# Onaway, Michigan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Onaway,_Michigan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Onaway,_Michigan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onaway%2C_Michigan > Source revision: 1353545755 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Onaway** (/ˈɒnəweɪ/) is a city in [Presque Isle County](/source/Presque_Isle_County,_Michigan), just east of the [Cheboygan](/source/Cheboygan_County,_Michigan)–Presque Isle county line in the U.S. state of [Michigan](/source/Michigan). The population was 890 at the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_Census).[3] Onaway bills itself as the "[Sturgeon](/source/Sturgeon) Capital of Michigan",[4] and there is a [lake sturgeon](/source/Lake_sturgeon) streamside rearing facility on the nearby [Black River](/source/Black_River_(Cheboygan_County)), where the fish migrate down to the [Cheboygan River](/source/Cheboygan_River) and then to [Lake Huron](/source/Lake_Huron).[5] ## 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.[6] Onaway soon became a city in 1903.[5] 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](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau), the city has a total area of 1.57 square miles (4.07 km2), all land.[7] The boundary of [Cheboygan](/source/Cheboygan_County,_Michigan) and Presque Isle counties is just west of the city. ## Demographics ### 2010 census As of the [census](/source/Census)[8] of 2010, there were 880 people, 394 households, and 214 families residing in the city. The [population density](/source/Population_density) was 560.5 inhabitants per square mile (216.4 /km2). There were 495 housing units at an average density of 315.3 inhabitants per square mile (121.7 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 0.7% [African American](/source/African_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.9% [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.1% [Asian](/source/Asian_(U.S._Census)), 0.3% from [other races](/source/Race_(U.S._Census)), and 2.2% from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) 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](/source/Marriage) 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](/source/Census)[1] 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 /km2). There were 525 housing units at an average density of 309.6 inhabitants per square mile (119.5 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.37% [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 1.31% [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), and 2.32% from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) 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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/The_Alpena_News) is the daily newspaper of record for much of northeastern [Lower Peninsula](/source/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](/source/Presque_Isle_County_Advance)* is the weekly newspaper of Presque Isle County, published by Presque Isle Newspaper, Inc. ### Television - Channel 4: [WTOM-TV](/source/WTOM-TV) "TV 7&4" ([NBC](/source/NBC)) ([Cheboygan](/source/Cheboygan,_Michigan)) (simulcasted in channel 7, [Harrietta](/source/Harrietta,_Michigan)) - Channel 6: [WCML](/source/WCMU-TV) "[CMU](/source/Central_Michigan_University) Public Television" ([PBS](/source/Public_Broadcasting_Service)) ([Montmorency Township](/source/Montmorency_Township,_Michigan)) - Channel 8: [WGTQ](/source/WGTQ) "ABC 29&8" ([ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company)) ([Goetzville](/source/Goetzville,_Michigan)) (simulcasted in channel 29, [Kalkaska](/source/Kalkaska,_Michigan)) - Channel 10: [WWUP-TV](/source/WWUP-TV) "9&10 News" ([CBS](/source/CBS)) (Goetzville) (simulcasted in channel 9, [Tustin](/source/Tustin,_Michigan)) - Channel 11: [WBKB-TV](/source/WBKB-TV) "Channel 11 News" (CBS) ([Alpena](/source/Alpena,_Michigan)) ### 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 ## Transportation The nearest commercial airports to Onaway are [Alpena County Regional Airport](/source/Alpena_County_Regional_Airport), [Cherry Capital Airport](/source/Cherry_Capital_Airport) ([Traverse City](/source/Traverse_City,_Michigan)) and [Pellston Airport](/source/Pellston_Airport).[9] - Michigan State Trunklines7 - (southern terminus) - [Michigan Department of Natural Resources](/source/Michigan_Department_of_Natural_Resources) trails - [North Eastern State Trail](/source/North_Eastern_State_Trail) ## References 1. ["U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved 2008-01-31. 1. ["Onaway city, Michigan"](https://data.census.gov/profile/Onaway_city,_Michigan?g=160XX00US2660680). *United States Census Bureau*. Retrieved 27 May 2025. 1. ["About Onaway"](https://onawaymi.com/about/). *Onaway Steers The World*. City of Onaway, Michigan. Retrieved 23 November 2025. 1. ["The 18 tiniest cities in Michigan"](http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/11/meet_michigans_smallest_cities.html#7). *Flint Journal*. Mlive Media Group. December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016. 1. Romig 1986, p. 416. 1. ["US Gazetteer files 2010"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Archived from [the original](https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt) on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2012-11-25. 1. ["U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved 2012-11-25. 1. ["Google Maps"](https://www.google.com/maps). *Google Maps*. Retrieved 2026-05-10. ### Sources - Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986 [1973]). [*Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-FPXEGRo-YC&q=Clarkston) (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: [Wayne State University Press](/source/Wayne_State_University_Press). ISBN 081431838X. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Onaway, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onaway%2C_Michigan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onaway%2C_Michigan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.