Search Ontonagon County Genealogy Records

Ontonagon County genealogy records are maintained by the county clerk in the village of Ontonagon in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Birth, death, and marriage records go back to 1848. This remote western U.P. county has a small population, but its records hold the history of families who worked the copper and timber industries of the region.

Ontonagon County Clerk Vital Records

The Ontonagon County Clerk holds all vital records for the county. The office is at 725 Greenland Rd., Ontonagon, MI 49953. The phone number is 906-884-4255. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Note that these hours are slightly shorter than many other Michigan county clerks. If you plan to visit, confirm current hours before making the trip.

Birth records in Ontonagon County go back to 1867. Records under 100 years old are restricted. You need to show eligibility and valid ID to get a copy of a recent birth record. Death records also start in 1867 and are fully public. Marriage records go back to 1848, when the county was first organized, and are also public.

Requests can be made in person or by mail. For mail requests, write to the clerk's office at the address above. Include the name of the person on the record, the type of record, an approximate date, and a check or money order for the $15 fee. Michigan sets this fee under MCL 333.2885.

Genealogy Research in Ontonagon County

Ontonagon County has a unique place in Michigan's family history. The county saw heavy immigration in the 19th century tied to copper mining in the Keweenaw region. Families came from Finland, Scandinavia, Germany, Ireland, and other parts of Europe. If you are tracing ancestors from these backgrounds, Ontonagon County records can be rich with detail. Marriage records from the late 1800s often show places of origin for both parties, which helps trace European roots.

Death records are a strong starting point. They often list parents' names and birthplaces, which can point you toward countries and regions of origin. For Ontonagon County deaths from 1897 to 1952, the Michiganology database provides free access to scanned death certificates. You can search by name and view the full document. This is run by the Archives of Michigan and covers all Michigan counties including Ontonagon.

Under MCL 333.2882, the county clerk is required to maintain vital records and provide certified copies to those who qualify. The state also holds a copy of all vital records filed in the county. If the county clerk is unable to locate a record, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909 (517-335-8666) may have a duplicate.

Note: Ontonagon County's small size means staff resources are limited. Allow extra time for mail requests and call ahead if you plan to visit in person to confirm that staff will be available to assist with genealogy searches.

Online Resources for Ontonagon County Records

The FamilySearch Wiki for Ontonagon County lists all known record types, which have been digitized, and how to access them. FamilySearch holds indexed records for Michigan including census collections, death indexes, and some probate records. Access is free.

The Ontonagon MIGenWeb page has volunteer-contributed records, cemetery transcriptions, and local research aids. These can be useful for finding families in small communities and rural townships that may not appear in larger state indexes. Volunteer-contributed materials sometimes contain obituaries, church records, and notes from local researchers that would otherwise be very hard to find.

The Archives of Michigan at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing (phone: 517-373-1408) holds naturalization records, land records, and other documents that tie into family history research. For Ontonagon County immigrants who became U.S. citizens in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the Archives may have their naturalization papers. The Archives of Michigan website lets you search its collections online before visiting.

The Library of Michigan in Lansing holds historical newspapers, local history books, and genealogy reference materials. Upper Peninsula research can benefit from the Library's collections, which include records for many small counties that are not well covered by larger national databases. Their staff can assist with Michigan-specific genealogy questions.

The Michigan Genealogical Council coordinates genealogy societies across the state. They can help connect you with a local group that focuses on Ontonagon County or the Upper Peninsula more broadly.

Cities in Ontonagon County

No cities in Ontonagon County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The village of Ontonagon is the county seat and main community. Other areas include Greenland, White Pine, and Rockland. All vital records are filed with the county clerk in Ontonagon.

Nearby Counties

These Upper Peninsula counties border Ontonagon County. Ancestors who lived near county lines may have records in neighboring offices.