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Ontonagon County (/ˌɒntəˈnɑːɡən/ ON-tə-NAH-gən) is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,816,[3] making it Michigan’s third-least populous county. The county seat is Ontonagon.[4] The county was set off in 1843, and organized in 1848.[1] Its territory had been organized as part of Chippewa and Mackinac counties. With increasing population in the area, more counties were organized. After Ontonagon was organized, it was split to create Gogebic County.[1][5] It is also the westernmost county in the United States that lies within the Eastern Time Zone.

Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Agate Falls

History

In 1843, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was divided into Mackinac, Chippewa, Marquette, Schoolcraft, Delta, and Ontonagon Counties. In 1845, a portion of Ontonagon County was partitioned to be part of Houghton County.[6] In 1846, the village of Ontonagon was named as the county seat of Ontonagon County.[7]

Ontonagon County is part of Copper Country, a region of the Upper Peninsula with prevalent copper mining from 1845 until the late 1960s. Prehistoric mining was conducted by local Native American populations. The first attempts by Europeans to mine copper in the area came in 1771 in the Ontonagon River.[8] The Ontonagan Copper Boulder was removed from the west branch of the Ontonagon River and transported in 1842 to Detroit where it was weighed at 3708 pounds, thence to the Smithsonian Institution.[9] The last copper mine in Copper Country was the White Pine mine, which closed in 1995.[10]

Etymology

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.”[1] 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.”[11][9] See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,741 square miles (9,690 km2), of which 1,311 square miles (3,400 km2) is land and 2,430 square miles (6,300 km2) (65%) is water.[12] It is the third-largest county in Michigan by area.

Ontonagon County is located in the western Upper Peninsula, along the shore of Lake Superior. 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

Adjacent counties

By land

By water

National protected areas

Transportation

Major highways

  • US 45 – runs north–south through east-central part of county. Enters south line from Watersmeet, passes Paulding, Bruce Crossing, and Rockland, ending at Ontonagon.
  • M-26 – 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.
  • M-28 – runs east–west thru southern part of county. Enters 10.4 miles (16.7 km) north of SE county corner. Runs westerly into Gogebic County.
  • M-38 – enters east line of county at a point east of Mass City. Runs west to Lake Mine, then WNW to terminus at Ontonagon.
  • M-64 – 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.[13]

Airport

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850389—
18604,5681,074.3%
18702,845−37.7%
18802,565−9.8%
18903,75646.4%
19006,19765.0%
19108,65039.6%
192012,42843.7%
193011,114−10.6%
194011,3592.2%
195010,282−9.5%
196010,5842.9%
197010,548−0.3%
19809,861−6.5%
19908,854−10.2%
20007,818−11.7%
20106,780−13.3%
20205,816−14.2%
2025 (est.)5,823[14] Increase0.1%
US Decennial Census[15]
1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17]
1990-2000[18] 2010-2018[3]
2020 population density of Ontonagon County MI by census block[19]

Racial and ethnic composition

Ontonagon County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[20] Pop 1990[21] Pop 2000[22] Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 9,758 8,695 7,567 6,546 5,434 98.96% 98.20% 96.79% 96.55% 93.43%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3 4 2 6 8 0.03% 0.05% 0.03% 0.09% 0.14%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 62 105 74 70 60 0.63% 1.19% 0.95% 1.03% 1.03%
Asian alone (NH) 16 15 14 11 20 0.16% 0.17% 0.18% 0.16% 0.34%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [25] x [26] 2 1 2 x x 0.03% 0.01% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 6 0 7 3 10 0.06% 0.00% 0.09% 0.04% 0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [27] x [28] 94 79 214 x x 1.20% 1.17% 3.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16 35 58 64 68 0.16% 0.40% 0.74% 0.94% 1.17%
Total 9,861 8,854 7,818 6,780 5,816 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,816. The median age was 59.1 years. 11.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 36.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.6 males age 18 and over.[29]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.1% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.2% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.[30]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[31]

There were 2,966 households in the county, of which 13.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.1% were married-couple households, 24.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[29]

There were 5,244 housing units, of which 43.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 87.0% were owner-occupied and 13.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.3%.[29]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census indicated Ontonagon County had a population of 6,780. In 2010 there were 3,258 households and 1,954 families in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 5,672 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). At the 2010 census, 97.3% of the population were White, 1.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino. The population was 51.6% male and 48.4% female.[32]

In 2010, there were 3,258 households, out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were 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.[32]

In 2010, 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.[32]

2021 estimate

At the 2021 census estimates, its median household income grew to $44,605.[3]

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Ontonagon County

Village

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Indian reservation

Government

Ontonagon County is fairly balanced to Republican-leaning. Since 1876 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 63% (24 of 38) of the national elections through 2024. The last Democrat to carry the county was Barack Obama in 2008, and since then the Republican share of the vote has increased in every election. From 2016 onward, the Republican performance in the county has been the best since 1924.[35]

