Ontonagon County, Michigan

Ontonagon County Education, Geography, and History

Ontonagon County is a county located in the Upper peninsula of the state of Michigan. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 6,780, making it the third-least populous county in Michigan. The county seat is Ontonagon. Ontonagon County is named for a river called Nantounagon on an early French map. A derivation of the Native American word "Nondon-organ" meaning "hunting river."

Etymology - Origin of Ontonagon County Name

The county is named after the Ontonagon River and 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."

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Ontonagon County History

Ontonagon County is named for a river called Nantounagon on an early French map. A derivation of the Native American word "Nondon-organ" meaning "hunting river"

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

Set Off: 1843

Organized: 1848

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the 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. 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.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• 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)
  

Education

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