The area was originally known as "Mallory's Bush", after the principal settlement, based on early settler Nathaniel Mallory, who arrived around 1797 from what is now called Mallorytown Landing in Front of Yonge, Ontario. The town of Jay, named in honor of New York Governor John Jay, was formed in January 1798 from part of the town of Willsboro. Afterwards, part of Jay was used to form, in whole or part, the towns of Keene, Elizabethtown and Wilmington. In 1822, the town was increased by territory from the town of Chateaugay, and the town of Peru. Lumber production and iron ore extraction were important to the early economy of the town. Land of Makebelieve, an amusement park, was located in Upper Jay.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,306 people, 918 households, and 651 families residing in the town. The population densitywas 34.0 people per square mile. There were 1,443 housing units at an average density of 21.3 per square mile. 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.
Communities and locations within the town
Au Sable Acres - A private residential community in the northwest part of town, comprising several hundred year-round inhabitants and seasonal residents. It is south of the West Branch of the Ausable River.
Au Sable Forks - A hamlet on the north town line, extending north into the town of Black Brook in Clinton County. The hamlet is centered around the confluence of the West Branch and East Branch of the Ausable River.
Green Street - A hamlet in the northeast part of town, southeast of Au Sable Forks.
North Jay - A hamlet in the northeast part of the town, located on Stickney Bridge Road. It is south of Au Sable Forks and northeast of Jay hamlet.
Jay - The hamlet of Jay was originally known as Lower Jay. It is on New York State Route 9N by the East Branch of the Ausable River and is considered the oldest settlement in the town. It is well known for its 1857 covered bridge which was located below the village green near the rapids, a very popular swimming hole. The 1857 bridge was deemed unsafe by the New York Department of Transportation and was closed, then removed. The new covered bridge has many original hand-hewed beams in the interior of the new construction and was officially opened as a footbridge in October 2007.
Jersey Section - This small residential community is located across the Jersey Bridge at the end of Main Street in the south part of Au Sable Forks.
Rome Section - A small residential area west of Au Sable Forks on the West Branch of the Ausable River. The J & J Rogers Co. pulp mill and dam were located at the end of this road.
The Grove - Small community of residential homes along the main stem of the Ausable River, a half mile east of Au Sable Forks. This area had suffered recurring floods and ice jams since 1856. It was the first hamlet within the town of Jay to successfully secure a FEMA buyout in 1997 due to the massive devastation from the 9th of November 1996 flood.
