |
| 2000 | 4,687 | 58.37% | 3,167 | 39.44% | 176 | 2.19% |
| 2004 | 5,427 | 65.93% | 2,740 | 33.28% | 65 | 0.79% |
| 2008 | 4,401 | 52.88% | 3,748 | 45.03% | 174 | 2.09% |
| 2012 | 4,645 | 58.79% | 3,063 | 38.77% | 193 | 2.44% |
| 2016 | 5,697 | 71.02% | 1,889 | 23.55% | 436 | 5.44% |
| 2020 | 6,361 | 75.14% | 1,926 | 22.75% | 179 | 2.11% |
| 2024 | 6,217 | 76.61% | 1,747 | 21.53% | 151 | 1.86% |
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
Further reading
- 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)
