Portland has a low cost of living and job opportunities
Portland is a laid-back, blue-collar town about 10 minutes from the Ohio border. With a population of just over 6,000, it is the seat of Jay County and home to most county services. “We have a strong, rich heritage and a lot of family traditions and assets that have been here since about 1835,” says lifelong resident and Portland Mayor Jeff Westlake. The community has attractions like Arts Place, a hub for artistic enrichment, and the annual Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show in August, which draws massive crowds. “We have a diverse manufacturing market, a low unemployment rate and a low cost of living,” says Ceann Bales, executive director of the Jay County Community Development Corporation. “We have a strong manufacturing base and people who commute in from the Ohio side and the surrounding Indiana counties. Family ties also bring people here.”
Outdoor spaces and creative events bring the community together
There’s plenty of green space and recreation in town with five parks and the Portland Waterpark. Hudson Family Park hums with activity throughout the year and features paved walking trails, a dog park, a fishing pond, a disc golf course, a playground and an amphitheater for concerts and live performances. Golfers tee off at public courses like Portland Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, and Wabash Valley Golf Club in nearby Geneva.
Arts Place is a nonprofit organization and art gallery that offers classes, events and performances. The group hosts Arts in the Parks every summer, a low-cost art workshop series for kids in Portland and surrounding communities in Indiana and Ohio. “Arts Place is a vast help to the community,” Westlake says. “They’ll have concerts and bring in food trucks, they do free movies in the summer in June and July, they have classes and allow that artistic learning.”
Single-family homes with a lower median price than nearby Berne
The housing stock mainly consists of homes built from the early 1900s through the 1980s. Those built after 2000 are rare. Buyers can find Victorian, National, bungalow and ranch-style homes on compact lots. Driveways, detached garages and street parking are typical, but it’s not uncommon to spot attached one-car garages. Portland’s single-family median price is about $150,000, which is lower than Berne’s median of $200,000.
Commuter-friendly manufacturing hub
Portland has thriving agricultural and manufacturing industries, and many people commute to town for work. Medical care is available at IU Health Jay Hospital. “We have an interurban bus system through the city, and they’ll even take people out of town to get to the doctor,” Westlake says. The community is about 10 miles from the Ohio state line and the border town of Fort Recovery. Decatur, Muncie, and Celina, Ohio, are within a 30-mile drive. Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne International Airport are 50 miles away.
Antiques, tacos and tenderloins in Portland
Portland is home to Wheel and Spoke Antique Mall, a 35,000-square-foot market with antiques, vintage goods and collectibles from local vendors. Diners can chow down on Mexican fare at El Camino Real, Cuervo’s Tacos and Milenio Mexican Restaurant, or savor slices of pizza at Chicago’s or Greek’s. “A lot of people gravitate towards Greazy Pickle because of the breaded tenderloins, they’re in love with those things,” Westlake says. “Believe it or not, it draws people from Ohio over here sometimes.” Residents can grab groceries at Walmart and stop by specialty stores like Fisher Meats or Jalisco Mexican Store.
Jay County High School has college credit
Jay School Corporation serves about 3,000 students and receives a B rating from Niche. The school district has five elementary schools and the combined Jay County Junior/Senior High School. High schoolers can earn up to 30 college credits through Indiana College Core. Credits can be transferred to any public state college or university and some private institutions.
Tractor and engine show brings nostalgia and tourists to town
The Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show has been a local tradition for 60 years. It’s the world’s largest show of its kind with more than 3,000 vehicles on display over the course of the four-day event. “They bring old tractor engines that nobody really runs, but they keep them as antiques so they can listen to the sounds of the engines popping and cracking,” Westlake says. “If you can’t find something here in this tri-state tractor and engine show, it’s because you didn’t look good enough.”
During the same weekend in August, the Portland-based National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture hosts the Gathering of Great Lakes Nations Pow Wow. The two-day event brings Jay County residents and tribal citizens from across the region and beyond to celebrate the culture, history and heritage of the Great Lakes tribes.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
