Jay, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay, Florida
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|---|---|
| Town of Jay | |
Location in Santa Rosa County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Santa Rosa |
| Settled (Old Cobb Field) |
c. 1822-1890s |
| Settled (Pine Level) | c. 1890s-1902 |
| Unicorporated (Jay) |
1902-1951 |
| Incorporated (Town of Jay) |
1951 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2) |
| • Land | 1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 524 |
| • Density | 315.66/sq mi (121.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
32565
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| Area code(s) | 850 |
| FIPS code | 12-35425 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0284731 |
Jay is a small town in Santa Rosa County, Florida, in the United States. It is located in the Florida Panhandle, which is the northwestern part of Florida. Jay is part of the larger Pensacola area. In 2020, about 524 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Jay's History
How Jay Got Started
In 1821, Spain gave control of Spanish Florida to the United States. By 1822, it became the Florida Territory. Santa Rosa County was created in 1842, a few years before Florida became a state in 1845.
The area now known as the Town of Jay had different names long ago. In the early 1800s, it was called "Cobb Old Field." Later, it was known as "Pine Level." Jay is about 38 miles north of Pensacola. It's also about 3 miles from the border of Escambia County, Alabama.
Some of the first settlers in the "Pine Level" area were from the Jernigan family. Van Jernigan arrived when Florida was still a territory. He had a homestead near Cobb Creek. Like many people in the area, he worked in the timber and logging business. He also owned a large herd of cattle.
How Jay Got Its Name
In 1902, people in the community wanted to choose a new name. James "Jay" Thomas Nowling suggested "Pine Level." However, another post office in Florida already used that name. He tried to submit a second name, but it was too long. Before he could suggest another, the United States Postal Service decided to name the new post office after his nickname, "Jay." James Nowling then became the first postmaster for the town.
The Town of Jay officially became a municipality, or an organized town, in 1951.
Where is Jay Located?
Geography of the Town
The Town of Jay is located in the northwest part of Santa Rosa County. It sits on high ground near the Escambia River.
The town covers about 1.6 square miles (4.3 square kilometers), and all of it is land. There are two places to access the river with boats, but these are just outside the town limits.
What's the Weather Like?
Jay has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and generally mild winters.
| Climate data for Jay, Florida | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17 (62) |
18 (65) |
22 (72) |
26 (78) |
30 (86) |
32 (90) |
33 (91) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
27 (80) |
22 (71) |
18 (64) |
26 (78) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4 (39) |
6 (42) |
9 (48) |
12 (54) |
17 (62) |
20 (68) |
21 (70) |
21 (70) |
19 (66) |
13 (55) |
8 (46) |
5 (41) |
13 (55) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 130 (5.3) |
76 (3) |
160 (6.2) |
120 (4.8) |
110 (4.2) |
190 (7.3) |
200 (7.8) |
170 (6.5) |
150 (6) |
97 (3.8) |
120 (4.6) |
120 (4.9) |
1,690 (66.5) |
| Average precipitation days | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 117 |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
People in Jay
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 547 | — | |
| 1960 | 672 | 22.9% | |
| 1970 | 646 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 633 | −2.0% | |
| 1990 | 666 | 5.2% | |
| 2000 | 579 | −13.1% | |
| 2010 | 533 | −7.9% | |
| 2020 | 524 | −1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Jay?
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 504 | 454 | 94.56% | 86.64% |
| Black or African American | 4 | 4 | 0.75% | 0.76% |
| Native American | 5 | 12 | 0.94% | 2.29% |
| Asian | 5 | 10 | 0.94% | 1.91% |
| Pacific Islander | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.38% |
| Some other race | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.19% |
| Two or more races | 4 | 34 | 0.75% | 6.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11 | 7 | 2.06% | 1.34% |
| Total | 533 | 524 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 524 people living in Jay. There were 217 households and 142 families. In 2010, there were 533 people, 289 households, and 203 families.
What Does Jay Produce?
Jay is mainly a farming community. Farmers grow crops like cotton, soybeans, peanuts, and hay. A group of farmers started a livestock market in 1940. It grew quickly, but closed around the year 2000.
Oil was found in Jay in 1970. The Jay oilfield has about 67 oil wells. Eleven of these wells are within the town limits. Money from oil has helped fund a new city hall, fire department, and recreation center. The oilfield has produced over 330 million barrels of oil since 1970. There is also a small oil refinery near State Road 4.
Fun Things to Do in Jay
Jay is home to the Jay Peanut Festival, which happens every autumn. The town also hosts several local rodeo events. The nearby Escambia River is a great place for fishing. You can also go hunting in the Escambia River WMA and the Blackwater State Forest if you have a license.
Services in Jay
Jay has schools for all ages. There's a combined elementary and middle school (grades K–6) and a combined middle-high school (grades 7–12). The town also has several banks and credit unions. You'll find one grocery store and one traffic light. The closest large stores like Walmart are in Brewton, Alabama or Pace, Florida.
For travel, there are private airstrips nearby. The closest airport with commercial flights is the Pensacola International Airport, about 40 miles away.
Jay Hospital is a 55-bed general hospital. It serves the people of Jay and nearby communities like Century and Flomaton. The Santa Rosa County Library System also has a branch in Jay.
Getting Around Jay
Jay is served by two main state highways: State Road 4, which runs east and west, and State Road 89, which runs north and south. The town is about 165 feet above sea level. There is no train or bus service available in Jay.
Famous People From Jay
- Brian Girard James, a professional wrestler known as "The Road Dogg" Jesse James.
- Jackie Moore, a Major League Baseball Manager, coach, and player. He managed the Oakland Athletics from 1984 to 1986.
- Thomas Brent "Boo" Weekley, a golfer.
- John Robert "Bob" Zellner, an American civil rights activist. A movie about him, Son of the South, came out in 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Jay (Florida) para niños
