Jay County, Indiana

 

Founding: 1835
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: John Jay, Founding Father
Seat: Portland (1837–)

Land area: 384 square miles

Population (2020): 20,478

Population (historic): 3,863 (1840); 11,399 (1860); 19,282 (1880); 26,818 (1900); 20,846 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1900; 1930–1950; 1960s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Two cities; four towns; 12 townships

National Register listings: Eight

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 3,210 (34.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 58%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 6.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 7.1%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,155
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,135

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,532
Average farm size (1920): 79.6 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio and Pennsylvania

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Portland

Namesake: Portland, Maine

Founding: 1837 (platting); 1868 (post office)

Population (2020): 6,320

Population (historic): 462 (1870); 4,798 (1900); 5,276 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1920; 1930–1950; 1960s; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,009 (34.7%)

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Outstanding Buildings

1. John Edmundson Farm (1868). West Balbec Road, west of State Route 1. Penn.
2. *James Haines Farm (1884). 3186 Boundary Pike. Pike. Italianate.
3. Mincks House (1919–1923). 2331 South 50E. Wayne. Classical Revival.
4. *Jonas Votaw Farm (1875). 1525 South Meridian Street. Wayne. Italianate.