Portage (IPA: [ˈpɔɹ.tɪdʒ]) is a city in Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 36,789 at the 2005 census. It is the largest city in Porter County, Indiana, and third largest in Northwest Indiana behind Hammond and Gary.
Geography
Portage is located at 41°34′55″N, 87°11′12″W (41.581850, -87.186553)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 71.0 km² (27.4 mi²). 65.9 km² (25.5 mi²) of it is land and 5.1 km² (2.0 mi²) of it (7.18%) is water.
Homes along Airport Rd. in Portage, Indiana
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 33,496 people, 12,746 households, and 9,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 508.0/km² (1,315.8/mi²). There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 202.8/km² (525.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.52% White, 1.45% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.20% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.94% of the population.
There were 12,746 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,500, and the median income for a family was $54,316. Males had a median income of $46,224 versus $25,428 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,146. About 5.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The commercial airport nearest Portage is the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary. Chicago's Midway Airport and O'Hare International Airport are also in close proximity and provide the bulk of flights servicing Portage.
Portage is also connected to Chicago, Illinois by the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, operated by NICTD.
Portage is intersected by several major highways, including I-80, I-90, and I-94 as well as US 6 and US 20, and SR 249 and 149
Also located on the shores of Lake Michigan is the Port of Indiana.
Education
Portage is home to an outstanding school system, Portage Township Schools. http://www.portage.k12.in.us/
Higher Education:
Purdue University North Central (classes offered at Portage High School)
Ivy Tech
High School:
Portage High School http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/phsweb/index.htm
Middle Schools:
Willowcreek Middle School http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/wcweb/index.htm
Fegely Middle School http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/feweb/index.htm
Elementary Schools:
Jones http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/joweb/index.htm
Kyle http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/kyweb/index.htm
Aylesworth http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/ayweb/index.htm
Central http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/ceweb/index.htm
Myers http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/myweb/index.htm
Crisman http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/crweb/index.htm
Saylor http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/saweb/index.htm
South Haven http://www.portage.k12.in.us/Schools/shweb/index.htm
Parks
Portage Parks offer a wide variety of service, from sports leagues, to crafts, to hiking and water sports. http://www.ci.portage.in.us/parks/
Portage is also home of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana Dunes), a beautiful showcase of land and lake on the south shore of Lake Michigan.
Details
The Mayor of Portage is Douglas W. Olson.
Keith Kizer (P.H.S. 1984), Executive Director of the Nevada Athletic Commission (http://www.maxboxing.com/News/Scotto042006.asp), and former Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Nevada, grew up in Portage (http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2006/06/05/news/news01.txt).
External links
End of Wikipedia Verbatim Material.
Link to Synergy Thoughts article
Link to Synergy Homes, featuring new homes in Shadowood in Portage
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