Ontonagon County, Michigan

Ontonagon County, Michigan

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.