Portage, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Portage is a city in Portage Township
, Porter County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 36,828 as of the 2010 census. It is the largest city in Porter County, and third largest in Northwest Indiana
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71.0 km2), of which, 25.5 square miles (65.9 km2) of it is land and 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2) of it (7.18%) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 33,496 people, 12,746 households, and 9,011 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,315.8 people per square mile (508.0/km2). There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 525.4 per square mile (202.8/km2). 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.
in Gary. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
and Chicago Midway International Airport are also in close proximity and provide the bulk of flights servicing Portage.
Coach USA's Tri State/United Limo service stops at Central & Irving intersection, connecting Portage to Chicago's airports and several other North Indiana cities and town. Riders can take westbound buses to Highland, Crestwood and O'Hare and Midway Airport and eastbound buses to Michigan City, South Bend and Notre Dame. Buses run between Westbound buses run every hour. Eastbound buses to Michigan City run every hour while eastbound buses to South Bend and Notre Dame run every two hours.
Portage is also connected to Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana
by the South Shore Line
. Passengers can board the train at the Portage/Ogden Dunes Station, which is located immediately east of Ogden Dunes in Portage.
Portage is intersected by several major highways, including Interstate 94
and Interstates 80
/90
(Indiana Toll Road
) as well as U.S. Route 6
, U.S. Route 12
, U.S. Route 20
, and Indiana 149 and Indiana 249.
Also located on the shores of Lake Michigan
is the Port of Indiana
.
Portage Parks offer a wide variety of service, from sports leagues, to crafts, to hiking and water sports.
The Portage Public Marina offers boat launch and slips for public use. The marina opens to the Burns Waterway and has access to nearby Lake Michigan. The marina's operating season is April 1 to October 31 each year.
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
. West Beach, the largest beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore system, is located within Portage.
, bluegill
, crappie
, other panfish, and bullhead catfish
, making it a popular fishing site. The lake is home to many turtles including snapping turtle
s
. It also has a small drainage pond, which has most of the above mentioned wildlife. The drainage pond links to Kevins Creek, which then runs to Salt Creek and out to Lake Michigan.
On November 6, 2007 Democrat Olga Velázquez was elected Mayor of Portage. She defeated Republican Jim Snyder 52.2% to 47.8% (3,585 to 3,283 votes). Velázquez took office on January 1, 2008 for a four year term.
For the 2011 mayoral elections, both Incumbent mayor Olga Velazquez (D) and her opponent in the 2007 race, Jim Snyder (R), announced their candidacy for Portage mayor. Also running is current Clerk Treasurer, Donna Pappas (D). The Primary Election is May 3, 2011. The General Election is November 8, 2011.
Keith Kizer (P.H.S. 1984), Executive Director of the Nevada Athletic Commission
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?id=3265618 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.
Magazines
Websites
Tribe.
, Joliet
, Hennepin
or De la Croix
was the first explorer, however it is unknown exactly who it was. Despite the Potawatomi being a warring tribe, Chief Pokagon
encouraged diplomacy rather than war when European Settlers wanted to settle in the area. The Potawatomi tribe sold land to the settlers in 1812 known as Garyton which was one of the first communities in Portage Township.
By 1833, there were many European settlers in the area. Samuel Putnam Robbins was among the first. He came from Hocking County, Ohio
, and settled near modern-day Robbins Road between McCool Road and Indiana Highway 149. In 1834, Jacob Wolf settled in the area. He squatted on land currently near the modern-day community of South Haven
and operated several dairy and beef farms there. Other known early settlers include Berret Door, Reuben Hurlburt, Wilford Parrott, The Spurloch brothers, William McCool, Benjamin James, his son Allen James, William Holmes and Jacob Blake. The following family names are also among the first settlers: Blake, Palmer, Summer, Ritter, Curtis, Peck, Hurl, Lenburg, Fifield, Crisman, Krieger, Nicholson, Samuelson, Swanson and Hamstrom.
, completed in 1852. The Michigan Central connected Detroit to Chicago. This enabled local farmers to easily ship livestock, dairy and crops to Chicago and any other stop along the way. It was a boon to the farmers of the area at the time and enabled them to buy more land for farming. The Michigan Central was later bought by the New York Central Railroad.
