# Onaway, Michigan

Onaway (/ˈɒnəweɪ/) is a city in Presque Isle County, just east of the Cheboygan–Presque Isle county line in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 880 at the 2010 census. Onaway is the Sturgeon Capital of Michigan, and there is a lake sturgeon streamside rearing facility on the nearby Black River, where the fish migrate down to the Cheboygan River and then to Lake Huron.

## History

This farming community received a post office open on October 23, 1882 with civil engineer Thomas E. Shaw as postmaster. This office was named Shaw for him. Arriving in 1886, Merritt Chandler had platted the community under the name of Onaway. Chandler took over as postmaster with it changing its name to Onaway on March 29, 1890. On August 18, 1893, Shaw took back the postmaster position and changed the office's name to Adalaska. Once again, the post office was renamed back to Onaway on November 15, 1897. Onaway was incorporated as a village in 1899. Onaway soon became a city in 1903. At the beginning of the twentieth century Onaway was home to one of the world's largest wooden automobile steering wheel manufacturers, producing approximately 65% of the world's wooden steering wheels.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.57 square miles (4.07 km$^2$), all land. The boundary of Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties is just west of the city.

### Major highways

* M-33
* M-68
* M-211

### Climate

Climate data for Onaway 4 N, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 64 (18) | 87 (31) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 102 (39) | 106 (41) | 101 (38) | 97 (36) | 89 (32) | 77 (25) | 84 (29) | 106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26.9 (−2.8) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 40.5 (4.7) | 53.3 (11.8) | 67.2 (19.6) | 76.5 (24.7) | 80.4 (26.9) | 78.7 (25.9) | 71.2 (21.8) | 57.2 (14.0) | 43.6 (6.4) | 32.3 (0.2) | 54.8 (12.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.3 (−7.1) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 41.5 (5.3) | 54.2 (12.3) | 63.6 (17.6) | 68.1 (20.1) | 66.8 (19.3) | 59.7 (15.4) | 47.8 (8.8) | 36.3 (2.4) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 44.4 (6.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.8 (−11.2) | 11.2 (−11.6) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 41.2 (5.1) | 50.6 (10.3) | 55.7 (13.2) | 54.9 (12.7) | 48.2 (9.0) | 38.4 (3.6) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 19.4 (−7.0) | 34.1 (1.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −36 (−38) | −35 (−37) | −23 (−31) | −12 (−24) | 16 (−9) | 25 (−4) | 32 (0) | 29 (−2) | 21 (−6) | 12 (−11) | −14 (−26) | −27 (−33) | −36 (−38) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.03 (52) | 1.51 (38) | 1.78 (45) | 2.96 (75) | 3.07 (78) | 2.88 (73) | 3.11 (79) | 3.24 (82) | 3.31 (84) | 3.54 (90) | 2.41 (61) | 2.14 (54) | 31.98 (812) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 21.3 (54) | 17.7 (45) | 11.3 (29) | 6.9 (18) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 7.3 (19) | 21.6 (55) | 86.9 (221) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 17.7 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 11.3 | 12.6 | 10.6 | 11.2 | 11.3 | 13.2 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 16.9 | 158.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 14.9 | 10.9 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.8 | 12.5 | 54.3 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 880 people, 394 households, and 214 families residing in the city. The population density was 560.5 inhabitants per square mile (216.4/km$^2$). There were 495 housing units at an average density of 315.3 per square mile (121.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 394 households, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.7% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the city was 43.6 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.9% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 993 people, 448 households, and 237 families residing in the city. The population density was 585.6 inhabitants per square mile (226.1/km$^2$). There were 525 housing units at an average density of 309.6 per square mile (119.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 96.37% White, 1.31% Native American, and 2.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 448 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,787, and the median income for a family was $26,786. Males had a median income of $26,932 versus $18,958 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,552. About 20.3% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Media

All of the following can be accessed in Onaway, Michigan.

### Newspapers

* The Alpena News is the daily newspaper of record for much of northeastern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
* The Onaway Outlook is the weekly newspaper for the city of Onaway, Michigan, published by Presque Isle Newspaper, Inc.
* The Presque Isle County Advance is the weekly newspaper of Presque Isle County, published by Presque Isle Newspaper, Inc.

### Television

* Channel 4:WTOM-TV "TV 7&4" (NBC) (Cheboygan) (simulcasted in channel 7, Harrietta)
* Channel 6:WCML "CMU Public Television" (PBS) (Montmorency Township)
* Channel 8:WGTQ "ABC 29&8" (ABC) (Goetzville) (simulcasted in channel 29, Kalkaska)
* Channel 10:WWUP-TV "9&10 News" (CBS) (Goetzville) (simulcasted in channel 9, Tustin)
* Channel 11:WBKB-TV "Channel 11 News" (CBS) (Alpena)

### Radio
#### FM

| Call Sign | Frequency | City Broadcast From |
| WTLI | 89.3 | Bear Creek Township |
| WPHN | 90.5 | Gaylord |
| WCML | 91.7 | Alpena |
| WFDX | 92.5 | Atlanta |
| WBCM | 93.5 | Boyne City |
| WKJZ | 94.9 | Hillman |
| WLXT | 96.3 | Petoskey |
| WRGZ | 96.7 | Rogers City |
| WAWM | 98.9 | Petoskey |
| WHAK | 99.9 | Rogers City |
| WMJZ | 101.5 | Gaylord |
| WMKC | 102.9 | Indian River |
| WGFM | 105.1 | Cheboygan |
| WHSB | 107.7 | Alpena |

#### AM

| Call Sign | Frequency | City Broadcast From |
| WTCM | 580 | Traverse City |
| WOUF | 750 | Petoskey |
| WHAK | 960 | Rogers City |
| WWMN | 1110 | Petoskey |

## Government

* Form of government: Council/Manager
* U.S. Rep: Bart Stupak
* State Sen: Walter North
* State Rep: Sue Allor
* Council: Jessie Horrocks, Ron Horrocks, Michael Benson, Jerome Bischer

## Transportation

* Leo E. Goetz County Airport (permanently closed)
The nearest commercial airports to Onaway are Alpena County Regional Airport, Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City) and Pellston Airport.
* Michigan State Trunklines7
** M-33
** M-68
** M-211 (southern terminus)
* Michigan Department of Natural Resources trails
** North Eastern State Trail