Portage County, Wisconsin
Portage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,377.[1] Its county seat is Stevens Point.[2]
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
[edit | edit source]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 city of Portage and the portage for which it was named, but boundary changes detached the county from its namesake.[4]
Geography
[edit | edit source]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
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Railroads
[edit | edit source]Buses
[edit | edit source]Airport
[edit | edit source]Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Marathon County - north
- Shawano County - northeast
- Waupaca County - east
- Waushara County - southeast
- Adams County - southwest
- Wood County - west
Wildlife refuges
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[6] | Pop 1990[7] | Pop 2000[8] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 56,413 | 59,656 | 63,752 | 64,897 | 62,212 | 98.25% | 97.15% | 94.89% | 92.68% | 88.40% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 108 | 152 | 203 | 362 | 903 | 0.19% | 0.25% | 0.30% | 0.52% | 1.28% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 166 | 236 | 214 | 222 | 242 | 0.29% | 0.38% | 0.32% | 0.32% | 0.34% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 249 | 771 | 1,509 | 1,955 | 2,252 | 0.43% | 1.26% | 2.25% | 2.79% | 3.20% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [11] | x [12] | 27 | 12 | 16 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 37 | 18 | 29 | 35 | 142 | 0.06% | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 481 | 683 | 1,990 | x | x | 0.72% | 0.98% | 2.83% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 447 | 572 | 967 | 1,853 | 2,620 | 0.78% | 0.93% | 1.44% | 2.65% | 3.72% |
| Total | 57,420 | 61,405 | 67,182 | 70,019 | 70,377 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,377, the median age was 38.8 years, 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males age 18 and over.[15]
There were 29,138 households in the county, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.2% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
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); 6.5% were vacant, 68.4% of occupied units were owner-occupied, and 31.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.[15]
The racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.7% of the population.[16]
63.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.6% lived in rural areas.[17]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the census[18] 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.[19]
Communities
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City
[edit | edit source]- Stevens Point (county seat)
Villages
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Towns
[edit | edit source]Census-designated places
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Ghost town/neighborhood
[edit | edit source]Politics
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,291 | 44.75% | 2,570 | 50.21% | 258 | 5.04% |
| 1896 | 3,537 | 53.81% | 2,890 | 43.97% | 146 | 2.22% |
| 1900 | 3,285 | 54.60% | 2,633 | 43.77% | 98 | 1.63% |
| 1904 | 3,633 | 61.09% | 2,168 | 36.46% | 146 | 2.46% |
| 1908 | 3,269 | 56.42% | 2,362 | 40.77% | 163 | 2.81% |
| 1912 | 1,932 | 36.37% | 2,301 | 43.32% | 1,079 | 20.31% |
| 1916 | 2,520 | 44.52% | 3,000 | 53.00% | 140 | 2.47% |
| 1920 | 5,527 | 65.39% | 2,656 | 31.42% | 269 | 3.18% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin) |1924 | 2,854 | 27.76% | 2,010 | 19.55% | 5,416 | 52.68% |
| 1928 | 5,161 | 43.03% | 6,764 | 56.39% | 70 | 0.58% |
| 1932 | 3,434 | 26.79% | 9,195 | 71.72% | 191 | 1.49% |
| 1936 | 3,969 | 26.74% | 10,576 | 71.25% | 299 | 2.01% |
| 1940 | 5,670 | 35.63% | 10,148 | 63.78% | 94 | 0.59% |
| 1944 | 5,405 | 38.27% | 8,678 | 61.44% | 42 | 0.30% |
| 1948 | 5,424 | 39.33% | 8,154 | 59.13% | 213 | 1.54% |
| 1952 | 8,499 | 52.83% | 7,537 | 46.85% | 51 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | 8,320 | 54.08% | 7,010 | 45.56% | 56 | 0.36% |
| 1960 | 6,436 | 37.92% | 10,516 | 61.96% | 20 | 0.12% |
| 1964 | 4,579 | 27.75% | 11,887 | 72.05% | 32 | 0.19% |
| 1968 | 6,180 | 36.10% | 10,014 | 58.49% | 927 | 5.41% |
| 1972 | 9,346 | 40.04% | 13,564 | 58.11% | 431 | 1.85% |
| 1976 | 9,520 | 36.28% | 15,912 | 60.65% | 805 | 3.07% |
| 1980 | 10,465 | 34.09% | 16,443 | 53.56% | 3,794 | 12.36% |
| 1984 | 13,605 | 48.28% | 14,399 | 51.10% | 175 | 0.62% |
| 1988 | 12,057 | 42.25% | 16,317 | 57.18% | 161 | 0.56% |
| 1992 | 10,914 | 32.37% | 15,553 | 46.13% | 7,249 | 21.50% |
| 1996 | 9,631 | 32.18% | 15,901 | 53.13% | 4,396 | 14.69% |
| 2000 | 13,214 | 39.14% | 17,942 | 53.15% | 2,604 | 7.71% |
| 2004 | 16,546 | 42.47% | 21,861 | 56.11% | 554 | 1.42% |
| 2008 | 13,810 | 35.03% | 24,817 | 62.95% | 795 | 2.02% |
| 2012 | 16,615 | 42.24% | 22,075 | 56.12% | 647 | 1.64% |
| 2016 | 17,305 | 44.84% | 18,529 | 48.02% | 2,755 | 7.14% |
| 2020 | 19,299 | 47.53% | 20,428 | 50.31% | 876 | 2.16% |
| 2024 | 20,987 | 48.52% | 21,503 | 49.71% | 768 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Portage County had been reliably Democratic in presidential elections since Dwight Eisenhower's win in 1956. Donald Trump came within 517 votes of winning the county in 2024, and gained support in each election from 2016-2024. The county is a battleground county, that has moved to the right in the Trump-era.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
- ↑ "1980 General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 15: Persons by Race and Table 16: Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race". United States Census Bureau – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 3: Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 23-111. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Portage County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Portage County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Portage County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1895.
- Rosholt, Malcolm. Our County, Our Story: Portage County, Wisconsin. Stevens Point: Portage County Board of Supervisors, 1959.
- A Standard History of Portage County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1919.
- Kisti's Royal Garden by Walther Lysne and Robin Lysne (Walther's granddaughter), (Santa Cruz, CA: Blue Bone Books, 2023) uses diaries and historical records to tell the true story of Kisti Lysne (1824-1890), her Norwegian family, and the native Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) people in the Portage County, WI area.
External links
[edit | edit source] |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portage County, Wisconsin. |
- Portage County government website
- Old plat maps: 1876 1895 ca 1904 1915 1930 1947
- Portage County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
- Portage County Business Council, Inc.
- Portage County Historical Society
Template:Portage County, Wisconsin Template:Wisconsin Coordinates: 44°29′N 89°30′W / 44.48°N 89.50°W