Portland is the county seat of Jay County. It is home to about 6,300 people. Our county seat is the only community that has retained its original name. Jay County was organized in early 1836. By September 4, 1837 the town of Portland had been platted and named. Drive over the concrete Bowstring Arc/Arch Bridge on South Meridian Street. It is the only bridge of its kind in Indiana. Stop by the Community Resource Center across from the post office on South Meridian Street to see the 1910 Elwood Haynes automobile. Elwood was born in Portland.
Visit the historic courthouse built in 1916 on West Main Street. It is the 4th courthouse for Jay County. Notice the marble walls and floors throughout. Hunt the fox in the marble at the west entrance. See the beautiful dome that tells our history in four murals. Stop by the John Jay Center for Learning at the southeast corner of East Main and South Meridian Streets to see what can be done in restoring a 1926 historic building to serve our citizens for generations to come. Take the time to have a nice meal in our various restaurants. Check out the street full of shoppes at the southern point of town. Here was the 1st natural gas well for the state of Indiana. Go east on Votaw Street to the fairground. See the beautiful round Floral Hall built in 1891. Turn south to East Main Street. Go east to the end of the street to visit the Jay County Historical Society’s museum, and learn why we are the only Jay County in the United States.
What Would You Like to See in Portland?
![Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Show](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/antique-gas-engine.jpeg)
Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Show
![Jay County Fair](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/jay-county-fair.jpeg)
Jay County Fair
![Vintage Bike Show](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/vintage-bike-show.jpeg)
Vintage Bike Show
![Jay County Heritage Festival](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/jay-heritage-festival2.jpg)
Jay County Heritage Festival
![Holiday Inn Express](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/HOLIDAY-INN.jpg)
Holiday Inn Express
![Gathering of Great Lakes Nations Powwow](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/6.jpeg)
Gathering of Great Lakes Nations Powwow
![Delts' Holiday Crafts and Gifts Show](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/delts-craft-show.jpeg)
Delts’ Holiday Crafts and Gifts Show
![Annual Quilt Show](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/annual-quilt-show2.jpeg)
Annual Quilt Show
![Portland Inn](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/portland-inn.jpeg)
Portland Inn
![Foxx Lake Outdoor Adventures](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/foxx-lake-e1632975701103.jpeg)
Foxx Lake Outdoor Adventures
![Hoosier Inn](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/hoosierinn-scaled.jpg)
Hoosier Inn
![Portland Golf Club](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/portlandgolfclub.jpeg)
Portland Golf Club
![Buffalo Wings & Rings](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/buffalo-wings.jpeg)
Buffalo Wings & Rings
![Jay County Fairgrounds](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/womens-building.jpeg)
Jay County Fairgrounds
![Closet Update](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/closetupdate.jpeg)
Closet Update
![John Jay Center for Learning](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/johnjay1.jpeg)
John Jay Center for Learning
![Rollin J Lanes](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/rollinjlanes-1.jpeg)
Rollin J Lanes
![Arts Place](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/arts-place2-full.jpeg)
Arts Place
![Bricker Auction Company](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/bricker2.jpeg)
Bricker Auction Company
![Sapphires Reception Center](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/sapphires.jpeg)
Sapphires Reception Center
![Jay Community Center](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/jaycc.jpeg)
Jay Community Center
![Jay Community Center](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/jay-cc.jpeg)
Jay Community Center
![Richard's Restaurant](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/richards.jpeg)
Richard’s Restaurant
![Sharlette's Fudgery & Candies](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/sharlettes-fudgery-e1632967071902.jpg)
Sharlette’s Fudgery & Candies
![Portland Golf Club](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/portlandgolfclub.jpeg)
Portland Golf Club
![Greek's Pizzeria](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/greeks-pizzeria.jpeg)
Greek’s Pizzeria
![Jay County Public Library](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/jay-pl.jpeg)
Jay County Public Library
![Wheel and Spoke Antique Mall](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/wheelandspoke.jpeg)
Wheel and Spoke Antique Mall
![Jay County Bitteridge Archers](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/archeryclub-1.jpeg)
Jay County Bitteridge Archers
![Cuervo's Tacos II](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/cuervostacosii.jpeg)
Cuervo’s Tacos II
![Deer Park Boutique](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/deerpark.jpeg)
Deer Park Boutique
![Patriot Fitness](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/patriotfitness-1.jpeg)
Patriot Fitness
![Altered Style (inside Wheel & Spoke Antique Mall)](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/alteredstyle.jpeg)
Altered Style (inside Wheel & Spoke Antique Mall)
![Portland Rockets](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/portlandrockets-1.jpeg)
Portland Rockets
![The Cottage Shop](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/cottageshop.jpeg)
The Cottage Shop
![Jay County Courthouse](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/courthouse.jpeg)
Jay County Courthouse
![Dick's Pizza Palace](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/dickspizza.jpeg)
Dick’s Pizza Palace
![Glass Bonsai](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/glassbonsai.jpeg)
Glass Bonsai
![Jay County Historical Museum](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/historical-museum.jpeg)
Jay County Historical Museum
![The Flower Nook](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/flowernook.jpeg)
The Flower Nook
![Bowstring Truss Bridge](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/bridge.jpeg)
Bowstring Truss Bridge
![Jay County 4-H Building](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/4h-building.jpeg)
Jay County 4-H Building
![Norm's Place](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/normsplace.jpeg)
Norm’s Place
![Richards Restaurant](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/richards.jpeg)
Richards Restaurant
![Grandma-N-Me Quiltin](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/quiltin.png)
Grandma-N-Me Quiltin
![Greazy Pickle](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/greazypickle.jpeg)
Greazy Pickle
![John J Williams Civil War Grave](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/civilwargrave.jpeg)
John J Williams Civil War Grave
![Lions Club Civic Center](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/portland-lions-club.jpeg)
Lions Club Civic Center
![El Camino Real](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/elcaminoreal.jpeg)
El Camino Real
![Country Creek Primitives](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/countrycreek.jpeg)
Country Creek Primitives
![Great Wall Restaurant](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/greatwall.jpeg)
Great Wall Restaurant
![Payless Pizza](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/paylesspizza.jpeg)
Payless Pizza
![The Loft on Meridian](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/the-loft.jpeg)
The Loft on Meridian
![Floral Hall](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/floralhall.jpeg)
Floral Hall
![Freedom Park](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/freedompark.jpeg)
Freedom Park
![Strohl Scrabooking Supplies](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/strohlscrapbooking.jpeg)
Strohl Scrabooking Supplies
![Good-Rich Brewery](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/goodrich-brewery.jpeg)
Good-Rich Brewery
![Haynes Park](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/haynespark.jpeg)
Haynes Park
![Pit's Cocktail Lounge](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/pits.jpeg)
Pit’s Cocktail Lounge
![Historic District of Portland](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/historicalportland.jpeg)
Historic District of Portland
![Hudson Family Park](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/hudsonfamilypark.jpeg)
Hudson Family Park
![Hudson Park Trail of Trees](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/trailoftrees.png)
Hudson Park Trail of Trees
![Jay County Civic Theatre](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/civictheatre.jpeg)
Jay County Civic Theatre
![Jay County Fairgrounds](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/fairgrounds.jpeg)
Jay County Fairgrounds
![Jay County Hospital Wellness Walkway](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/wellnesswalk.jpeg)
Jay County Hospital Wellness Walkway
![Jay County Library](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/jaylibrary.jpeg)
Jay County Library
![Pennville Park](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/pennvillepark.png)
Pennville Park
![Asbury United Methodist Church](https://visitjaycounty.com/wp-content/uploads/asburychurch.jpeg)