A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Jay County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 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 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | February 7, 1835 (authorized) 1836 (organized) |
| Named for | 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 |
| • Density | 54/sq mi (20.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
| Indiana county number 38 | |
| 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 |
|
| Facilities | |
| Jails | 1 |
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 February 7, 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
- 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
Townships
Unincorporated communities
Major highways
Sources: National Atlas,[9] US Census Bureau[10]
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.[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]
| 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% |