Portage County, Wisconsin

Portage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 70,019.[1] Its county seat is Stevens Point.[2]

Not to be confused with Portage, Wisconsin.
Portage County
U.S. county
Portage County Courthouse in Stevens Point
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°29′N 89°30′W
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
 (2010)
 • Total70,019
 • Estimate 
(2019)
70,772
 • Density85/sq mi (33/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.portage.wi.us

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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

Major highways
  • Highway 49 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 54 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 66 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 73 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 161 (Wisconsin)

Airport

Adjacent counties

Wildlife refuges

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
2019 (est.)70,772[6]1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Portage County

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/km2). There were 26,589 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/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
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 47.5% 19,299 50.3% 20,428 2.2% 876
2016 44.8% 17,305 48.0% 18,529 7.1% 2,755
2012 42.2% 16,615 56.1% 22,075 1.6% 647
2008 35.0% 13,810 63.0% 24,817 2.0% 795
2004 42.5% 16,546 56.1% 21,861 1.4% 554
2000 39.1% 13,214 53.2% 17,942 7.7% 2,604
1996 32.2% 9,631 53.1% 15,901 14.7% 4,396
1992 32.4% 10,914 46.1% 15,553 21.5% 7,249
1988 42.3% 12,057 57.2% 16,317 0.6% 161
1984 48.3% 13,605 51.1% 14,399 0.6% 175
1980 34.1% 10,465 53.6% 16,443 12.4% 3,794
1976 36.3% 9,520 60.7% 15,912 3.1% 805
1972 40.0% 9,346 58.1% 13,564 1.9% 431
1968 36.1% 6,180 58.5% 10,014 5.4% 927
1964 27.8% 4,579 72.1% 11,887 0.2% 32
1960 37.9% 6,436 62.0% 10,516 0.1% 20
1956 54.1% 8,320 45.6% 7,010 0.4% 56
1952 52.8% 8,499 46.9% 7,537 0.3% 51
1948 39.3% 5,424 59.1% 8,154 1.5% 213
1944 38.3% 5,405 61.4% 8,678 0.3% 42
1940 35.6% 5,670 63.8% 10,148 0.6% 94
1936 26.7% 3,969 71.3% 10,576 2.0% 299
1932 26.8% 3,434 71.7% 9,195 1.5% 191
1928 43.0% 5,161 56.4% 6,764 0.6% 70
1924 27.8% 2,854 19.6% 2,010 52.7% 5,416
1920 65.4% 5,527 31.4% 2,656 3.2% 269
1916 44.5% 2,520 53.0% 3,000 2.5% 140
1912 36.4% 1,932 43.3% 2,301 20.3% 1,079
1908 56.4% 3,269 40.8% 2,362 2.8% 163
1904 61.1% 3,633 36.5% 2,168 2.5% 146
1900 54.6% 3,285 43.8% 2,633 1.6% 98
1896 53.8% 3,537 44.0% 2,890 2.2% 146
1892 44.8% 2,291 50.2% 2,570 5.0% 258

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  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. 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 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

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