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'Portage County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2000, the population was 152,061. Its county seat is Ravenna⁶. Portage County is named for the portage between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers.^[2]

Contents

History

Geography

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Government

Localities

Colleges and universities

References

History

The name "Portage" comes from an old Native American path called "Portage Trail", which ran between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers, where travelers portaged their canoes.
The first settler was Abraham Honey in Mantua Township, followed by settlements in Palmyra Township and Ravenna Township.

Geography

Geographic features

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,313 km² (507 mi²). 1,275 km² (492 mi²) of it is land and 38 km² (15 mi²) of it (2.90%) is water.
West Branch State Park is a very large state park in central Portage County, consisting of a large green surrounding the Michael J. Kirwan Dam and Reservoir. There are a number of smaller state and local parks.

Major highways

Interstate 80, Interstate 76, and U.S. Route 224 pass through Portage county heading East-West.
Interstate 480 connects to Interstate 80 in Streetsboro and is a major thoroughfare for those heading north. It also serves to connect Portage County to Cleveland proper.

Adjacent counties

★ Geauga County (north)

★ Trumbull County (east)

★ Mahoning County (southeast)

★ Stark County (south)

★ Summit County (west)

★ Cuyahoga County (northwest corner)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 152,061 people, 56,449 households, and 39,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 119/km² (309/mi²). There were 60,096 housing units at an average density of 47/km² (122/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.40% White, 3.18% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 56,449 households out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,347, and the median income for a family was $52,820. Males had a median income of $37,434 versus $26,232 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,428. About 5.90% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

''Main article: Ohio county government''

Localities

Portage County is arranged as a 4x5 grid of 20 rectangles: 18 unincorporated townships containing 9 cities and villages; and two incorporated townships which are fully occupied by one city each.
Under Ohio law, there are two types of incorporated municipal jurisdictions: cities and villages, and any territory within a county that is not part of an incorporated municipality (city or village), is part of a township. Townships have limited local government and services.

The two incorporated townships are:

★ Aurora city (fully occupies the former Aurora township)

★ Streetsboro city (occupies most of the former Streetsboro township)
There are 18 unincorporated townships:

★ Atwater Township

★ Brimfield Township

★ Charlestown Township

★ Deerfield Township

★ Edinburg Township

★ Franklin Township

★ Freedom Township

★ Hiram Township

★ Mantua Township

★ Nelson Township

★ Palmyra Township

★ Paris Township

★ Randolph Township

★ Ravenna Township

★ Rootstown Township

★ Shalersville Township

★ Suffield Township

★ Windham Township
There are an additional 9 villages and cities contained within those 18 townships:

★ Brady Lake village (Franklin Township)

★ Garrettsville village (Hiram and Nelson Townships)

★ Hiram village (Hiram Township)

★ Kent city (Franklin Township & small portion of Brimfield Township)

★ Mantua village (Mantua Township)

★ Mogadore village (Suffield Township)

★ Ravenna city (Ravenna Township)

★ Sugar Bush Knolls village (Streetsboro city and Franklin Township)

★ Windham village (Windham Township)
In addition to the above, a small part of Tallmadge is in Brimfield Township (the rest of the city is in Summit County).
Two small unincorporated communities in Portage County have their own post offices:

★ Diamond

★ Wayland
There is one unincorporated Census-designated place, in Brimfield Township:

★ Brimfield
The Ravenna Ordnance Plant consumes much of the land in Charlestown, Paris, and Windham Township, as well as a small part of Freedom Township.

Colleges and universities

Kent State University is in Kent, in west-central Portage County, well-connected to Streetsboro, Ravenna, and most of Summit County.
Hiram College is in Hiram in Northwest Portage County.
The Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) is in Rootstown, in South central Portage County.

References

1. Ohio County Profiles: Portage County
2. Portage County data


★ The Portage County Ohio Government Website

★ US Census Bureau Quickfacts for Portage County, Ohio