Portland is located in central Jay County at , along the Salamonie River. U.S. Route 27 runs through the center of the city, leading north to Fort Wayne and south to Richmond. Indiana State Road 26 enters Portland from the west on Votaw Street and from the east on Water Street; SR-26 leads west to Hartford City and east to the Ohio border near Fort Recovery. Indiana State Road 67 follows SR-26 west out of Portland, then leads southwest to Muncie. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Portland has a total area of, of which, or 0.05%, are water. The Salamonie River runs through the city just south of its center. The Salamonie is a west-flowing tributary of the Wabash River.
Demographics
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 6,223 people, 2,607 households, and 1,620 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 3,005 housing units at an average density of. The racial makup of the city was 94.5% White, 0.4% African American, 0.5% Asian, 3.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8%. Of the 2,607 households 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 14.0% single female householder, 5.4% single male householder, and 37.9% were non-families. 32.1% of households were one person and 14.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 39.4 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
At the 2000 census there were 6,437 people, 2,739 households, and 1,750 families living in the city. The population density was 1,566.8 people per square mile. There were 2,928 housing units at an average density of 712.7 per square mile. The racial makup of the city was 96.49% White, 0.37% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander 1.80% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.36%. Of the 2,739 households 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.3% of households were one person and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86. The age distribution was 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males. The median household income was $31,045 and the median income for a family was $41,329. Males had a median income of $29,728 versus $21,134 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,375. About 5.1% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Kenneth Dollins, actor, best known as Kenneth MacDonald; he worked for many years at Columbia Pictures in short features and in the Three Stooges movies
Mary Meeker investment banker, made Internet economically viable by promoting it to investors in the 1990s,
John P. C. Shanks, U.S. Representative from Indiana, Union Army major general
Twyla Tharp, Emmy and Tony Award-winning choreographer
