Ontonagon County

Ontonagon County (/ˌɒntəˈnɑːɡən/ on-tə-nah-gən) is a county in the Upper peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,780.[2] 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 name is 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 theOjibwa "onagon" which means "dish" or "bowl."[5]

Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 3,740.82 square miles (9,688.7 km2), of which 1,311.23 square miles (3,396.1 km2) (or 35.05%) is land and 2,429.59 square miles (6,292.6 km2) (or 64.95%) is water.[6]

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 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

 * Keweenaw County (northeast, water boundary only, in Lake Superior)
 * 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
The 2010 United States Census[9] indicates Ontonagon County had a population of 6,780. This is a decrease of 1038 people from the2000 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.[10]

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
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
(information as of June 2013)[11]
 * Prosecuting Attorney: James Jessup
 * Sheriff: Dale Rantala
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Stacy C Preiss
 * County Treasurer: Diana Killoran
 * Mine Inspector: William Turin

Village

 * Ontonagon

Unincorporated communities

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

Ghost town

 * Adventure