The next railroad to build through the Portage area was the Baltimore and Ohio
in 1874. This railroad crossed the Michigan Central near the village of Crisman. Despite the apparent success of the early railroads, the area remained primarily agrarian and relied on the railroads to sustain its economy. Sand was also an industry in Portage due to demand in the growing city of Chicago. The railroads enabled sand to be delivered to Chicago more efficiently.
, Hammond
and East Chicago
due to the industrialization of steel mills. Portage was not unaffected by the Great Depression
. Due to the steel mills being in economic trouble, the farmers of Portage did not have demand to produce their products. As a result of this, the farmers had food, but no money. Many even lost their farms.
Like many communities in the country, World War I
and World War II
affected the economy of Portage in a big way. Steel mills geared into high production and labor was in high demand, thus drawing many people to the area.
National Steel
opened a plant along the shore of Lake Michigan
in Portage in 1959. This brought in about 1,600 new jobs. The Port of Indiana
was also built in 1961 to accommodate trade with the world via Lake Michigan. In 1963, Bethlehem Steel
began construction of a plant which was located partly in Portage. This project brought about 6,000 jobs to the area.
In 1959, Portage was incorporated as a town. Ogden Dunes
and South Haven
were excluded because the residents of these areas did not wish to be included in the town. Due to the surge of population after the war, many farmers were selling land to be subdivided into lots for families to build homes. In 1967, Portage officially became a city. During the 1950s and 1960s, the city of Gary
was going through a time of racial strife. White people of Gary were seeking a way out of the turmoil, which drew many white people to Portage during this time.
Very few farms are still active in the Portage area. However, many original descendants of founding families are still in the area.
Portage Township, Porter County, Indiana
Portage Township is one of twelve townships in Porter County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 43,956. Portage Township was established in 1835.-Cities and Towns:...
, Porter County
Porter County, Indiana
Porter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 164,343. Much of the population growth has to do with the expansion of the Chicago Metropolitan Area eastward into Indiana. The county seat is Valparaiso...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 36,828 as of the 2010 census. It is the largest city in Porter County, and third largest in Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana
Northwest Indiana, also known as the South Shore and The Calumet Region or simply The Region, comprises Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties in Indiana. This region neighbors Lake Michigan and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
.
Geography
Portage is located at 41.581850°N 87.186553°W (41.581850, -87.186553).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71.0 km2), of which, 25.5 square miles (65.9 km2) of it is land and 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2) of it (7.18%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census Portage had a population of 36,828. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 74.0% non-Hispanic white, 7.3% black or African-American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 2.6% from two or more races and 16.4% Hispanic or Latino.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 33,496 people, 12,746 households, and 9,011 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,315.8 people per square mile (508.0/km2). There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 525.4 per square mile (202.8/km2). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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 AirportGary/Chicago International Airport
Gary/Chicago International Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Gary, a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The airport, which serves the Chicago metropolitan area, is 25 miles southeast of the Chicago Loop...
in Gary. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
and Chicago Midway International Airport are also in close proximity and provide the bulk of flights servicing Portage.
Coach USA's Tri State/United Limo service stops at Central & Irving intersection, connecting Portage to Chicago's airports and several other North Indiana cities and town. Riders can take westbound buses to Highland, Crestwood and O'Hare and Midway Airport and eastbound buses to Michigan City, South Bend and Notre Dame. Buses run between Westbound buses run every hour. Eastbound buses to Michigan City run every hour while eastbound buses to South Bend and Notre Dame run every two hours.
Portage is also connected to Chicago, Illinois and South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
by the South Shore Line
South Shore Line (NICTD)
The South Shore Line is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend, Indiana...
. Passengers can board the train at the Portage/Ogden Dunes Station, which is located immediately east of Ogden Dunes in Portage.
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
and Interstates 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
/90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(Indiana Toll Road
Indiana Toll Road
The Indiana Toll Road, officially the Indiana East–West Toll Road, is a toll road that runs for east–west across northern Indiana from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line...
) as well as U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
, U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
, U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
, and Indiana 149 and Indiana 249.
Also located on the shores of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
is the Port of Indiana
Port of Indiana
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is an industrial area, founded in 1965 and located on the Lake Michigan shore of Indiana at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Indiana 249. The primary work done in the area is the manufacturing of steel, and the port area is dominated by steel mills...
