Counties

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The County Clerk is a Constitutional Officer elected every four years by the voters of Portage County. As the chief election official for the County, the Clerk administers all federal, state, county, local, and school elections. The County Clerk is the official clerk of the Portage County Board of Supervisors and is responsible for all county board agendas, minutes, resolutions, and ordinances.

The County Clerk issues marriage licenses, timber cutting notices, compiles and maintains the official directory for Portage County, publishes the proceedings of the County Board, issues commercial animal establishment licenses, large assembly permits, apportions taxes, issues dog licenses to Portage County municipal treasurers, and performs all other administrative duties per Wisconsin State Statutes.

The County Clerk also serves as the Passport Acceptance Agency within the Courthouse.

County Information:

Portage County is situated in the center of the state, at the crossroads of the Wisconsin River Valley and the Central Sands Region.  Like our storied landscape, crisscrossed by beautiful rivers and streams, our local communities and cultures present a rich, cultural fabric to experience.

Our roots here run deep, and visitors can discover this firsthand by visiting historical sites throughout the county.  The Portage County Historical Society operates several museums with rotating exhibits and events that are open to the public.  Heritage Park is a historical village from Portage County’s past that is located in Plover.  In Stevens Point, Beth Israel Synagogue houses a permanent display of artifacts brought here by our early Jewish community as well as a yearly featured exhibit.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s the oldest synagogue in the State of Wisconsin that has its sanctuary still intact.  The oldest surviving municipal building in Stevens Point—built in 1855—also houses the Historic Firehouse #2.  This newest museum displays firefighting equipment as well as an art gallery.  A few miles to the east, in the bustling village of Nelsonville, The Rising Star Mill is the last remaining mill of its kind in Portage County.  It is open for special events, including live music and an annual Art Show in July.

If quietly winding through the countryside is more your style, travel the Polish Heritage Trail in your car or on your bike and see where the first rural Polish settlement in Wisconsin and second in the United States was established.  Explore the north-south corridor in the county on Highway 51 and take your journey from there onto the roads less traveled.  At the crossroads of Highway 51 and Highway B (in Plover) you’ll find one of those roads in the Yellowstone Trail.  Once marked by yellow stones, this was the first cross-country route from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound, and while the roads have changed over time, the charm has not.

History and industry come together in Portage County through many popular attractions.  Start with a tour and a taste with Central Wisconsin’s finest craft breweries, wineries, and distillery as part of the Central Wisconsin Craft Collective.  Maybe start at Stevens Point Brewery, the fifth oldest continually operating brewery in the nation.  Also in the area are Central Waters Brewery in Amherst, O’so Brewery, and Great Northern Distillery in Plover.  Then visit SentryWorld for a bite to eat or a round of golf at one of Wisconsin’s top courses that’s known for its signature Flower hole.  Head out to Custer to visit the headquarters for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, which hosts the world’s largest and longest-running renewable energy fair.

Enjoy a slower pace and explore some of the best views in the county on the Green Circle Trail—a 26-mile trail that circles the urban area and offers easy connections to many miles of additional trails.  The trailhead is located in the Schmeeckle Reserve, a 280-acre nature preserve on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) campus.  Hike or bike the Ice Age Trail and wind through the hills and valleys left behind by glaciers.  More trails and wildlife can be found at Standing Rocks County Park or the Steinhaugen Recreation Area.  Or take a journey down an abandoned railroad bed by foot, bike, or on horseback and see what the 18 miles of the Tomorrow River State Trail have to offer.

Birding is a popular activity in the County as well.  As part of the Central Sands Prairie Region of the Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail, the area offers birders and other nature enthusiasts the Buena Vista Grasslands, the Dewey Marsh State Natural Area, Iverson Park, Richard A. Hemp State Fishery Area, Schmeeckle Reserve, and the George W. Mead Wildlife Area.

More than 40 lakes and an array of rivers, streams, and flowages offer an opportunity to fish, kayak, canoe, and swim.  County parks such as Lake Emily, Jordan Park, and Collins Park offer a variety of uses in addition to camping.

Inspired by the history, various cultures, and natural beauty in the area, the arts are an integral part of Portage County.  One will find artistic perspectives woven into the architecture and lifestyles of each community across the county.  A number of art galleries offer viewing opportunities, and every fall individual artists along the Ice Age Trail host the Hidden Studios Tour.  There are numerous murals dotted throughout the area, several of which are on display in Downtown Stevens Point.  A mosaic mural titled, “E Pluribus Unum,” which stands more than 50 feet high and is more than 150 feet wide is located on the College of Natural Resources Building on the UWSP campus.

Of course, there’s much, much more to be discovered in Portage County.  For free Portage County travel information and planning guides, including event calendars, call (715) 344-2556 or visit www.stevenspointarea.com.