Portage, Michigan
| Portage, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location of Portage, Michigan |
|
| Coordinates: 42°12′35″N 85°35′19″W / 42.20972°N 85.58861°WCoordinates: 42°12′35″N 85°35′19″W / 42.20972°N 85.58861°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Kalamazoo |
| Incorporated | December 31, 1963 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Peter J. Strazdas |
| • City Manager | Laurence Shaffer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.17 sq mi (91.09 km2) |
| • Land | 32.23 sq mi (83.48 km2) |
| • Water | 2.94 sq mi (7.61 km2) 8.36% |
| Elevation | 879 ft (268 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 46,292 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 47,126 |
| • Density | 1,436.3/sq mi (554.6/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Portager |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 49002, 49024, 49081 |
| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-65560 |
| GNIS feature ID | 635269 |
| Website | www |
Portage is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 46,292 in the 2010 census. It is the smaller of the two main cities included in the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 326,589 as of 2010.
Portage is adjacent to the southern boundary of the City of Kalamazoo. The city was incorporated from the entirety of the former Portage Township on December 31, 1963.
There are two public high schools in Portage, Portage Central and Portage Northern. The pharmaceutical company Pfizer also has manufacturing operations located there, which in recent years has caused much controversy due to layoffs. Stryker Corporation also has a large manufacturing presence in the city and is a worldwide leader in medical equipment, instruments and imaging technologies. Portage is also home to FEMA Corporation, a growing hydraulic valve manufacturing company.
Portage is known for its extensive network of historical parks and trails used for cycling, walking, canoeing, and other recreational activities. Since the creation of the Portage Bikeway system in 1989, the trails have expanded to over 50 miles (80 km), over five times as long as the city’s expressways. Portage is also home to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.17 square miles (91.09 km2), of which 32.23 square miles (83.48 km2) is land and 2.94 square miles (7.61 km2) is water.
Austin Lake is in the southeast part of the city and was named for Moses Austin, who had emigrated to Portage Township from Genesee County, New York in 1833. A settlement grew on the north shore of the lake, known as Austin or Austin Lake. A post office named "Austin's Lake" was established on May 18, 1850, with Austin as postmaster, and operated until August 15, 1853. The place was also a station on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad in 1867.
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