Ontonagon County, Michigan

Ontonagon County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 9, 1843 [1]
Seat	Ontonagon
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	3,741.45 sq mi (9,690 km²) 1,311.53 sq mi (3,397 km²) 2,429.92 sq mi (6,293 km²), 64.95%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	7,818 5/sq mi (2/km²)

Native copper from Ontonagon County.

Ontonagon County ( /ˌɒntəˈnɑːɡən/ ON-tə-NAH-gən) is a county of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,780. The county seat is Ontonagon.

The county was set off in 1843, and organized in 1848. It had been part of Chippewa and Mackinac counties; and it was thereafter split to create Gogebic County‎. See List of Michigan counties. The name is said to be derived from a Native American word "Nondon-organ" meaning "hunting river" 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." See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 3,741.45 square miles (9,690.3 km²), of which 1,311.53 square miles (3,396.8 km²) (or 35.05%) is land and 2,429.92 square miles (6,293.5 km²) (or 64.95%) is water.

Geographic features

• 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

Highways

• US 45
• M-26
• M-28
• M-38
• M-64

Adjacent counties

• Keeweenaw County (northeast)
• Houghton County (east)
• Iron County (southeast)
• Gogebic County (south)
• Ashland County, Wisconsin (west, water boundary only, in Lake Superior)
• Cook County, Minnesota (northwest, water boundary only, in Lake Superior)

National protected areas

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

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,818 people, 3,456 households, and 2,225 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,404 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.25% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.5% were of Finnish, 15.0% German, 6.6% Polish, 6.0% English, 5.1% Irish and 5.0% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.5% spoke English and 4.6% Finnish as their first language.

There were 3,456 households out of which 23.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 31.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.20% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 30.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,552, and the median income for a family was $36,690. Males had a median income of $31,884 versus $21,121 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,695. About 5.80% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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.

Ontonagon County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: James Jessup
• Sheriff: John Gravier
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Judith D. Roehm
• County Treasurer: Diana Killoran
• Mine Inspector: William Turin

(information as of September 2005)

Communities and townships

Village

• Ontonagon

Unincorporated communities

• Agate
• Bergland
• Bruce Crossing
• Ewen
• Matchwood
• Paulding
• Paynesville
• Trout Creek
• White Pine

Townships

Bergland Township Bohemia Township Carp Lake Township

Greenland Township Haight Township Interior Township

Matchwood Township McMillan Township Ontonagon Township

Rockland Township Stannard Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ontonagon County, Michigan

External links

• Ontonagon Chamber Of Commerce