Jay, New York
Encyclopedia
Jay is a town
in Essex County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,306 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Jay
, governor of New York when the town was formed.
The Town of Jay in on the north border of the county and is 25 miles (40.2 km) southwest of Plattsburgh
, 25 miles (40.2 km) west-southwest of Burlington, VT, 79 miles (127.1 km) south of Montreal, Quebec, and 119 (192 km) north of Albany, NY. Jay is inside the Adirondack Park.
The Town of Jay was formed in 1798 from part of the Town of Willsboro
. Afterwards, part of Jay was used to form, in whole or part, the Towns of Keene
(1808), Elizabethtown
and Wilmington
(1821). In 1822, the town was increased by territory from the Town of Chateaugay
(now in Franklin County), and the Town of Peru
(now in Clinton County
).
Lumber
production and iron
ore extraction were important to the early economy of the town.
Land of Makebelieve
, a former theme park (1954–1979), was located in Upper Jay.
, the town has a total area of 68.3 square miles (176.9 km²), of which, 67.7 square miles (175.3 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (0.76%) is water.
The north town line, partly defined by the Ausable River is the border of Clinton County
. The East Branch of the Ausable River flows northward near the west town line.
New York State Route 9N
is a north-south highway through the town, following the course of the Ausable River.
of 2000, there were 2,306 people, 918 households, and 651 families residing in the town. The population density
was 34.0 people per square mile (13.1/km²). There were 1,443 housing units at an average density of 21.3 per square mile (8.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.44% White, 0.30% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 918 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,612, and the median income for a family was $39,954. Males had a median income of $29,145 versus $21,438 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,673. About 6.9% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,306 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
, governor of New York when the town was formed.
The Town of Jay in on the north border of the county and is 25 miles (40.2 km) southwest of Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
, 25 miles (40.2 km) west-southwest of Burlington, VT, 79 miles (127.1 km) south of Montreal, Quebec, and 119 (192 km) north of Albany, NY. Jay is inside the Adirondack Park.
History
Jay was formerly known as "Mallory's Bush", after the principal settlement, based on early settler Nathaniel Mallory, who arrived around 1797.The Town of Jay was formed in 1798 from part of the Town of Willsboro
Willsboro, New York
Willsboro is a town in Essex County, New York, in the United States, and lies thirty miles south of the city of Plattsburgh. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,903...
. Afterwards, part of Jay was used to form, in whole or part, the Towns of Keene
Keene, New York
Keene is a town in central Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,063 at the 2000 census. Keene is the home of Mount Marcy, the highest mountain in New York state, as well as the Great Range and 15 of the 46 High Peaks, and the Ausable Lakes, the source of the Ausable River...
(1808), Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, New York
Elizabethtown is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,315 at the 2000 census. The county seat of Essex County is a hamlet also called Elizabethtown. The name is derived from Elizabeth Gilliland, the wife of an early settler....
and Wilmington
Wilmington, New York
Wilmington is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,131 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Wilmington, Delaware.The Town of Wilmington is on the county's north border and is southwest of Plattsburgh...
(1821). In 1822, the town was increased by territory from the Town of Chateaugay
Chateaugay (town), New York
Chateaugay is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,036. The name is derived from a location in France, which was applied to a local land grant....
(now in Franklin County), and the Town of Peru
Peru, New York
Peru is a town in Clinton County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 6,998 at the 2010 census. The town was named Peru because its mountainous nature suggested that country....
(now in Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
).
Lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
production and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
ore extraction were important to the early economy of the town.
Land of Makebelieve
Land of Makebelieve
Land of Makebelieve was an amusement park located in the hamlet of Upper Jay, New York. It was in operation from 1954 until 1979. The park was designed and built by Arto Monaco....
, a former theme park (1954–1979), was located in Upper Jay.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 68.3 square miles (176.9 km²), of which, 67.7 square miles (175.3 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (0.76%) is water.
The north town line, partly defined by the Ausable River is the border of Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
. The East Branch of the Ausable River flows northward near the west town line.
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N is a north–south state highway in northeastern New York, United States. It extends from an intersection with U.S. Route 9 , NY 29, and NY 50 in the city of Saratoga Springs to a junction with US 9 and NY 22 in the Clinton County village of...
is a north-south highway through the town, following the course of the Ausable River.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,306 people, 918 households, and 651 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 34.0 people per square mile (13.1/km²). There were 1,443 housing units at an average density of 21.3 per square mile (8.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.44% White, 0.30% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 918 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,612, and the median income for a family was $39,954. Males had a median income of $29,145 versus $21,438 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,673. About 6.9% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Jay
- Green Street – A location southeast of Au Sable Forks.
- Jay – (formerly "Mallory's Bush") – The hamlet of Jay in on NY-9N by the East Branch of the Ausable River. It is considered the oldest settlement in the town.
- North Jay – A hamlet northeast of Jay village, located on County Road 64.
- Rome – A small hamlet west of Au Sable Forks on the Ausable River.
- Upper Jay – A hamlet southwest of Jay village near the southwest corner of the town on NY-9N and the East Branch of the Ausable River.
- Au Sable Acres – A small community located near the banks of the West Branch Ausable River above the old mill dam, comprising several hundred year-round inhabitants.
Notable Residents and Natives
- Isaac Finch (October 13, 1783 – June 23, 1845), a U.S. Representative from New York.