.
List of Parks
| Park | Size | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Imagination Glen Park | 256 Acres | Softball complex, Soccer complex, BMX trails, Walking paths, Playground, Fishing, Picnic areas, Access to Prairie Duneland Trail |
| Woodland Park | 64 Acres | Skatepark, Playground areas, Banquet halls, Softball field, Baseball field |
| Lakefront & Riverwalk | 57 Acres | Boardwalk, Pier, Beach area, Pavilion with cafe, restrooms, and an educational classroom |
| Countryside Park | 33 Acres | Playground, Historical Museum, Sledding hill, Fishing, Hiking trails |
| Deer Trail Park | 16 Acres | Hiking trails, Fishing |
| Olson Memorial Park | 14 Acres | Playground, Sledding hill, Shelter with restrooms, Access to Prairie Duneland Trail |
| Wolfe Park | 10 Acres | Softball field, Picnic areas, Shelters |
| Frank Gilbert Jr. Memorial Park | 5 Acres | Gazebo and plaza, Walking paths, Memorial to firefighters and police officers |
| Perry Park | 4 Acres | Picnic areas, Playground |
| Community Acres Park | 1 Acre | Basketball court, Playground, Picnic Shelter |
| Harbor Oaks Park | 1 Acre | N/A |
| Founder's Square Park | 1 Acre | N/A |
Portage Parks offer a wide variety of service, from sports leagues, to crafts, to hiking and water sports.
The Portage Public Marina offers boat launch and slips for public use. The marina opens to the Burns Waterway and has access to nearby Lake Michigan. The marina's operating season is April 1 to October 31 each year.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. West Beach, the largest beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore system, is located within Portage.
Robbins Pond
Robbins Pond is located on Superior St. as well as Superior Avenue and Samuelson Road in Portage. The lake contains largemouth bassLargemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, other panfish, and bullhead catfish
Bullhead catfish
Ameiurus is a genus of catfishes in the family Ictaluridae. It contains the three common types of bullhead catfish found in waters of the United States, the black bullhead , the brown bullhead , and the yellow bullhead , as well as other species, such as the white catfish Ameiurus is a genus of...
, making it a popular fishing site. The lake is home to many turtles including snapping turtle
Chelydridae
Chelydridae is a family of turtles which has seven extinct and two extant genera. The extant genera are Chelydra the snapping turtles, and its larger relative Macrochelys, of which the Alligator Snapping Turtle is the only species. Both are endemic to the Western Hemisphere...
s
. It also has a small drainage pond, which has most of the above mentioned wildlife. The drainage pond links to Kevins Creek, which then runs to Salt Creek and out to Lake Michigan.
Politics
The Mayor of Portage was Douglas W. Olson until December 31, 2007. On December 7, 2006 he announced he would not be seeking re-election as mayor. Mayor Olson has endorsed City Councilwoman Olga Velázquez (http://www.olga4mayor.com/) for the Democratic ticket and the Republicans slated James Snyder (http://www.snyder4portage.com/) as their candidate. This came after the April 25, 2007 death of City Councilman David Highlands who was the only Republican to file for the May primary. He died just before the primary election and was not replaced on the ballot. This allowed the Republicans to slate Snyder as a replacement candidate on June 30, 2007.On November 6, 2007 Democrat Olga Velázquez was elected Mayor of Portage. She defeated Republican Jim Snyder 52.2% to 47.8% (3,585 to 3,283 votes). Velázquez took office on January 1, 2008 for a four year term.
For the 2011 mayoral elections, both Incumbent mayor Olga Velazquez (D) and her opponent in the 2007 race, Jim Snyder (R), announced their candidacy for Portage mayor. Also running is current Clerk Treasurer, Donna Pappas (D). The Primary Election is May 3, 2011. The General Election is November 8, 2011.
Keith Kizer (P.H.S. 1984), Executive Director of the Nevada Athletic Commission
Nevada Athletic Commission
The Nevada Athletic Commission regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of Nevada, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, kickboxers, mixed martial arts fighters, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers...
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?id=3265618 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.
