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Portland, Michigan
Kent Street, Portland, Michigan in 2011
Kent Street, Portland, Michigan in 2011
Nickname(s): 
City of Two Rivers
Location of Portland, Michigan
Location of Portland, Michigan
Country United States
State Michigan
County Ionia
Area
 • Total 2.77 sq mi (7.18 km2)
 • Land 2.63 sq mi (6.81 km2)
 • Water 0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2)
Elevation
715 ft (218 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,796
 • Density 1,443.90/sq mi (557.41/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
48875
Area code(s) 517
FIPS code 26-65860
GNIS feature ID 1626934

Portland is a city located in Ionia County, Michigan, in the United States. In 2020, about 3,796 people lived there. Portland is often called the "City of Two Rivers" because the Grand River and the Looking Glass River meet there. The city is home to Portland Public Schools and Portland Saint Patrick Catholic School.

History of Portland

The first land in what is now Portland was bought by Elisha Newman in 1833. Later that year, Philo Bogue built a trading post on the Grand River. Today, a park called Bogue Flats Recreation Area is named after him. Portland got its first post office in 1837. Native American tribes lived in this area for a long time. A famous Native American leader, John Okemos, lived here in the 1850s.

The first train came to Portland in 1869. Trains were an important way to travel and move goods. By 1881, six passenger trains arrived every day. The original wooden railroad bridge was replaced by a new one in 1881, which is still there today. The last train left Portland in 1984, and the tracks were removed. As Portland grew, it became a Village in 1869 and then a City in 1969. An opera house opened in 1880, and a library, built with money from Andrew Carnegie, opened in 1905.

Portland's Geography

Portland covers a total area of about 2.78 square miles (7.18 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.64 square miles (6.81 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.14 square miles (0.37 square kilometers), is water, mainly from the two rivers that meet in the city.

Population Facts

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 440
1870 1,060 140.9%
1880 1,670 57.5%
1890 1,678 0.5%
1900 1,874 11.7%
1910 1,832 −2.2%
1920 1,899 3.7%
1930 1,902 0.2%
1940 2,247 18.1%
1950 2,807 24.9%
1960 3,330 18.6%
1970 3,817 14.6%
1980 3,963 3.8%
1990 3,889 −1.9%
2000 3,789 −2.6%
2010 3,883 2.5%
2020 3,796 −2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, there were 3,883 people living in Portland. Most residents were White (96.7%). Smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian people also lived there. About 3.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,640 households in the city. Many homes (33.2%) had children under 18 living with them. About 46.1% of households were married couples. Some people lived alone, especially those aged 65 or older. The average household had about 2.37 people.

The average age of people in Portland was 35.6 years. About 25.4% of residents were under 18, and 13% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49%) and females (51%).

Famous People from Portland

  • Martia L. Davis Berry (1844–1894), a political reformer who worked to improve society.
  • Clarence Budington Kelland (1881–1964), a well-known writer.
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