[3] Portage County comprises the Stevens Point, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Wausau-Stevens Point-Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.

Portage County was created from the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and organized in 1844.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 67,182 people, 25,040 households, and 16,501 families residing in the county.

24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[12] Portage County has been reliably Democratic in presidential elections since Dwight Eisenhower's win in 1956.