Public Schools
The Portage Township School system comprises 11 public schools: 8 elementary schools (grades K-5), 2 middle schools (grades 6-8), and one senior high school (grades 9-12).| Elementary Schools | Middle Schools | Senior High School |
|---|---|---|
| Aylesworth | Fegely | Portage High School |
| Central | Willowcreek | |
| Crisman | ||
| Jones | ||
| Kyle | ||
| Myers | ||
| Saylor | ||
| South Haven |
Private Schools
There are 3 private schools in Portage:- Portage Christian School - A Christian school servicing children in grades Pre-K - 12
- Nativity of Our Savior School - A Roman Catholic school servicing children in grades K-8
- Maranatha Christian Academy - A Church of God school servicing children in grades K-11
Local media
Newspapers- The Times of Northwest IndianaThe Times of Northwest IndianaThe Times of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Munster, Indiana. The Times is the second largest of Indiana's 76 daily newspapers, The Indianapolis Star being the largest...
(or NWI Times), was founded in 1906 and is the second largest of Indiana’s 76 daily newspapers. http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/visitor/media/media.htm - The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana was founded in 1907, serving the Northwest Indiana region. The Post-Tribune is owned by the Sun Times Media Group. http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/visitor/media/media.htm
Magazines
- Shore Magazine is a magazine produced by the NWI Times, which also produces ShoreLines, a weekly newsletter.
Websites
- PortageLife.com, a website launched in early 2010, which publishes information about community and city events and initiatives for Portage, Indiana. http://www.valpolife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5599&catid=92&Itemid=186/
- Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce Website is a website provided by the Greater Portage Chamber of commerce for residents living, visitng, or moving to Portage. http://www.portageinchamber.com/
Pre-European Settlement
Previous to European settlers arriving, Native American Indians lived in the area now known as Portage, Indiana. The first known group was the Mound Builders. The only known mound existed in the village of McCool. This mound was removed by the owner, Mr. J.S. Robbins in the early 1900s. Following the Mound Builders, the Wea Tribe inhabited the area. The Wea were forced south of the area by the PotawatomiPotawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
Tribe.
Early Explorers and Settlers
It is speculated that MarquetteJacques Marquette
Father Jacques Marquette S.J. , sometimes known as Père Marquette, was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie, and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan...
, Joliet
Louis Jolliet
Louis Jolliet , also known as Louis Joliet, was a French Canadian explorer known for his discoveries in North America...
, Hennepin
Louis Hennepin
Father Louis Hennepin, O.F.M. baptized Antoine, was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order and an explorer of the interior of North America....
or De la Croix
François Pétis de la Croix
François Pétis de la Croix was a French orientalist.He was born in Paris, the son of the Arabic interpreter of the French court, and inherited this office at his father's death in 1695, afterwards transmitting it to his own son, Alexandre Louis Marie, who also distinguished himself in Oriental...
was the first explorer, however it is unknown exactly who it was. Despite the Potawatomi being a warring tribe, Chief Pokagon
Leopold Pokagon
Leopold Pokagon was a Potawatomi Wkema . Taking over from Topinbee, who died in 1826, Pokagon became the head of the Potawatomi of the Saint Joseph River Valley in Michigan, a band that later took his name....
encouraged diplomacy rather than war when European Settlers wanted to settle in the area. The Potawatomi tribe sold land to the settlers in 1812 known as Garyton which was one of the first communities in Portage Township.
By 1833, there were many European settlers in the area. Samuel Putnam Robbins was among the first. He came from Hocking County, Ohio
Hocking County, Ohio
Hocking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 29,380. Its county seat is Logan. Its name is from the Hocking River, the origins of which are disputed but is said to be a Delaware Indian word meaning "bottle river".-Geography:According to the...
, and settled near modern-day Robbins Road between McCool Road and Indiana Highway 149. In 1834, Jacob Wolf settled in the area. He squatted on land currently near the modern-day community of South Haven
South Haven, Indiana
South Haven is a census-designated place in Portage Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,619 at the 2000 census.-Geography:South Haven is located at ....
and operated several dairy and beef farms there. Other known early settlers include Berret Door, Reuben Hurlburt, Wilford Parrott, The Spurloch brothers, William McCool, Benjamin James, his son Allen James, William Holmes and Jacob Blake. The following family names are also among the first settlers: Blake, Palmer, Summer, Ritter, Curtis, Peck, Hurl, Lenburg, Fifield, Crisman, Krieger, Nicholson, Samuelson, Swanson and Hamstrom.
