GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 Indiana Prevention Resource Center GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 4 Jay County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP, Project Director The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Department of Applied Health Science and The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 4 Jay County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP Project Director Project Staff : Indiana Prevention Resource Center Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Indiana University accepts full Responsibility for the content of this publication. ©2005 The Trustees of Indiana University. Permission is extended to reproduce this County Profile for non-profit educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Ritika Bhawal, MPH Ryan Chopra, MPH Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Tuba M. Pervin Altay, MPH

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jay County Map The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jay County is located in East Central Indiana, bordered by Ohio to the east. It is also bordered by the following counties: Adams to the north, Wells to the northwest, Blackford to the west, Delaware to the southwest, and Randolph to the south. U.S. Highways 27 and State Highways 26 and 67 cross the county. Elevation is 800-1,100 feet. The terrain is nearly level throughout the county, except slightly sloping near creeks in the southern central areas and the northwest. The landscape features birch, beech, oak, maple, and hickory trees. The county pertains to the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain land resource area. Jay county is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 18٥/35٥ in January and 61٥/86٥ in July. Annual precipitation is about 38 and snowfall about 35 inches. Typically the first freeze of the season occurs October 5-10, except October (southeast corner). The last freeze varies from May (north) to May 5-10 (south). The growing season lasts about days. Agricultural activity is diversified with livestock being very important. About three-fourths of the land is in farms and about three-fourths of that land is in cash crops. Main crops are corn for grain, soybeans, hay, oats, and winter wheat. Apples are an important fruit. Popcorn is a special crops. Livestock includes pullets/hens, cattle/calves, milk cows, hogs/pigs, and turkeys. Main natural resources include construction sand and gravel, crushed stone, petroleum, and forestland. Water resources include the Salamonie and Little Salamonie Rivers. Communities include the cities of Portland (the county seat) and Dunkirk (which extends into Blackford County), and the towns of Bryant, Pennville, Redkey, and Salamonia. 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Geographic Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jay County

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Famous sons and daughters of Jay County include Twyla Tharp, famous choreographer and dancer, born in Portland in Tharp left Indiana at a young age and went on to study modern dance with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and others. She danced with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, then left to found her own dance troop in She has done choreography for several movies, including Amadeus (1984). (Nelson Price, Indiana Legends, Carmel: Guild Press of Indiana, Inc., 1997, p. 267) Jay County is not a tobacco-producing county, according to the Strategic Development Group’s “Alternative Agricultural Strategy” (Bloomington, March 15, 2001) report, which is part of Governor Joseph E. Kernan’s “Recipient Final Reports for Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture Grant Programs” ( 3. Location and Historical Notes

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Don’t Know Your Block Group Number? You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web Site ( 3. Jay County Block Group Maps

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jay County Block Groups