1902 Map of Portage

About this map

The Wisconsin River and Fox River converge at the historic portage point that gives this region its identity, documented here during a period of significant rail development. The city of Portage serves as a critical junction for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R., with multiple lines radiating out to Pardeeville and beyond. The landscape is a complex network of wetlands and glacial lakes, including Buffalo Lake, Swan Lake, and Ennis Lake, which are interconnected by the Portage Branch and numerous creeks such as Neenah Creek and French Creek. Rural life at the turn of the century is marked by scattered settlements like Endeavor, Moundville, and Marcellon. The topography is punctuated by Observatory Hill in the north, providing a stark contrast to the surrounding marshy lowlands and river valleys that shaped the early transport economy of Marquette and Columbia counties.