Portage, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia : P : PO : POR : Portage, Wisconsin
Portage is a city in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,728 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Columbia County[Geographic references#6GR6]. Portage is named for the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway, a portage between the Fox River and the Wisconsin River which was recognized by Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet during their discovery of a route to the Mississippi river in 1673.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.4 km² (9.0 mi²). 21.5 km² (8.3 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (8.09%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 9,728 people, 3,770 households, and 2,228 families residing in the city. The population density was 453.1/km² (1,172.9/mi²). There were 3,970 housing units at an average density of 184.9/km² (478.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.76% White, 3.90% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.39% of the population.There were 3,770 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,815, and the median income for a family was $44,804. Males had a median income of $33,158 versus $23,478 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,039. About 4.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Portage is the birthplace of Russell W. Peterson, the former Governor of Delaware, historian Frederick Jackson Turner and writer Zona Gale.
External links
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