Jay

Formed February 7, 1835 (73^rd county)

Jay County (20,478), Portland (6,323)

A Classical Revival masonry courthouse for Jay County was built in 1916 to replace a classic 1870 structure.  It is sited on Meridian Street between Main and Walnut streets.  United States Highway 27 is Meridian Street in the town.  Hulskin and McLaughlin provided the design.  The county was created on February 7, 1835 from Native American Territory as the 73^rd county with Portland as the only county seat.  It is named for United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay.  The county seat was named for Portland, Maine. 

Jay County government consists of a sheriff, an auditor, a clerk, a coroner, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive).  It has 7 Council Members (legislative.)  A Circuit Court Judge, a Superior Court Judge, and a prosecutor serve Jay County (judicial.) The county is in eastern Indiana on the border with Ohio.  The Salamonie River flows through the county.  Fort Wayne, Indiana is north and Indianapolis, Indiana is southwest of the county.  The county center is 3.2 miles Northwest of Portland.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Adams County and Ohio and Randolph, Delaware, Blackford, and Wells counties. 

The area of the county is 384 square miles.  It is 56 out of 92 in the state.   It ranks 71 out of 92 in population in the state.  It has a density of 53.3 persons per square mile making it 74 out of 92 in the state.  Jay County has 51.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 27 travels north to south through the county from Adams County to Randolph County.  The county is overall a rectangle.  Portland is located slightly east of center in the county.  Portland is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 30.9% of the county population.