Indiana

Jay

20,478
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Jay

Jay, Indiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 3,863. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 20,478.

Its recorded population peaked at 26,818 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 24 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Battle of the Wabash / Fort Jefferson 1791, and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202020,478
201021,253
200021,806
199021,512
198023,239
197023,575
196022,572
195023,157
194022,601
193020,846
192023,318
191024,961
190026,818
189023,478
188019,282
187015,000
186011,399
18507,047
18403,863
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Jay

Military engagements that took place in Jay, Indiana.

Battle of the Wabash / Fort Jefferson 1791
1791

Historic places in Jay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Jay, Indiana.

Portland Commercial Historic District
Portland
Rankin, Rebecca, Round Barn
Poling
Haines, James, Farm
Portland
Grouping of Religious Buildings at Trinity
Portland
Redkey Historic District
Redkey
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Other counties in Indiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Indiana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Jay County, Indiana

This page charts the census history of Jay County, Indiana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Jay

When does Jay first appear in the US census?
Jay, Indiana first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 3,863.
What is the population of Jay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Jay had a recorded population of 20,478.
When did Jay's population peak?
Jay's recorded population peaked at 26,818 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Jay?
1 documented military engagement took place in Jay, including Battle of the Wabash / Fort Jefferson 1791.
How many historic places are in Jay?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Jay, Indiana.
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