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Portage County, Ohio

 

 
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Portage County, Ohio
 
 
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Portage County is a county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Ohio
Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region , Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads in North America....
. As of 2000, the population was 152,061. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Ravenna
Ravenna, Ohio

Ravenna is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
. Portage County is named
List of Ohio county name etymologies

This list of Ohio county name etymologies lists the 88 county of the U.S. state of Ohio, with the date of their creation. There is significant disagreement among the etymologists who have addressed the origins of many of these names....
 for the portage
Portage

Portage refers to the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route , or between two bodies of water ....
 between the Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 and Tuscarawas
Tuscarawas River

The Tuscarawas River is a principal tributary of the Muskingum River, 129.9 miles long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Muskingum and Ohio River Rivers, it is part of the drainage basin of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,590 square miles on glacier and unglaciated portions of the Allegheny Plateau....
 Rivers. It is known for its numerous sightings of what many believe to be the so-called "Bigfoot
Bigfoot

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is an alleged ape-like creature purportedly inhabiting forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America....
" and the Portage County UFO Chase
Portage County UFO Chase

The so-called Portage County UFO Chase was an unidentified flying object encounter that began in Portage County, Ohio on the morning of April 17, 1966, when police officers Dale Spaur and Wilbur Neff observed a metallic, disc shaped object flying in the skies....
.

Portage is part of the Akron
Akron, Ohio

Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County, Ohio. In 2007, its population was estimated to be 207,934. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland, Ohio to the north and Canton, Ohio to the south, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 Metropolitan Statistical Area
Akron metropolitan area

The Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in northeastern Ohio, anchored by the city of Akron, Ohio....
.

name "Portage" comes from an old Native American
Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States United States, including parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii....
 path called "Portage Trail", which ran between the Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 and Tuscarawas
Tuscarawas River

The Tuscarawas River is a principal tributary of the Muskingum River, 129.9 miles long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Muskingum and Ohio River Rivers, it is part of the drainage basin of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,590 square miles on glacier and unglaciated portions of the Allegheny Plateau....
 rivers, where travelers portage
Portage

Portage refers to the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route , or between two bodies of water ....
d their canoes.






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Encyclopedia


Portage County is a county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Ohio
Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region , Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads in North America....
. As of 2000, the population was 152,061. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Ravenna
Ravenna, Ohio

Ravenna is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
. Portage County is named
List of Ohio county name etymologies

This list of Ohio county name etymologies lists the 88 county of the U.S. state of Ohio, with the date of their creation. There is significant disagreement among the etymologists who have addressed the origins of many of these names....
 for the portage
Portage

Portage refers to the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route , or between two bodies of water ....
 between the Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 and Tuscarawas
Tuscarawas River

The Tuscarawas River is a principal tributary of the Muskingum River, 129.9 miles long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Muskingum and Ohio River Rivers, it is part of the drainage basin of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,590 square miles on glacier and unglaciated portions of the Allegheny Plateau....
 Rivers. It is known for its numerous sightings of what many believe to be the so-called "Bigfoot
Bigfoot

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is an alleged ape-like creature purportedly inhabiting forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America....
" and the Portage County UFO Chase
Portage County UFO Chase

The so-called Portage County UFO Chase was an unidentified flying object encounter that began in Portage County, Ohio on the morning of April 17, 1966, when police officers Dale Spaur and Wilbur Neff observed a metallic, disc shaped object flying in the skies....
.

Portage is part of the Akron
Akron, Ohio

Akron is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County, Ohio. In 2007, its population was estimated to be 207,934. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland, Ohio to the north and Canton, Ohio to the south, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 Metropolitan Statistical Area
Akron metropolitan area

The Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in northeastern Ohio, anchored by the city of Akron, Ohio....
.

History

The name "Portage" comes from an old Native American
Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States United States, including parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii....
 path called "Portage Trail", which ran between the Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga River

The Cuyahoga River is located in Northeast Ohio in the United States. Outside of Ohio, the river is most famous for being "the river which caught fire", helping to spur the environmental movement in the late 1960s....
 and Tuscarawas
Tuscarawas River

The Tuscarawas River is a principal tributary of the Muskingum River, 129.9 miles long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Muskingum and Ohio River Rivers, it is part of the drainage basin of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,590 square miles on glacier and unglaciated portions of the Allegheny Plateau....
 rivers, where travelers portage
Portage

Portage refers to the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route , or between two bodies of water ....
d their canoes. The location of the trail today is within the boundaries of neighboring Summit County
Summit County, Ohio

Summit County is an urban county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 542,899....
.

The first European settler in what is now Portage County was Abraham Honey in 1798 in the area now known as Mantua Township
Mantua Township, Portage County, Ohio

Mantua Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 4,661 people in the township....
, followed by Asa Hall in what is now Atwater Township
Atwater Township, Portage County, Ohio

Atwater Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,762 people in the township....
 in April 1799; Benjamin Tappan
Benjamin Tappan

Benjamin Tappan was an Ohio judge and United States Democratic Party politician who served in the Ohio State Senate and the United States Senate....
, Jr. in what is now Ravenna
Ravenna, Ohio

Ravenna is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
, David Daniels in what is now Palmyra Township
Palmyra Township, Portage County, Ohio

Palmyra Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,785 people in the township....
, and Ebenezer Sheldon in what is now Aurora
Aurora, Ohio

Aurora is a city located in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is co-extant with, and formed from, the former township of Aurora, which was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve....
 all arrived in June 1799.

When first settled, the area that presently constitutes Portage County was part of the original Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Ohio

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2000, the population was 73,894. Its county seat is Steubenville, Ohio and is List of Ohio county name etymologies for Vice President Thomas Jefferson, who was subsequently elected President....
, which had been organized in 1797. In 1800, the area was made part of Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio

Trumbull County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 225,116. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Area....
, which followed the boundaries of the Connecticut Western Reserve
Connecticut Western Reserve

The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut in the Northwest Territory in what is now Northeast Ohio....
.

Geography


Geographic features

According to the U.S. 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 county has a total area of 507 square miles (1,313 kmē).492 square miles (1,275 kmē) of it is land and 15 square miles (38 kmē) of it (2.90%) is water.

West Branch State Park
West Branch State Park

West Branch State Park is a state park located east of Ravenna, Ohio on the west branch of the Mahoning River. The park encompasses of land and of water....
 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 80

Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States . It connects downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City....
, Interstate 76
Interstate 76 (east)

Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
, and U.S. Route 224
U.S. Route 224

U.S. Route 224 is a spur of U.S. Route 24. It currently runs for 289 miles from New Castle, Pennsylvania at Pennsylvania Route 18 to Huntington, Indiana at U.S....
 pass through Portage County heading east-west.

Interstate 480
Interstate 480 (Ohio)

Interstate 480 is a loop highway that connects the Ohio Turnpike with suburban Cleveland, Ohio. The highway is officially designated the Outerbelt South Freeway, but rarely referred to by that name....
 connects to Interstate 80
Interstate 80

Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States . It connects downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City....
 and State Route 14 in Streetsboro
Streetsboro, Ohio

Streetsboro is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is formed from the former township of Streetsboro, which was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve....
 and is a major thoroughfare for those heading north. It also serves to connect Portage County to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 proper.

Adjacent counties

  • Geauga County
    Geauga County, Ohio

    Geauga County , } is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of 2000, the population was 90,895. It is List of Ohio county name etymologies for a Indigenous peoples of the Americas word meaning "raccoon"....
     (north)
  • Trumbull County
    Trumbull County, Ohio

    Trumbull County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 225,116. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Area....
     (east)
  • Mahoning County
    Mahoning County, Ohio

    Mahoning County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 257,555. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Area....
     (southeast)
  • Stark County
    Stark County, Ohio

    Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 378,098. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Canton-Massillon metropolitan area....
     (south)
  • Summit County
    Summit County, Ohio

