Portage county is located in northeastern Ohio about 20 miles southeast of Cleveland with Ravenna acting as the county seat. The county population on July 1, 1999, was 151,579, an increase of 8,994 over the 1990 census.
Viable bodies of water in the county include Michael J. Kirwan Lake (the county's largest), Lake Hodgson, Muzzy Lake and Lake Rockwell. In addition, the headwaters of the Cuyahoga River are located in the northern section of the county.
Interesting historical sites include the Redfern Branch of the Cleveland Worsted Mills system in Ravena, the Crystal Lake Stock Farm just outside the city limits, Ohio State Normal College at Kent and the Aurora Train Station.