Jay
Welcome to Jay!
Once home of the Anasagunticook Abenaki Indians, the thriving town of Jay was incorporated in 1795 and named after the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay. Jay is located along the banks of the
mighty Androscoggin River, and water power from the river helped the town to develop a booming mill industry in which paper became the primary product. While many of the old mills have closed, some remain, including the large International Paper Company mill, a major presence in the town. These mills, along with many historical buildings, stand as a testament to the town’s proud history.
Fun Facts
- The Androscoggin River, once polluted by mill runoff, is one of Maine’s great conservation successes – the river has been restored into a healthy and clean river full of happy fish and clear waters once again.
- Quarries in Jay produced granite used in the construction of important buildings across the country, including the General Grant National Memorial in New York.