    Summit County is an urban county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 542,899....
     (west)
  • Cuyahoga County
    Cuyahoga County, Ohio

    Cuyahoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the United States Census 2000, the population was 1,393,978....
     (northwest corner)


Demographics

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....
 of 2000, there were 152,061 people, 56,449 households, and 39,175 families residing in the county. 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 309 people per square mile (119/kmē). There were 60,096 housing units at an average density of 122 per square mile (47/kmē). The racial makeup of the county was 94.40% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 3.18% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.82% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race. 23.5% were of German
Germans

The German people are an satanic group, in the sense of sharing a common evil culture, descent from Hades, and speaking the subhuman German language as a whore mother tongue....
, 11.0% Irish
Irish people

The Irish people are a Western European ethnic group who originate in Ireland, in north western Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolgs, Tuatha D? Danann and the Milesians ?the last group supposedly representing the "pure" Gaelic a...
, 9.9% Italian
Italian people

The Italian people are a Southern European ethnic group located primarily in Italy and, by virtue of a wide-ranging Italian diaspora, throughout Western Europe, the Americas and Australia....
, 9.7% English
English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England who speak English language in England. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
, 9.7% American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 and 5.2% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.1% spoke English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 and 1.2% Spanish
Spanish language

Spanish or Castilian is a Romance languages that originated in northern Spain, and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile and evolved into the principal language of government and trade....
 as their first language.

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
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 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
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 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


Localities

Portage County is arranged as a 4x5 grid of 20 rectangles: 18 unincorporated townships
Township (United States)

A township in the United States refers to a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with 36 square miles being the norm....
 containing 9 cities
City

A city is an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, house, and transportation and more....
 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
List of cities in Ohio

In the U.S. state of Ohio, a city is defined in this way in section 703.01 of the Ohio Revised Code:Municipal corporations, which, at the last federal census, had a population of five thousand or more, or five thousand registered resident electors or resident voters as provided in section 703.011 of the Revised Code, are cities....
 and villages
List of villages in Ohio

In the U.S. state of Ohio, a village #Ohio is defined in this way in section 703.01 of the Ohio Revised Code:Municipal corporations, which, at the last federal census, had a population of five thousand or more, or five thousand registered resident electors or resident voters as provided in section 703.011 of the Revised Code, are cities....
, and any territory within a county that is not part of an incorporated municipality (city or village), is part of a township
List of Ohio townships

The List of Ohio Townships provides an alphabetic list of the 1362 current and historic townships in Ohio. While some have been totally absorbed into cities or towns, the list does not give historic names for any that were renamed....
. Townships have limited local government and services.

There are 18 unincorporated townships:

  • Atwater Township
    Atwater Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Atwater Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,762 people in the township....
  • Brimfield Township
    Brimfield Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Brimfield Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 7,963 people in the township....
  • Charlestown Township
    Charlestown Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Charlestown Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,003 people in the township....
  • Deerfield Township
    Deerfield Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Deerfield Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 3,211 people in the township....
  • Edinburg Township
    Edinburg Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Edinburg Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,344 people in the township....
  • Franklin Township
    Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Franklin Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 5,276 people in the township....
  • Freedom Township
    Freedom Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Freedom Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,751 people in the township....
  • Hiram Township
    Hiram Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Hiram Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,296 people in the township....
  • Mantua Township
    Mantua Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Mantua Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 4,661 people in the township....
  • Nelson Township
    Nelson Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Nelson Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,985 people in the township....
  • Palmyra Township
    Palmyra Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Palmyra Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,785 people in the township....
  • Paris Township
    Paris Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Paris Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 1,827 people in the township....
  • Randolph Township
    Randolph Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Randolph Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 5,504 people in the township....
  • Ravenna Township
    Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Ravenna Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 9,270 people in the township....
  • Rootstown Township
    Rootstown Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Rootstown Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 7,212 people in the township....
  • Shalersville Township
    Shalersville Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Shalersville Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 5,976 people in the township....
  • Suffield Township
    Suffield Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Suffield Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 6,383 people in the township....
  • Windham Township
    Windham Township, Portage County, Ohio

    Windham Township is one of the eighteen civil township of Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 2,060 people in the township....


