Area info
Quick Facts
County Seat: Ontonagon
County Population: 6,322 (2014 estimate)
Size: 1,321 square miles
Ontonagon Village Population: 1,494 (2010 census)
Climate
Average Temperatures:
Summer: High 78, Low 54
Winter: High 20, Low 1
Average Snowfall: 213 inches per year
Industry
Ontonagon County has a distinguished history of logging and mining and is the site of the first telephone system in Michigan. The oldest standing log home village in the United States is located at Old Victoria near the village of Rockland.
The former White Pine Copper Mine complex was acquired by the Ontonagon County Economic Development Corporation and has been developed into a new industrial park. All new utilities and infrastructure were installed, and the site is now home to six new businesses, and there are plans for more.
The White Pine Copper Refinery is in operation with 60 employees, and in 2004 the power plant was started up by White Pine Electric Power. A feasibility study is being conducted to determine if the plant should expand to include a bio-fuel burner, and the underground growth center Subterra operates an underground growth chamber in the mine, and has the potential and space for expansion.
Ontonagon County is home to Michigan’s largest state park, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The park offers year-round recreation and attracts thousands of visitors each year. As more and more tourists discover Ontonagon County, opportunities exist for tourism-related business development in the region.
Along with the two designated tax-free Renaissance Zones in the Village of Ontonagon and in Ewen, there are endless opportunities for the entrepreneur. Visit the Ontonagon County Economic Development Corporation’s site to learn more about Ontonagon County’s economic development revolving loan fund and business development incentives and services.
We invite you to consider Ontonagon County for a business location because “Today, you can do business from anywhere in the world—why not Ontonagon County?”
Schools
The Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District includes two Ontonagon County school systems: Ontonagon Area Schools K-12 on the north end of the county and Ewen-Trout Creek School K-12 on the south end.
Health Care
Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital inpatient facility and also has a 46-bed skilled nursing unit featuring a wide range of ancillary services, some of which you might not normally expect to find in a small rural setting. Specialty clinics are held regularly by doctors from Grand View Hospital in Ironwood and Marquette General Hospital in Marquette. There are also various clinics in Bruce Crossing, Ewen, and Watersmeet.
Airport
Ontonagon County Airport – Schuster Field is located approximately 3 miles west of the village of Ontonagon. It is operated year-round and well maintained, due in part to improvement funding from Ontonagon County, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
It has one paved 75′ x 3500′ runway (17/35) equipped with runway lights, Precision Approach Pathway Indicators (PAPIs), Runway End Identifier Lights (REILS) and a lighted windsock. Owned and managed by the county, the manager lives adjacent to the facility. Avgas (100 LL) is available on a self-serve basis 24/7 using Visa or MC credit cards. Nine resident pilots own their hangars and rent the land through lease agreements with the county. There are hangar-building sites available for lease.
The terminal building has a pilots’ lounge and bathroom facilities. The Ontonagon Transit System (ONTRAN) provides site-specific pick up and drop off transportation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays by calling the dispatcher at 906-884-2006. The airport does not have a courtesy vehicle.
For further information, Email Carol Huntoon, Airport Manager, or call 906-884-2345.
Churches
CATHOLIC
Holy Family Catholic (Ontonagon)
St. Mary Catholic (Rockland)
St. Peter & Paul Catholic (Greenland)
906-884-2569
St. Jude Catholic (White Pine)
St. Ann Catholic (Bergland)
906-885-5763
METHODIST
United Methodist Church
Ewen & Bergland Circuit
906-988-2533
United Methodist Church
Ontonagon, Rockland, & Greenland Circuit
906-884-4556
White Pine Community United Methodist Church
White Pine
906-885-5419
LUTHERAN
Apostolic Lutheran
Bruce Crossing
906-827-3241
Apostolic Lutheran
Ontonagon
906-884-6091
Bethany Lutheran
Bruce Crossing
906-827-3529
Faith Lutheran
White Pine
906-885-5899
First Lutheran
Ewen
906-988-2594
Redeemer Free Lutheran
Ontonagon
906-884-4028
Siloa Lutheran
Ontonagon
906-884-4778
St. Paul Lutheran
Ontonagon
906-884-4008
Three-Point Parish
(St. Paul Lutheran, Mass City)
(Wainola Lutheran, Mass City)
Mass City
906-883-3602
OTHER
Assembly of God
Ontonagon
906-884-4622
Ontonagon Baptist Church
Ontonagon
906-884-2453
Ontonagon Christian Centre
Ontonagon
906-884-4230
Seventh Day Adventist
Greenland
906-883-3388
