Portage is a city located in Columbia County, Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,728. It is the county seat of Columbia County. 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

Portage is located at 43°32'45" North, 89°27'48" West (43.545704, -89.463199)¹.

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 is water. The total area is 8.09% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 9,728 people, 3,770 households, and 2,228 families residing in the city. The population density is 453.1/km² (1,172.9/mi²). There are 3,970 housing units at an average density of 184.9/km² (478.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 3.39% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 3,770 households out of which 30.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% are married couples living together, 10.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% are non-families. 34.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.96.

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 108.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $35,815, and the median income for a family is $44,804. Males have a median income of $33,158 versus $23,478 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,039. 7.2% of the population and 4.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Portage is the birthplace of historian Frederick Jackson Turner and writer Zona Gale.

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