Deerton is an unincorporated community between Marquette and Au Train in Alger County. Deerton began as a station on the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad in 1882. A post office has been in operation there since 1922. The Deerton ZIP Code, 49822, serves the western part of the township, as well as a portion of western Chocolay Township and northwestern Rock River Township.

For a back roads adventure from M-28, follow the highway sign for “Tyoga Historical Pathway” and go north on Risku Road, opposite Deerton Road. It ends at the Laughing Whitefish River’s mouth on Lake Superior.

A 1.3 mile loop takes hikers around the one time village around the lumber mill and general store. They were built in 1906 by the Tyoga Lumber Company, from Pennsylvania. The town site’s location was deduced by two U.P. history buffs. Twenty two interpretive signs with photographs are installed around the loop. Wear waterproof footgear; it’s wet here in summer.

Geography (of Onota Township)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 96.1 square miles (249 km2), of which, 88.0 square miles (228 km2) of it is land and 8.1 square miles (21 km2) of it (8.47%) is water.

Demographics (of Onota Township)

As of the census of 2000, there were 310 people, 146 households, and 100 families residing in the township. The population density was 3.5 per square mile (1.4/km²). There were 373 housing units at an average density of 4.2 per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.06% White and 1.94% Native American. 20.2% were of German, 13.3% Finnish, 12.4% Irish, 9.2% Polish, 5.5% English, 5.5% French Canadian and 5.0% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 146 households out of which 17.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were married couples living together, 2.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.50.

In the township the population was spread out with 14.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 38.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 50 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $44,500. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,267. About 3.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.