Portage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,377. Its county seat is Stevens Point.
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. 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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.7%) is water.
Major highways
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- 20px Interstate 39
- 20px U.S. Highway 10
- 20px U.S. Highway 51
- 20px Highway 13 (Wisconsin)
- 20px Highway 22 (Wisconsin)
- 20px Highway 34 (Wisconsin)
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- 20px Highway 49 (Wisconsin)
- 20px Highway 54 (Wisconsin)
- 20px Highway 66 (Wisconsin)
- 20px Highway 73 (Wisconsin)
- 20px Highway 161 (Wisconsin)
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Railroads
- Canadian National
Buses
- Stevens Point Transit
Airport
- KSTE - Stevens Point Municipal Airport
Adjacent counties
- Marathon County - north
- Shawano County - northeast
- Waupaca County - east
- Waushara County - southeast
- Adams County - southwest
- Wood County - west
Wildlife refuges
- Buena Vista Marsh
- Dewey Marsh
- Mead Wildlife Area
- Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area