Introduction to Portage, Indiana
Portage, Indiana, in Porter county, is 8 miles E of Gary, Indiana and 31 miles SE of Chicago, Illinois. The city is part of the Gary metropolitan statistical area.
Portage History
The land around the present day city of Portage was extremely fertile. This drew people to the area, and the Native Americans were the first settlers here. The first known European settler in the region was Joseph Bailly. Portage was initially incorporated as a town in 1959. In 1968, it was officially reincorporated as a city.
Portage and nearby Attractions
- Brauer Museum of Art
- Port of Indiana
- Burns Harbor South Light 3
- Minnehaha Lake
- Deep River Waterpark
- Hickory Park
Things To Do In Portage
While in Portage, one can visit the Brauer Museum of Art, which houses some popular and interesting exhibits. The city has a large number of beautiful lakes and streams, the banks of which are popular tourist spots. Portage also has many parks that offer a host of entertainment facilities to be enjoyed by both children and adults. The Deep River Waterpark is also nearby.
Portage Transportation
Gary/Chicago Airport is nearby.
Portage Higher Education
Institutes offering facilities for higher education to residents of Portage include Ivy Tech State College-Northwest, Valparaiso University, Indiana University-Northwest and Purdue University-Calumet Campus.