There are 11 villages and cities that were formed from all or parts of the original 20 townships:

  • Aurora city
    Aurora, Ohio

    Aurora is a city located in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is co-extant with, and formed from, the former township of Aurora, which was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (fully occupies the former Aurora Township)
  • Brady Lake village
    Brady Lake, Ohio

    Brady Lake is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The population was 513 at the United States Census 2000 and 497 in the 2006 estimate....
     (Franklin Township)
  • Garrettsville village
    Garrettsville, Ohio

    Garrettsville is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Hiram Township, Portage County, Ohio, Nelson Township, Portage County, Ohio, and Freedom Township, Portage County, Ohio townships in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (Hiram and Nelson Townships)
  • Hiram village
    Hiram, Ohio

    Hiram is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Hiram Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (Hiram Township)
  • Kent city
    Kent, Ohio

    Kent is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in the northeastern part of Ohio and the western edge of Portage County....
     (Franklin Township & small portion of Brimfield Township)
  • Mantua village
    Mantua, Ohio

    Mantua is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Mantua Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (Mantua Township)
  • Mogadore village
    Mogadore, Ohio

    Mogadore is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio and Summit County, Ohio counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a suburb of Akron, Ohio and is part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
     (Suffield Township)
  • Ravenna city
    Ravenna, Ohio

    Ravenna is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (Ravenna Township)
  • Streetsboro city
    Streetsboro, Ohio

    Streetsboro is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is formed from the former township of Streetsboro, which was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (occupies most of the former Streetsboro township)
  • Sugar Bush Knolls village
    Sugar Bush Knolls, Ohio

    Sugar Bush Knolls is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Streetsboro Township, Portage County, Ohio and Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio townships....
     (Streetsboro and Franklin Townships)
  • Windham village
    Windham, Ohio

    Windham is a village #Ohio located in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is formed from portions of Windham Township, Portage County, Ohio, one of the original townships of the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     (Windham Township)


In addition to the above, a small part of Tallmadge
Tallmadge, Ohio

Tallmadge is a city in Summit County, Ohio and Portage County, Ohio counties in Ohio, United States. It is also a suburb of Akron, Ohio and part of the Akron Akron metropolitan area....
 is in land that was formerly part of Brimfield Township (the rest of the city is in Summit County
Summit County, Ohio

Summit County is an urban county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census 2000, the population was 542,899....
).

Two small unincorporated communities
Unincorporated area

In law, an unincorporated area is a region of Real property that is not a part of any municipality. To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city or town with its own government....
 in Portage County have their own post office
Post office

A post office is a facility authorized by a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail. Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies....
s:
  • Diamond
    Diamond, Ohio

    Diamond is an unincorporated area in eastern Palmyra Township, Portage County, Ohio, Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44412....
  • Wayland
    Wayland, Ohio

    Wayland is an unincorporated area in western Paris Township, Portage County, Ohio, Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is located at latitude 41.161 and longitude -81.071, with an elevation of 948 feet....


There is one unincorporated Census-designated place
Census-designated place

A census-designated place is a type of Place identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as city, towns and villages....
, in Brimfield Township:
  • Brimfield
    Brimfield, Ohio

    Brimfield is a census-designated place in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. As of the United States Census, 2000, the CDP had a population of 3,248....


The Ravenna Training and Logistics Site, commonly known as the Ravenna Arsenal, consumes much of the land in Charlestown, Paris, and Windham Township, as well as a small part of Freedom Township.

Education

Portage County is home to eleven public school districts.