Early Communities
Before Portage became a town, it consisted primarily of three separate communities in addition to much farmland. They were named McCool, Crisman and Garyton. La Porte County maintained jurisdiction over Porter County in 1835, and founded Portage Township that year.Railroads
Portage Township was primarily a farming community until railroad development began in the 1850s and 1860s. The first railroad to build in the area was the Michigan CentralMichigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
, completed in 1852. The Michigan Central connected Detroit to Chicago. This enabled local farmers to easily ship livestock, dairy and crops to Chicago and any other stop along the way. It was a boon to the farmers of the area at the time and enabled them to buy more land for farming. The Michigan Central was later bought by the New York Central Railroad.
The next railroad to build through the Portage area was the Baltimore and Ohio
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
in 1874. This railroad crossed the Michigan Central near the village of Crisman. Despite the apparent success of the early railroads, the area remained primarily agrarian and relied on the railroads to sustain its economy. Sand was also an industry in Portage due to demand in the growing city of Chicago. The railroads enabled sand to be delivered to Chicago more efficiently.
Depression Era and War
Between the 1870s and the depression era, Portage did not grow very much. It has been estimated that between 1880 and 1950, the growth rate averaged only about 64 people per year. This is despite the growth of towns to the west such as GaryGary Indiana
Gary Indiana is an American writer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He teaches philosophy and literature at the New School in New York City. He divides his time between New York and Los Angeles.- Fiction :...
, Hammond
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
and East Chicago
East Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....
due to the industrialization of steel mills. Portage was not unaffected by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Due to the steel mills being in economic trouble, the farmers of Portage did not have demand to produce their products. As a result of this, the farmers had food, but no money. Many even lost their farms.
Like many communities in the country, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
affected the economy of Portage in a big way. Steel mills geared into high production and labor was in high demand, thus drawing many people to the area.
Post-World War II
After the war, the economy remained strong because of the high demand for automobiles and appliances, both of which the steel was produced at the steel mills. The population of post-war Portage grew very quickly. In the early 1950s, people came from Kentucky, southern Indiana and Illinois. Most were seeking the steady salary available in the steel mills and related industries.National Steel
National Steel Corporation
The National Steel Corporation was a major American steel producer. It was founded in 1929 through a merger arranged by Weirton Steel with some properties of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation and M.A. Hanna Company. Despite a difficult market in Depression-setting 1930, the company reported USD...
opened a plant along the shore of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
in Portage in 1959. This brought in about 1,600 new jobs. The Port of Indiana
Port of Indiana
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is an industrial area, founded in 1965 and located on the Lake Michigan shore of Indiana at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Indiana 249. The primary work done in the area is the manufacturing of steel, and the port area is dominated by steel mills...
was also built in 1961 to accommodate trade with the world via Lake Michigan. In 1963, Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
began construction of a plant which was located partly in Portage. This project brought about 6,000 jobs to the area.
In 1959, Portage was incorporated as a town. Ogden Dunes
Ogden Dunes, Indiana
Ogden Dunes is a town in Portage Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,110 at the 2000 census. It is named for Francis A. Ogden, who owned the land there before his death in 1914.-History:...
and South Haven
South Haven, Indiana
South Haven is a census-designated place in Portage Township, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,619 at the 2000 census.-Geography:South Haven is located at ....
were excluded because the residents of these areas did not wish to be included in the town. Due to the surge of population after the war, many farmers were selling land to be subdivided into lots for families to build homes. In 1967, Portage officially became a city. During the 1950s and 1960s, the city of Gary
Gary Indiana
Gary Indiana is an American writer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He teaches philosophy and literature at the New School in New York City. He divides his time between New York and Los Angeles.- Fiction :...
was going through a time of racial strife. White people of Gary were seeking a way out of the turmoil, which drew many white people to Portage during this time.
Present Day
Portage is still a heavily industrial city. While primarily dependent on the Steel Industry, the 1980s brought a decline in the steel industry. As a result, C.O.I.L (the Community Organization on Industrial Location) was formed. This organization promotes diversified industry in the area. They have had part in developing the Coca-Cola bottling plant and further development of the Port of Indiana.Very few farms are still active in the Portage area. However, many original descendants of founding families are still in the area.