From a celery farming town to an active city oasis
A high concentration of celery farms once gave the city of Portage the name “Celery City.” Today, it hosts several large manufacturing companies, making it one of Southwest Michigan's largest employment regions. This includes Pfizer’s largest manufacturing facility, which covers over 1,300 acres and employs over 3,000 workers. However, the city is not all industrial, with a lively outdoor scene and a convenient location between Detroit and Chicago. “Portage’s location is ideal for those who want the best of both worlds,” says JoAnne Potts, Realtor at Jaqua Realtors and lifelong Portage resident. “It offers residents a dense suburban feel, lots of lakes, and it is close enough to larger cities like Kalamazoo, yet it maintains a small-town vibe.”
Portage is a quiet suburban city on the Southern edges of Kalamazoo, MI.
Pfizer is by far the largest employer in Portage, with a massive plant on Portage Rd.
1/2
A steadily growing housing market in Portage
Portage's northwest and southwest sections hold the greatest concentrations of the city’s single-family homes. Homes primarily date from the mid to late 1900s, but new home construction is growing in many areas around Portage. Home styles include colonial revivals, ranch-style and large cabin-style lakeside homes. Condos and townhomes are also available throughout the city. Lot sizes are typically smaller in the city’s north end and the central area around City Centre. Condos and townhomes usually sell between $130,000 and $300,000. Prices for modest single-family homes range from $95,000 to $525,000, while larger, lakeside estates can sell between $500,000 and $1.3 million.
Portage has a large amount of ranch-style homes in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Portage has several small lakes ringed by some of the higher-end homes in the city.
1/2
One of Michigan’s highest rated public school districts
Portage Public Schools earns an overall grade of A on Niche. Ranked the 26th-best public school district in the state, the district serves roughly 8,600 students across two high schools, one alternative high school, three middle schools and eight elementary schools. The district extends beyond Portage and covers parts of Kalamazoo, Texas Township and Pavilion Township. Private school options around the city include Hackett Catholic Prep in Kalamazoo. Hackett earns an A from Niche, which also ranks it as the 31st-best private school in Michigan.
Portage Northern High School has a 20:1 Student-to-teacher ratio.
Portage North Middle School serves students in grades 6-8.
1/2
Nature preserves and a vast public park system
Portage has 20 public parks, and its lakes cover over 1,700 acres. One popular spot in the city is the Westlake Nature Preserve, a 110-acre wetland bog where residents like to birdwatch, fish and hike trails. The Celery Flats Historical site lets park-goers explore the city’s celery farming days with trails lined with historical markers that provide insight into the city’s early days. Across other parks, amenities include a skate park, an ice rink and a dog park.
West Lake Nature Preserve is a great spot for birdwatching.
Celery Flats Historical Area in Portage, MI.
1/2
The shopping mecca of southwest Michigan
As one of Southwest Michigan’s largest retail destinations, Portage holds shopping spots like the Crossroads Mall and Southland Mall. South Westnedge Road has a variety of national restaurant chains, and the shores of Austin Lake and West Lake hold local joints with waterside views. The city's center has most of the area’s grocery options, including Walmart, Meijer and ALDI. From May through October, the Portage Farmers Market offers locally grown fresh produce, meats and other local goods.
Residents of Portage head to Crossroads Mall to shop and dine.
Meijer has two locations in Portage and is the main grocery store for residents.
1/2
Cultural offerings and community get-togethers
The city’s museum landscape includes the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience Museum and the Charles & Drury Gallery art gallery. Portage’s parks are popular spots for the city’s full calendar of annual events. The Portage Craft Market is a community meetup at The Celery Flats Historical Area. The market features live music and artisan crafts from local artists. Warm-weather celebrations include the Summer Concert Series at Overlander Bandshell and Beach Bonfire Nights at Ramona Park and Beach. Later in the year, celebrations such as Oktoberfest and the Traditional Holiday and Tree Lighting Ceremony, which the mayor hosts, are held at the city's parks.
The Air Zoo Aerospace Museum has a division of volunteer workers that restore salvaged planes.
Celery Flats Historical Area in Portage, MI.
1/2
An accessible hub for getting around
The public transit network in Portage allows travelers to ride two rail lines or five bus routes throughout the city. Drivers can access Interstate 94 north of West Milham Avenue and the Sargeant Ryan J Proxmire Memorial Highway on the west side. “Having major highways just minutes away in Portage makes traveling to other parts of Michigan and beyond easy and convenient,” Potts says. Travelers heading out of town can catch a flight at the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport on the east side.
Lower-than-average crime rates and snowy winters
Property crime rates are higher in Portage than in the rest of Michigan and the United States, but at the same time, violent crime rates are lower. The city hosts a community, volunteer-based program providing a phone line and website for anonymously reporting crimes, helping to keep crime rates low. Other risks include the city’s cold winters, which bring average temperatures of 18 degrees in January and February and roughly 47 inches of snow per year, 19 more than the national average. The city is certified as “Storm Ready” by the National Weather Service, indicating that the city meets federal standards for safety during severe weather incidents.
A lifelong resident of Southwest Michigan, I began my career in real estate helping my parents invest in rental properties. My career as a Realtor began in 2007, the start of the Great Recession. My experience during these times brought me a great deal of expertise in distressed properties and mortgage finance, along with helping me hone my skills in marketing and sales.
Today, as a multi-million dollar producing agent, I'm ready to leverage all my skills to help you market your home to maximize return, and meet YOUR needs. As a buyer's agent, I utilize my background in sales and communications to make sure that you experience the best transaction possible - from narrowing your search criteria, to negotiating the best terms, and navigating the entire purchase process.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
