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is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,306 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Jay, governor of New York when the town was formed.
in on the north border of the county and is southwest of Plattsburgh. Jay is inside the Adirondack Park.
Jay was formerly known as "Mallory's Bush", after the principal settlement, based on early settler Nathaniel Mallory, who arrived around 1797.
The Town of Jay was formed in 1798 from part of the Town of Willsboro. Afterwards, part of Jay was used to form, in whole or part, the Towns of Keene (1808), Elizabethtown and Wilmington (1921). In 1822, the town was increased by territory from the Town of Chateaugay (now in Clinton County), and the Town of Peru (now in Franklin County).
Lumber production and iron ore extraction were important to the early econmomy of the town.
Land of Makebelieve was a former theme park (1954-1979) located in Upper Jay.