Town file
Ontonagon, Michigan
Ontonagon, Michigan (Ontonagon County, Michigan) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 744, "The Sweater Letter Murder" (16 October 2026). Judy Diane Blake was born on October 16th, 1957 in Hancock, Michigan, the quietest member of a religious, private family.
- Town
- Ontonagon
- County
- Ontonagon County
- State
- Michigan
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 744
- Approximate location
- 46.866, -89.312
Episode 744 / 16 October 2026 / 76 min / express
The Sweater Letter Murder
""We're going to Michigan this week. On to Nogan, Michigan... as far northwestern UP as you can get."" about 0:04:52
The case: Murder of Judy Diane Blake (November 29, 1992). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2026
- Population
- 1,322
- Median household income
- $42,500
- Median home value
- $92,900
- Hunting-related fatalities in Michigan
- the fourth that season
- Hunting deaths in the United States
- 150 people every year
- Armed hunters in Michigan during the season
- ▲ 700,000 armed people in 14 days
History, in brief
- The village lies within Ontonagon township, at the mouth of the Ontonagon River on Lake Superior. about 0:06:28
- The name is a Chippewa word meaning 'my bowl is gone', from a legend about a girl whose bowl floated away. about 0:06:51
- Nicknamed Harbour Town because it sits right on the water. about 0:06:21
- There was a lot of copper mining here, and old abandoned mines can still be found. about 0:07:26
- In 1874 a 14-mile plank road called Miners Road was built between two mining establishments. about 0:07:38
- The Smurfit Stone container plant was a major local industry until it closed in 2010. about 0:08:48
The reviews read out
5 stars
"A small, friendly town with beautiful scenery, a wonderful and safe place to raise a family."about 0:09:00
4 stars
"Moved here three years ago and never felt like an outsider; everything in town is within walking distance and the outdoor activities are endless, from forests and hiking trails to waterfalls, skiing and snowshoeing; feels perfectly safe."about 0:09:29
2 stars
"Claims a high drug area and crime rate, says people are not inviting if you were not born and raised there, very little to do, and you have to know someone to get hired."about 0:09:55
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Crandon, Wisconsin92 miles
- Phillips, Wisconsin96 miles
- Ely, Minnesota139 miles
- Colby, Wisconsin143 miles
- Big Lake Township, Minnesota157 miles
- Manistique, Michigan159 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.