Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
More historic than 35% of U.S. towns · #520 of 701 in Michigan. What drives it
Most of Portage was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1978. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1922 on, and the census since 1970.
Portage dates its founding to 1830 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1970.
More historic than 35% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Portage is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns, #520 of 701 in Michigan. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
Few Michigan towns list much on the Register (a typical Michigan town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Portage’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (32% of Michigan towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Portage’s history is told.
Portage’s post office has been open since 1839. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Portage. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Portage.
From Wikipedia’s history of Portage.
Portage was settled in 1830, and incorporated as a city in 1963.
On May 7, 2024, the city was struck by a high-end EF2 tornado, causing significant damage to homes and properties. A FedEx distribution center was severely damaged after the tornado caused part of the roof to collapse. Over 500 buildings were damaged, with 60 being destroyed, including a strip mall.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
In the archivePlat book of Kalamazoo County, Michigan - compiled from surveys and the public records of…
Born hereThomas Schippers is born here
Born hereJacob Peterson is born here
Born hereEvan Rankin is born hereOne decade in the archive so far: the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
2019Blaze Pizza - South Westnedge
2018Wendy's - W. Centre Ave
2018Macy's
2018Macy's
2018Macy's
2018Macy's
2018Macy's
2018Land's End@Sears
2018Hose at Sears
2018Dollar Tree - "Willow Creek"
2018Chuck-E-Cheese's
2018"It's NOT a Big Deal"
2017Macy's
2015SEARS
2014Portage District No. 8 School
2008Meredith Street MI
2007Hough Boisea trivittataNo then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Portage’s page.
Retake this view · +15Between 33,590 and 48,891 people in every census since 1970.
6 censuses, 1970–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Portage’s Wikipedia page.
Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1830, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Portage’s post office opened in 1836, and the census of 1970 counted 33,590 people here.
Portage is more historic than 35% of U.S. towns, #520 of 701 in Michigan. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
2% of Portage’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 12% for a Michigan town; the median home was built in 1978.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (18), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
