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Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Portage County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Wisconsin state publishers on the review date. 5 primary .gov / official sources cited below.

Portage County — Key Numbers (2026)

Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Portage County, Wisconsin — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
72,040
Population
Census estimate
29,311
Households
Census estimate
$71,301
Median income
Annual household
$214,700
Median home value
Census ACS
Stevens Point
County seat
In Wisconsin
Portage County Records Availability Map
Criminal records
2 sources
Court records
4 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
2 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources   One source   Use state portal

Portage County Records at a Glance

Record typePortage County verified sources
Court recordsSite help
News List | Portage County, WI
Criminal recordsPortage County Warrants
Criminal History Unit | Wisconsin Department of Justice
Wants & warrantsNo verified source — see Portage County state portal below
Property recordsStatement Of Assessment Report
ArcGIS Web Application
Vital recordsNo verified source — see Portage County state portal below
Voter recordsNo verified source — see Portage County state portal below
Professional licensesNo verified source — see Portage County state portal below
Recorded documentsNo verified source — see Portage County state portal below
Portage County — Verified Record Sources by Type (2026)
Court records4Criminal records2Wants & warrants0Property records2Vital records0Voter records0Licenses0Recorded docs0
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Portage County. Data verified June 04, 2026.

What Changed in 2026 — Portage County Records

2026
Portage County official government portal active
The official Portage County government website at www.co.portage.wi.us continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Portage County court records portal verified
State court system links for Portage County verified against the Wisconsin judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Portage County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Portage County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Portage County property records online
Portage County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.

The 4-Step Portage County Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Start at the Portage County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Portage County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Wisconsin statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Wisconsin state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Portage County Records

❌ Myth: "Portage County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Portage County are held by the Wisconsin state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Portage County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Portage County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official Wisconsin state repository has verified, current Portage County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Portage County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Portage County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).

Primary Sources (All Verified)

Related — Portage County & Wisconsin Records

For records not specific to Portage County, use Wisconsin's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Wisconsin statewide record systems:
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Other counties in Wisconsin: Pierce · Polk · Price · Racine · Richland

About Portage County, Wisconsin

Portage County is located in Central Wisconsin. The county seat is Stevens Point (official site: http://www.co.portage.wi.us).