United States presidential election results for Ontonagon County, Michigan[36]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1876 201 38.29% 321 61.14% 3 0.57%
1880 228 48.31% 218 46.19% 26 5.51%
1884 301 53.94% 233 41.76% 24 4.30%
1888 308 36.15% 542 63.62% 2 0.23%
1892 678 38.68% 1,041 59.38% 34 1.94%
1896 757 62.77% 416 34.49% 33 2.74%
1900 982 68.82% 429 30.06% 16 1.12%
1904 1,345 77.08% 355 20.34% 45 2.58%
1908 1,249 71.37% 425 24.29% 76 4.34%
1912 719 41.13% 359 20.54% 670 38.33%
1916 1,235 54.29% 888 39.03% 152 6.68%
1920 1,977 67.71% 657 22.50% 286 9.79%
1924 2,249 71.42% 417 13.24% 483 15.34%
1928 2,394 59.66% 1,353 33.72% 266 6.63%
1932 2,287 45.53% 2,337 46.53% 399 7.94%
1936 2,162 38.86% 3,233 58.12% 168 3.02%
1940 2,880 47.09% 3,103 50.74% 133 2.17%
1944 2,433 48.07% 2,611 51.59% 17 0.34%
1948 2,561 50.18% 2,163 42.38% 380 7.45%
1952 2,961 57.39% 2,134 41.36% 64 1.24%
1956 2,976 57.73% 2,175 42.19% 4 0.08%
1960 2,620 50.63% 2,553 49.33% 2 0.04%
1964 1,658 32.19% 3,485 67.67% 7 0.14%
1968 2,290 45.72% 2,462 49.15% 257 5.13%
1972 3,040 57.51% 2,140 40.48% 106 2.01%
1976 2,462 43.91% 3,104 55.36% 41 0.73%
1980 2,569 48.95% 2,375 45.26% 304 5.79%
1984 2,464 50.95% 2,350 48.59% 22 0.45%
1988 2,023 44.34% 2,517 55.17% 22 0.48%
1992 1,463 30.83% 2,451 51.65% 831 17.51%
1996 1,523 35.86% 2,080 48.98% 644 15.16%
2000 2,472 59.55% 1,514 36.47% 165 3.97%
2004 2,262 53.96% 1,863 44.44% 67 1.60%
2008 1,823 46.92% 1,966 50.60% 96 2.47%
2012 1,906 53.86% 1,586 44.81% 47 1.33%
2016 2,066 60.18% 1,176 34.26% 191 5.56%
2020 2,358 61.89% 1,391 36.51% 61 1.60%
2024 2,479 64.49% 1,313 34.16% 52 1.35%
United States Senate election results for Ontonagon County, Michigan1[37]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,387 63.25% 1,279 33.89% 108 2.86%
Michigan Gubernatorial election results for Ontonagon County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2022 1,862 57.13% 1,319 40.47% 78 2.39%

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

As of September 2018

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d “Bibliography on Ontonagon County”. Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. ^ History :: Houghton County, Michigan Archived January 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c “State & County QuickFacts”. US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ^ “Find a County”. National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ My Michigan, Ontonagon genealogy Archived June 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Sawyer, p. 466
  7. ^ Sawyer, pp. 498-9
  8. ^ Calumet, Mailing Address: 25970 Red Jacket Road; Us, MI 49913 Phone: 906 337-3168 Contact. “Timeline of Michigan Copper Mining Prehistory to 1850 – Keweenaw National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)”. www.nps.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – Ontonagon. Chicago: The Western Historical Company. A. T. Andreas, Proprietor 1883. Transcribed by Debi Hanes. Accessed via genealogytrails.com November 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Calumet, Mailing Address: 25970 Red Jacket Road; Us, MI 49913 Phone: 906 337-3168 Contact. “Timeline of Michigan Copper Mining 1951 to Present – Keweenaw National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)”. www.nps.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ “Michigan Counties” from the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Archived July 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ “2010 Census Gazetteer Files”. US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  13. ^ Ontonagon County MI Google Maps (accessed September 29, 2018)
  14. ^ “County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  15. ^ “US Decennial Census”. US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  16. ^ “Historical Census Browser”. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  17. ^ “Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990”. US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  18. ^ “Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000” (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  19. ^ “2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles”. www.census.gov. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  20. ^ “1980 Census of Population – General Social and Economic Characteristics – Indiana – Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980” (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 24-59. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ “1990 Census of Population – General Population Characteristics – Michigan: Table 3-5 – Race and Hispanic Origin” (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 37-179. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ “P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ontonagon County, Michigan”. United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ “P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ontonagon County, Michigan”. United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ “P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ontonagon County, Michigan”. United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  26. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  27. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  28. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  29. ^ a b c “2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)”. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  30. ^ “2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)”. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  31. ^ “2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)”. United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  32. ^ a b c “U.S. Census website”. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  33. ^ [1] Deprecated link archived February 13, 2020, at archive.today United States Census Bureau
  34. ^ “Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing” (PDF). 2010 United States census. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. Michigan E-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  35. ^ “Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections”. uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  36. ^ US Election Atlas
  37. ^ “2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)”. Commonwealth of Michigan by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  38. ^ Ontonagon County – Offices

46°59′N 89°16′W / 46.98°N 89.27°W / 46.98; -89.27