| Jay County, Indiana | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Indiana |
|
 Indiana's location in the U.S. |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1836 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Portland |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
384 sq mi (994 km²) 384 sq mi (994 km²) , 0.05% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
21,806 24/sq mi (9/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website: www.co.jay.in.us | |
| Named for: John Jay | |
Jay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 21,806. The county seat is Portland[1].
Contents |
History
Jay County was formed in 1836. It is 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 died in 1829.
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 are elected from county districts. The council members serve four year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also 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.[2][3]
Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, the collection of revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[2][3]
Court: The county maintains circuit and superior courts with the latter having a small claims division. Both courts have general jurisidction with the circuit court having exlcusive jurisidiction of juvenile and probate matters. The judges of each court are elected to a six (6) year term 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.[3]
County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including prosecuting attorney, assessor, sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk Each of these elected officers serve terms of four years and oversee different parts of the county government. Members elected to any county government position are required to declare a party affiliation and be a resident of the county.[3]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (994 km²), of which 384 square miles (994 km²) is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) (0.05%) is water.
Cities and towns
Townships
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)
Major highways
Sources: National Atlas[4], U.S. Census Bureau[5]
U.S. Route 27
Indiana State Road 1
Indiana State Road 18
Indiana State Road 22
Indiana State Road 26
Indiana State Road 67
Indiana State Road 116
Indiana State Road 167
Demographics
| Jay County Population by year |
|
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2000 21,806 |
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As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 21,806 people, 8,405 households, and 6,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 9,074 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of American, 28.1% German, 8.8% English and 8.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 8,405 households out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,700, and the median income for a family was $41,850. Males had a median income of $31,031 versus $21,015 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,686. About 5.80% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.
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.
External links
References
- Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ National Atlas
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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Wells County | Adams County | |
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| Blackford County |  |
Mercer County, Ohio | ||
 Jay County, Indiana  |
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| Delaware County | Randolph County | Darke County, Ohio |
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