Ontonagon County

Ontonagon County is the southwestern edge of Michigan’s historic Copper Country. Once driven by mining and timber, the local economy has transitioned toward tourism and outdoor recreation. Ontonagon County ranks as Michigan’s third-largest county by land area, yet has one of the lowest population densities, offering wide-open spaces and a true sense of wilderness.

The county holds Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park—the largest state park in Michigan and one of the Upper Peninsula’s top international tourism draws. The county is also home to other striking landscapes, including Bond Falls, one of the U.P.’s most impressive waterfalls, and the Ontonagon River system, which is central to the largest watershed on Lake Superior’s south shore.

While rugged wilderness experiences define much of the area, Ontonagon County also supports a thriving multi-use trail system and is the base of the predominant advocacy and maintenance organization for ATV and equestrian trails in the region. In 2023, outdoor recreation vehicle manufacturer Polaris began a first-global electric ATV trail circuit, including four charging stations at strategic locations around the county.

People

  • Population: 5,824

    Population percent change from 2020 – 2024: 0.2%

    Median household income: $51,844

    Per capita income: $32,741

    Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live.

    Of the 2,978 households in Ontonagon County in 2023…

    • 13% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

    • 35% were ALICE, households that earned above the FPL, but not enough to afford basic needs or save for the future.

    • Together, 48% of households in Ontonagon County were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households).

    Learn more about the ALICE Threshold here.

Economy

  • Employed persons (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2025): 2,136

    Unemployment rate (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2025): 9.1%

    Top five industries by number of workers 16 & over:

    1. Education, healthcare, social assistance: 27.1%

    2. Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services: 11.9%

    3. Retail trade: 11.3%

    4. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining: 8.5%

    5. Manufacturing: 7.7%

    Learn about Ontonagon County’s Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI) here

Housing

  • Total housing units (2024): 5,270

    Households: 2,978

    Average persons per household: 1.95

    Housing age:

    • 25.1% built in 1939 or earlier

    • Median year of structures built: 1962

    Median owner-occupied house value: $101,000

    Median gross rent 2019-2023: $571

    Homeownership rate: 87.3%

Health

Education

  • Total K-12 enrollment in 2024-2025: 538

    Children ages 5–17 enrolled in school: 98.3%

    Households with a computer: 89.4%

    Households with a broadband Internet subscription: 83.7%

    Educational institutions (NCES):

    • K-12 schools: 3

Statistical data are from 2019-2023 American Community Survey five-year estimates. Other sources are in italics.