Ohio

Portage

161,791
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Portage

Portage, Ohio, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 2,995. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 161,791.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Kent State Massacre, Kent State Shootings, and 51 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020161,791
2010161,419
2000152,061
1990142,585
1980135,856
1970125,868
196091,798
195063,954
194046,660
193042,682
192036,269
191030,307
190029,246
189027,868
188027,500
187024,584
186024,208
185024,419
184022,965
183018,826
182010,095
18102,995
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Portage

Military engagements that took place in Portage, Ohio.

Kent State Massacre
1970
Kent State Shootings
1970

Historic places in Portage

National Register of Historic Places listings in Portage, Ohio.

Ohio State Normal College At Kent
Kent
Gross, L.N., Company Building
Kent
Howard, C. R., House
Aurora
Masonic Temple
Kent
Johnson, John, Farm
Hiram
Kent Industrial District
Kent
West Main Street District
Kent
Atwater Congregational Church
Atwater
Ferrey, Aaron, House
Kent
Davey, John, House
Kent
Kent, Charles House
Kent
Kent Jail
Kent
Franklin Hotel
Kent
Mantua Center School
Mantua
Aurora Train Station
Aurora
Franklin Township Hall
Kent
Browse all Ohiohistoric sites ›

Other counties in Ohio

Explore census history and historic records for more Ohio counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Portage County, Ohio

This page charts the census history of Portage County, Ohio. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Portage

When does Portage first appear in the US census?
Portage, Ohio first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 2,995.
What is the population of Portage?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Portage had a recorded population of 161,791.
Were any battles fought in Portage?
2 documented military engagements took place in Portage, including Kent State Massacre, Kent State Shootings.
How many historic places are in Portage?
51 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Portage, Ohio.
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