Ontonagon County, Michigan
| Ontonagon County, Michigan | |
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Ontonagon County Courthouse
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 Location in the state of Michigan |
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 Michigan's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | March 9, 1843 set off 1848 organized[1] |
| Seat | Ontonagon |
| Largest village | Ontonagon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,741 sq mi (9,689 km2) |
| • Land | 1,311 sq mi (3,395 km2) |
| • Water | 2,430 sq mi (6,294 km2), 65% |
| Population | |
| • (2010) | 6,780 |
| • Density | 5.2/sq mi (2/km²) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Website | http://www.ontonagonmi.org /home.html |
Ontonagon County (/ˌɒntəˈnɑːɡən/ ON-tə-NAH-gən) is a county located in the Upper peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,780,[2] making it the third-least populous county in Michigan. The county seat is Ontonagon.[1][3] The county was set off in 1843, and organized in 1848.[1] It had been part of Chippewa and Mackinac counties, and it was thereafter split to create Gogebic County.[1][4]
The county is named after the Ontonagon River and said to be derived from a Native American word Nondon-organ, meaning "hunting river"[1] and which appeared as named for a river called Nantounagon on a 1670 French map. Alternatively, it is said to be derived from the Ojibwa onagon, which means "dish" or "bowl."[5] See List of Michigan county name etymologies.
Contents
Geography[edit]
According to the U.S. 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.[6] 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[edit]
- Lake Superior
- Lake Gogebic is the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula.
- Corpse Pond
- Ontonagon River
- Firesteel River
- Flintsteel River
- Halfway Creek
- Townline Creek
- Maple Leaf Creek
Major highways[edit]
Adjacent counties[edit]
- Keweenaw County (northeast)
- Houghton County (east)
- Iron County (southeast/CST Border)
- Gogebic County (south/CST Border)
- Ashland County, Wisconsin (west/CST Border)
- Cook County, Minnesota (northwest/CST Border)
National protected areas[edit]
- Keweenaw National Historical Park (part)
- Ottawa National Forest (part)
Demographics[edit]
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 389 | — | |
| 1860 | 4,568 | 1,074.3% | |
| 1870 | 2,845 | −37.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,565 | −9.8% | |
| 1890 | 3,756 | 46.4% | |
| 1900 | 6,197 | 65.0% | |
| 1910 | 8,650 | 39.6% | |
| 1920 | 12,428 | 43.7% | |
| 1930 | 11,114 | −10.6% | |
| 1940 | 11,359 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 10,282 | −9.5% | |
| 1960 | 10,584 | 2.9% | |
| 1970 | 10,548 | −0.3% | |
| 1980 | 9,861 | −6.5% | |
| 1990 | 8,854 | −10.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,818 | −11.7% | |
| 2010 | 6,780 | −13.3% | |
| Est. 2014 | 6,172 | [7] | −9.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[2] |
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The 2010 United States Census[12] indicates Ontonagon County had a population of 6,780. This is a decrease of 1038 people from the 2000 United States Census. This is a -13.3% change in population. In 2010 there were 3,258 households and 1,954 families residing 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, 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 (of any race). 28.6% were of Finnish, 12.5% German, 10.6% American, 7.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 7.0% Irish, 6.2% English and 5.0% Polish ancestry.[13]
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.
In the county the population was spread out with 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.
Government[edit]
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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[edit]
- Prosecuting Attorney: James Jessup
- Sheriff: Dale Rantala
- County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Stacy C Preiss
- County Treasurer: Diana Killoran
- Mine Inspector: William Turin
(information as of June 2013)[14]
Communities[edit]
Village[edit]
- Ontonagon (county seat)
Census-designated place[edit]
Unincorporated communities[edit]
Townships[edit]
Ghost town[edit]
See also[edit]
- List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Ontonagon County, Michigan
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ontonagon County, Michigan
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Bibliography on Ontonagon County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ My Michigan, Ontonagon genealogy. Archived September 28, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Michigan Counties" from the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Archived February 4, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2010 American Fact Finder". Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ "American FactFinder"
- ^ Michigan Government Officials Ontonagon County
External links[edit]
- Ontonagon Chamber Of Commerce
- Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist
- "Bibliography on Ontonagon County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region
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Cook County, Minnesota | Keweenaw County | |
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| Ashland County, Wisconsin |  |
Houghton County | ||
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| Gogebic County | Iron County |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ontonagon County, Michigan. |
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Coordinates: 46°59′N 89°16′W / 46.98°N 89.27°W
