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About Jay
Location
Jay County is in East Central Indiana, one of nine counties in a coalition called Forge Your Path, a place where you can design the life YOU want to live.
Located mid-way down the eastern border with Ohio, we are a short drive to many metro areas:
- 46 miles to Fort Wayne, IN
- 75 miles to Indianapolis, IN
- 95 miles to Cincinnati, OH
- 116 miles to Toledo, OH
- 155 miles to Louisville, KY
History
Jay County was first inhabited by the Miami Tribe of Native Americans. The county was named by the Indiana Legislature in 1837 to honor the first chief of justice of the United States Supreme Court, John Jay. We are the only Jay County in the United States.
The first settler was Peter Studebaker. He came in 1821. A large wave of settlers followed in pursuit of good farm land. The first permanent white settlers were John and Mary Brooks, who lived for a while near the Godfroy Reserve and then settled near Brooks Creek in Knox Township. Other families, such as that of John and Nancy Hawkins soon followed. The Hawkins family housed fugitive slaves and served as a station on the Underground Railroad.
The early economy of the county was based on agriculture. However, the discovery of oil and natural gas in the early 1880's changed the economic focus. Factories of all types were established and a period of great prosperity began which would last for the next 30 years.
Visit the Jay County Historical Society to learn more.
Interesting Facts
- We have one of the nation's most competitive high school robotics teams!
- Our City of Dunkirk is the "Glass Capitol of Indiana"!
- The annual Tri-State Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show is the largest in the world and attracts approximately 100,000 visitors each year!
- Portland, the county seat, is home to the state's only concrete bowstring truss bridge!
- Jay County is home to Elwood Haynes (early automobile inventor), Kevin Ford (astronaut), Mary Meeker (venture capitalist), Twyla Tharp (choreographer), and others!
- The Key Palace Theatre in Redkey is home to one of the top 10 historic blues music venues in the US.
- Jay County is the #1 ag producing county in Indiana and #166 in the nation - that puts us in the top 5%!
- The Pennville area is rich with history from the Underground Railroad with a historic marker still adorning the Balbec Cabin, and important "station".
- Arts Place attracts 30,000 visitors to its shows and exhibitions every year!
- The Jay County Fair is celebrating 150 years in 2022!