Michigan

Ontonagon

5,816
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Ontonagon

Ontonagon, Michigan, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 389. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,816.

Its recorded population peaked at 12,428 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 53 percent.

On the ground today, 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,816
20106,780
20007,818
19908,854
19809,861
197010,548
196010,584
195010,282
194011,359
193011,114
192012,428
19108,650
19006,197
18903,756
18802,565
18702,845
18604,568
1850389
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Ontonagon

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ontonagon, Michigan.

Ontonagon Lighthouse
Ontonagon
Bergland Administrative Site
Bergland
Ontonagon Harbor Piers Historic District
Ontonagon
Ontonagon County Courthouse
Ontonagon
Humphrey, Ernest J. and Edna, Farm
Ewen
Ontonagon School
Ontonagon

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Everything a full report reveals about Ontonagon County, Michigan

This page charts the census history of Ontonagon County, Michigan. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Ontonagon

When does Ontonagon first appear in the US census?
Ontonagon, Michigan first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 389.
What is the population of Ontonagon?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ontonagon had a recorded population of 5,816.
When did Ontonagon's population peak?
Ontonagon's recorded population peaked at 12,428 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Ontonagon?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ontonagon, Michigan.
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