Jay City was once a hamlet in the south bank of the Wabash river across from New Corydon, Indiana,[2] located in Wabash Township approximately 15.5 miles (24.9 km) north-east of Portland;[3] but by 1922 had failed as a settlement and remained as only a name on maps.

[2] It had been platted on 1840-06-07 by Samuel Hall and David Hite, and in 1887 was recorded has having a population of approximately 50.

[4] Also recorded were a blacksmiths, a wagon maker, a brick and tile factory 1 mile (1.6 km) to its south, and a general store founded by William L. Adams in 1874.

[4] The Jay City chapel was a United Brethren church that was dedicated in 1872, the UB society having earlier organized in a school house located to the south of the hamlet on a cross-roads, with just 4 original members.

[4] Jay City had also had a Masonic lodge that met on the 2nd storey of Adams's general store, which was discontinued around 1871.