  • Population: 72,040
  • Households: 29,311
  • Median household income: $71,301
  • Median home value: $214,700
  • Below poverty line: 10.4%
  • Land area: 800.9 sq mi
  • Population density: 90.0 people / sq mi
  • Public libraries indexed: 5
  • NCES schools indexed: 28
Portage Obituaries | Local Obits for Portage, WI
Official Free
Click or call (800) 729-8809 Get Started · View Portage obituaries on Legacy, the most timely and comprehensive collection of local obituaries for Portage, Wisconsin, updated regularly throughout the day with submissions from newspapers, funeral ...
Tapestry Link for the County of
Official Free
Live NOW in Select Counties at www.landrecords.com. Click here to attend one of our training sessions and see it in action
CT
Site help
Official Free
If your search results in multiple rows, you can move through the records by selecting the "Next" or "Previous" link. To return to the list, select the "Return to search results" link. Some WCCA reports and the case court record also display in printable (PDF) format.
CT
News List | Portage County, WI
Official Free
This news has expired. Click here to go to the full list.
CT
Finding Records - UW-Green Bay
Official Free
Brown County Wills and Probate Case Files , 1821-1976 · Calumet County Citizenship Records, 1850-1955 · Kewaunee County Circuit Court records, 1858-1950 · Kewaunee County Citizenship Records, 1850-1950 · Manitowoc County Citizenship Records, 1848-1955 · Oconto County Wills and Probate Case ...
CT
Active Warrant List & Information | Portage County, WI
Official Free
The persons listed here are sought by law enforcement pursuant to an active warrant issued by a court of law. Unless actually convicted in court, all suspects should be considered innocent. The Portage County Sheriff's Office holds active warrants for the persons listed as follows.
CR
Portage County Warrants
Official Free
Log in to the federal Judiciary’s electronic public access services. Close PACER Case Locator PACER Log in Manage PACER Account
CR
Criminal History Unit | Wisconsin Department of Justice
Official Free
The Criminal History Unit is responsible for maintaining Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), including demographic information, arrest and charge information, and related final disposition reports from the District Attorney/Prosecutor, Clerk of Court, municipal court or correctional ...
CR
Service Provider Directory and Resources
Official Free
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), administrator of the WA VINE system, is inviting service providers to join the VINE Service Provider Directory. We appreciate your interest in being part of this new resource for victims in our state · The Service Provider Directory ...
PR
Statement Of Assessment Report
Official Free
Loading · County ALERT: Ascent System Staging · Statement Of Assessment Report · Log in · View Disclaimer · Database Versions · © 2019 Transcendent Technologies
PR
ArcGIS Web Application
Official Free
Oversight of the Land Information Plan, which describes County-wide GIS projects to be undertaken over the next 3 years. (Required for participation in the State of Wisconsin Land Information Program). Update and maintenance of electronic information regarding zoning and land use districts, roadways, tax parcels, addresses, and municipal and voting boundaries. Update web map applications, that allow for general public access to Portage County land information and mapping capabilities via a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone.
WW
Death Investigation in Portage County, Wis.
Official Free
​​​The Wisconsin Department of Justice (Wisconsin DOJ) is led by the attorney general, a constitutional officer who is elected by partisan ballot to a four-year term. Public safety is the core of Wisconsin DOJ's mission.
VR
My Vote WI
Official Free
Search by name to view your registration information, voting history, vote absentee or make updates to your registration. *=Required Field · Search by address to find your polling place, see what will be on your ballot, find your next election or learn about absentee voting. *=Required Field
LC
Home Page - WIDOT Driver License Guide
Official Free
By providing your personal identifying information in this Guide, we will be able to search for your DMV record and provide you with more accurate and complete information.
RD
How to apply for vital records in Wisconsin
Official Free
These Register of Deeds require a money order, certified bank or cashier’s check payable to "Register of Deeds" Barron (out-of-state residents only) Brown (out-of-state residents only) Chippewa (out-of-state residents only) Columbia · Dane · Dodge (out-of-state residents only) Eau Claire · Fond du Lac · Kenosha · La Crosse · Manitowoc · Marathon · Portage · Racine · Rock · Trempealeau · Waupaca · Wood · Or check or money order payable to: Ozaukee - Make check out to Ozaukee County​ ·
BZ
Portage County Obituary Index 1872-Present
Official Free
Field notes are the narrative record of the cadastral survey . They are written in tabular format and contain the detailed descriptions of entire survey process including the instrumentation and procedures utilized, calling all physical evidence evaluated in the survey process, and listing all ...
BZ
Genealogy - Archives - UWSP Libraries at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Official Free
The Archives houses a variety of materials that are useful for genealogy research. Most of these records pertain to the nine Wisconsin counties included in the Stevens Point Area Research Center network area (Adams, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood).
BZ
Agenda Center | Portage County, WI
Official Free
Agendas/Minutes Calendar News Jobs Bid & RFP Online Services Contact Us · Go · Text Size: Department » County Clerk · Print Feedback · Share & Bookmark Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option · Email · Facebook ·
BZ
Portage County, WI | Official Website
Official Free
The Portage County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, on State Highway 54 at County Highway F in the Town of Plover. The crash resulted in the death of a 78-year-old woman from Wisconsin Rapids.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up court cases in Portage County?
Portage County court cases are searchable through the Site help portal: https://wcca.wicourts.gov/site.html. Wisconsin also operates a state-level case lookup through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can my employer see a sealed record in Wisconsin?
Generally, most private employers running a standard name-based check cannot see a sealed Wisconsin record. However, government employers, law enforcement, schools, healthcare facilities, and any role requiring a fingerprint-based check can see sealed records under specific statutory exemptions. Confirm specifics with the sealing court.
Are Wisconsin marriage records public?
Marriage records in Wisconsin are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
Are Wisconsin criminal records public?
Mostly yes. Wisconsin's public-records law makes adult arrests, court filings, and conviction histories accessible to anyone unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Juvenile cases and sealed records are generally excluded by statute.