Portage County
County
Portage County Courthouse in Stevens Point
Portage County Courthouse in Stevens Point
Flag of Portage County
Flag
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Portage County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°29′N 89°30′W / 44.48°N 89.5°W / 44.48; -89.5
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1844
Named forthe portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers
SeatStevens Point
Largest cityStevens Point
Area
 • Total823 sq mi (2,130 km2)
 • Land801 sq mi (2,070 km2)
 • Water22 sq mi (60 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total70,377
 • Density87.9/sq mi (33.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.portage.wi.gov

Portage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,377.[2] Its county seat is Stevens Point.[3]

Portage County comprises the Stevens Point, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Wausau-Stevens Point-Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

Portage County was created from the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and organized in 1844.[4] Like the city of Portage, Portage County is named for the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers; Portage County originally included the portage and Portage but boundary changes detached the county from its namesake.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 823 square miles (2,130 km2), of which 801 square miles (2,070 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (2.7%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Airport

Adjacent counties

Wildlife refuges

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,623—
18501,250−23.0%
18607,507500.6%
187010,63441.7%
188017,73166.7%
189024,79839.9%
190029,48318.9%
191030,9455.0%
192033,6498.7%
193033,8270.5%
194035,8005.8%
195034,858−2.6%
196036,9646.0%
197047,54128.6%
198057,42020.8%
199061,4056.9%
200067,1829.4%
201070,0194.2%
202070,3770.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[2] 2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 70,377. The population density was 87.9 people per square mile (33.9 people/km2). There were 31,148 housing units at an average density of 38.9 units per square mile (15.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White, 3.2% Asian, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Portage County

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 67,182 people, 25,040 households, and 16,501 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32 people/km2). There were 26,589 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.73% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.8% were of Polish, 31.6% German, 5.4% Norwegian and 5.0% Irish ancestry. 93.9% spoke English, 1.7% Spanish, 1.6% Polish and 1.3% Hmong as their first language.

There were 25,040 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 16.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

In 2017, there were 674 births, giving a general fertility rate of 46.4 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the third lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[12]

Communities

Fairgrounds
Grandstands at the county fairgrounds
4 cylinder stock cars racing at the county fairgrounds

City

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town/neighborhood

Politics

Portage County has been reliably Democratic in presidential elections since Dwight Eisenhower's win in 1956. However, recent elections have suggested that the county is turning into a battleground area, with Donald Trump holding the margin in the county to within 5%.

United States presidential election results for Portage County, Wisconsin[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 19,299 47.53% 20,428 50.31% 876 2.16%
2016 17,305 44.84% 18,529 48.02% 2,755 7.14%
2012 16,615 42.24% 22,075 56.12% 647 1.64%
2008 13,810 35.03% 24,817 62.95% 795 2.02%
2004 16,546 42.47% 21,861 56.11% 554 1.42%
2000 13,214 39.14% 17,942 53.15% 2,604 7.71%
1996 9,631 32.18% 15,901 53.13% 4,396 14.69%
1992 10,914 32.37% 15,553 46.13% 7,249 21.50%
1988 12,057 42.25% 16,317 57.18% 161 0.56%
1984 13,605 48.28% 14,399 51.10% 175 0.62%
1980 10,465 34.09% 16,443 53.56% 3,794 12.36%
1976 9,520 36.28% 15,912 60.65% 805 3.07%
1972 9,346 40.04% 13,564 58.11% 431 1.85%
1968 6,180 36.10% 10,014 58.49% 927 5.41%
1964 4,579 27.75% 11,887 72.05% 32 0.19%
1960 6,436 37.92% 10,516 61.96% 20 0.12%
1956 8,320 54.08% 7,010 45.56% 56 0.36%
1952 8,499 52.83% 7,537 46.85% 51 0.32%
1948 5,424 39.33% 8,154 59.13% 213 1.54%
1944 5,405 38.27% 8,678 61.44% 42 0.30%
1940 5,670 35.63% 10,148 63.78% 94 0.59%
1936 3,969 26.74% 10,576 71.25% 299 2.01%
1932 3,434 26.79% 9,195 71.72% 191 1.49%
1928 5,161 43.03% 6,764 56.39% 70 0.58%
1924 2,854 27.76% 2,010 19.55% 5,416 52.68%
1920 5,527 65.39% 2,656 31.42% 269 3.18%
1916 2,520 44.52% 3,000 53.00% 140 2.47%
1912 1,932 36.37% 2,301 43.32% 1,079 20.31%
1908 3,269 56.42% 2,362 40.77% 163 2.81%
1904 3,633 61.09% 2,168 36.46% 146 2.46%
1900 3,285 54.60% 2,633 43.77% 98 1.63%
1896 3,537 53.81% 2,890 43.97% 146 2.22%
1892 2,291 44.75% 2,570 50.21% 258 5.04%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census: Portage County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

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