Onekama dates to 1845, and 22% of its homes were built before 1940
1 place in town is on the National Register.
How Onekama began, and where its name came from
When was Onekama founded?
Onekama dates its founding to 1845 (Wikidata). Its post office opened in 1871.
How did Onekama get its name?
The town's name is derived from Ona-ga-maa, an Anishinaabe word which means "singing water".
1 historic place in Onekama
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Questions about Onekama’s history
What year was Onekama founded?
In 1845, according to Wikidata. Onekama’s post office opened in 1871.
Memory lane
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Where this page comes from
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →