Ontonagon County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 Census, the population was 5,816, making it Michigan's third-least populous county. The county seat is Ontonagon, Michigan, Ontonagon. The county was set off in 1843, and organized in 1848. Its territory had been organized as part of Chippewa County, Michigan, Chippewa and Mackinac County, Michigan, Mackinac counties. With increasing population in the area, more counties were organized. After Ontonagon was organized, it was split to create Gogebic County, Michigan, Gogebic County. It is also the westernmost U.S. county that uses the Eastern Time Zone. The county is named after the Ontonagon River. The name is said to be loosely derived from an Ojibwe language word ''noojitoon ziibi'', meaning "hunting river." A French transliteration, ''Nantounagon,'' identified the river on a 1670 French map. Alternatively, and perhaps more accurately, it is said to be derived from the Ojibwa ''onagon'', which means "dish" or "bowl." ''See'' List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (65%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Michigan by area. At a longitude of 89.5°W, it is the westernmost county in the United States contained entirely within the Eastern Time Zone.

Geographic features

* Lake of the Clouds * Lake Superior * Lake Gogebic is the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula. * Corpse Pond * Ontonagon River * Firesteel River (Michigan), Firesteel River * Flintsteel River * Halfway Creek * Townline Creek * Maple Leaf Creek

Major highways

* – runs north–south through east-central part of county. Enters south line from Watersmeet, Michigan, Watersmeet, passes Paulding, Bruce Crossing, and Rockland, ending at Ontonagon. * – enters east line of county at 12 miles (19 km) south of NE county corner. Runs SW, passing Mass City and Lake Mine, to intersection with M-38 east of Rockland. * – runs east–west thru southern part of county. Enters 10.4 miles (16.6 km) north of SE county corner. Runs westerly into Gogebic County. * – enters east line of county at a point east of Mass City. Runs west to Lake Mine, then WNW to terminus at Ontonagon. * – runs north–south through center part of county. Enters south line on west side of Lake Gogebic; runs north to Lake Superior shoreline. Runs NE along shoreline to terminus at Ontonagon.

Airport

Ontonagon County Airport (KOGM) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

* Keweenaw County, Michigan, Keweenaw County – northeast * Houghton County, Michigan, Houghton County – east * Iron County, Michigan, Iron County – southeast/CST Border * Gogebic County, Michigan, Gogebic County – south/CST Border * Ashland County, Wisconsin – west/CST Border * Cook County, Minnesota – northwest/CST Border

National protected areas

* Keweenaw National Historical Park (part) * Ottawa National Forest (part)

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census indicates Ontonagon County had a population of 6,780. This decrease of 1038 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a -13.3% change in population. In 2010 there were 3,258 households and 1,954 families in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,672 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). 97.3% of the population were White American, White, 1.1% Native Americans in the United States, Native American, 0.2% Asian American, Asian, 0.1% African American, Black or African American, 0.1% of some other race and 1.3% Multiracial American, of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanic or Latino (of any race). There were 3,258 households, out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were Marriage, married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.61. The county population contained 15.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 16.7% from 25 to 44, 37.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.7 years. The population is 51.6% male and 48.4% female. The median income for a household in the county was $34,786, and the median income for a family was $46,845. The per capita income for the county was $22,195. About 9.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 1843, Michigan's Upper Peninsula was divided into Mackinac County, Michigan, Mackinac, Chippewa County, Michigan, Chippewa, Marquette County, Michigan, Marquette, Schoolcraft County, Michigan, Schoolcraft, Delta County, Michigan, Delta, and Ontonagon Counties. In 1845, a portion of Ontonagon County was partitioned to be part of Houghton County, Michigan, Houghton County. In 1846, the village of Ontonagon was named as the county seat of Ontonagon County.

Government

Ontonagon County is fairly balanced to Republican-leaning. Since 1876 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 62% (23 of 37) of the national elections through 2020. Ontonagon County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

* Prosecutor, Prosecuting Attorney: Michael D. Findlay * Sheriff: Dale Rantala * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Stacy C. Preiss * Treasurer, County Treasurer: Jeanne M. Pollard * Mine Inspector: Douglas Roberts As of September 2018

Communities

Village

* Ontonagon, Michigan, Ontonagon (county seat)

Civil townships

* Bergland Township, Michigan, Bergland Township * Bohemia Township, Michigan, Bohemia Township * Carp Lake Township, Ontonagon County, Michigan, Carp Lake Township * Greenland Township, Michigan, Greenland Township * Haight Township, Michigan, Haight Township * Interior Township, Michigan, Interior Township * Matchwood Township, Michigan, Matchwood Township * McMillan Township, Ontonagon County, Michigan, McMillan Township * Ontonagon Township, Michigan, Ontonagon Township * Rockland Township, Michigan, Rockland Township * Stannard Township, Michigan, Stannard Township

Census-designated places

* Bergland, Michigan, Bergland * Bruce Crossing, Michigan, Bruce Crossing * Ewen, Michigan, Ewen * Greenland, Michigan, Greenland * Lake Gogebic, Michigan, Lake Gogebic * Mass City, Michigan, Mass City * Rockland, Michigan, Rockland * White Pine, Michigan, White Pine

Unincorporated communities

* Interior Township, Michigan#Communities, Agate * Bohemia Township, Michigan#Communities, Algonquin * Interior Township, Michigan#Communities, Calderwood * Carp Lake Township, Ontonagon County, Michigan#Communities, Carp Lake * Craigsmere, Michigan, Craigsmere * Greenland Township, Michigan#Communities, Maple Grove * Matchwood Township, Michigan#Communities, Matchwood * Paulding, Michigan, Paulding * Stannard Township, Michigan#Communities, Paynesville * Robbins, Michigan, Robbins * Interior Township, Michigan#Communities, Trout Creek * Rockland Township, Michigan#Communities, Victoria

Ghost town

* Adventure, Michigan, Adventure

Indian reservation

* The Ontonagon Indian Reservation, a branch of the Lake Superior Chippewa, has a reservation in the northeastern section of Ontonagon Township, Michigan, Ontonagon Township on the shores of Lake Superior. The reservation occupies of land but recorded no permanent population at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 Census.

References

External links

Ontonagon Chamber Of Commerce

Ontonagon County Website
{{Coord, 46.98, -89.27, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990 Ontonagon County, Michigan, Michigan counties 1848 establishments in Michigan Populated places established in 1848