District Location Communities served
Aurora City School District Aurora Aurora, small part of Reminderville
Crestwood Local School District Mantua Mantua, Mantua Township, Hiram, most of Hiram Township, most of Shalersville Township
James A Garfield Local School District Garrettsville Garrettsville, Nelson Township, Freedom Township, part of Hiram Township, small part of Charlestown Township
Field Local School District Brimfield Brimfield Township, most of Suffield Township, parts of Tallmadge and Kent which were annexed from Brimfield
Kent City School District Kent Brady Lake, most of Kent, Sugar Bush Knolls, most of Franklin Township, small portion of Streetsboro
Ravenna School District Ravenna Ravenna, most of Ravenna Township, small portion of Shalersville Township
Rootstown Local School District
Rootstown Local School District

The Rootstown Local School District is a secondary school district located in Rootstown Township, Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The district serves approximately 1,300 students in Rootstown Township in Portage County, Ohio and has three schools: Rootstown Elementary School serving grades K-5, Rootstown Middle School serving grad...
 Rootstown Rootstown Township and small portion of Ravenna Township
Southeast Local School District Palmyra Edinburg Township, Palmyra Township, Paris Township, most of Charlestown Township, most of Deerfield Township
Streetsboro City School District Streetsboro most of Streetsboro
Waterloo Local School District Atwater Atwater Township, Randolph Township, small portion of Deerfield Township
Windham Exempted Village School District
Windham Exempted Village School District

The Windham Exempted Village School District is the public school district for the village of Windham, Ohio and Windham Township, Portage County, Ohio in Portage County, Ohio in the US state of Ohio....
 Windham Windham, Windham Township


In addition, there are parts of five neighboring districts which serve portions of Portage County residents.

District Location Communities served in Portage County
Lake Local School District Uniontown small part of Suffield Township
Mogadore Local School District* Mogadore Mogadore, small part of Suffield Township
Springfield Local School District Springfield
Springfield Township, Summit County, Ohio

Springfield Township is one of the nine civil township of Summit County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. The United States Census, 2000 found 15,168 people in the township....
 small part of Suffield Township
Stow-Munroe Falls City School District
Stow-Munroe Falls City School District

The Stow-Munroe Falls City School District is a Public school elementary and secondary school district headquartered in Stow, Ohio, Ohio, USA. The district is located in eastern Summit County, Ohio and serves nearly 6,000 students in most of the city of Stow and most of the adjacent village of Munroe Falls, Ohio as well as a small portion of...
 Stow small part of Franklin Township
West Branch Local School District Beloit small part of Deerfield Township


*= Although the village of Mogadore is located in both Summit and Portage Counties its school facilities are physically located in Summit County.

Higher education

Portage County is home to four institutions of higher learning:
  • Kent State University
    Kent State University

    Kent State University is one of America's largest university systems, the third largest university in Ohio and the largest residential university in northeast Ohio....
    , located in Kent
    Kent, Ohio

    Kent is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in the northeastern part of Ohio and the western edge of Portage County....
    ; a large regional public research university with over 34,000 students. It serves as the county's largest employer.


  • Hiram College
    Hiram College

    Hiram College is a private Liberal arts colleges in the United States located in Hiram, Ohio.Founded by Amos Sutton Hayden of the Disciples of Christ Church in 1850 as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, the school was rechartered under the current name in 1867....
    , located in Hiram
    Hiram, Ohio

    Hiram is a village #Ohio in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Hiram Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     in northwestern Portage County; a small liberal arts college of around 1,200 students.


  • The Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM), located in Rootstown, in the south-central part of the county. It serves students from Kent State, the University of Akron
    University of Akron

    The University of Akron is a Public university institution of higher learning located in Akron, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church of America....
    , Youngstown State University
    Youngstown State University

    Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an accredited university located in Youngstown, Ohio, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2008, there were 13,712 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1....
    , and Cleveland State University
    Cleveland State University

    Cleveland State University is a public university located in Cleveland, Ohio. The current President is Michael Schwartz, who was previously president emeritus and a professor at Kent State University....
    .


  • Bohecker College, a small two-year college of around 300 students in Ravenna
    Ravenna, Ohio

    Ravenna is a city in Portage County, Ohio, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio in the Connecticut Western Reserve....
     specializing in the business and medical technician fields.