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Portage County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Portage 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.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
Founded 1844
Named for the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers
Seat Stevens Point
Largest city Stevens Point
Area
 • Total 823 sq mi (2,130 km2)
 • Land 801 sq mi (2,070 km2)
 • Water 22 sq mi (60 km2)  2.7%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 70,377
 • Estimate 
(2023)
71,024 Increase
 • Density 87.9/sq mi (33.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 3rd

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

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. 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.

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.

Major highways

  • I-39.svg Interstate 39
  • US 10.svg U.S. Highway 10
  • US 51.svg U.S. Highway 51
  • WIS 13.svg Highway 13 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 22.svg Highway 22 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 34.svg Highway 34 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 49.svg Highway 49 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 54.svg Highway 54 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 66.svg Highway 66 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 73.svg Highway 73 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 161.svg Highway 161 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

Buses

  • Stevens Point Transit
  • List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Airport

  • KSTE - Stevens Point Municipal Airport

Adjacent counties

Wildlife refuges

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 1,623
1850 1,250 −23.0%
1860 7,507 500.6%
1870 10,634 41.7%
1880 17,731 66.7%
1890 24,798 39.9%
1900 29,483 18.9%
1910 30,945 5.0%
1920 33,649 8.7%
1930 33,827 0.5%
1940 35,800 5.8%
1950 34,858 −2.6%
1960 36,964 6.0%
1970 47,541 28.6%
1980 57,420 20.8%
1990 61,405 6.9%
2000 67,182 9.4%
2010 70,019 4.2%
2020 70,377 0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, 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.

USA Portage County, Wisconsin age pyramid
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Portage County

Communities

Portage County Wisconsin Fairgrounds
Fairgrounds
Portage County Wisconsin Grandstands
Grandstands at the county fairgrounds
Amherst Speedway Four Cylinder race cars
4 cylinder stock cars racing at the county fairgrounds

City

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town/neighborhood

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Portage (Wisconsin) para niños

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