Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

About forestry service, 56472, Pequot Lakes, MN, US, Minnesota

Onamia ( oh-NAYM-ee-ə) is a city in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 784 as of the 2020 census, down from 878 in 2010. U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 27 are the main routes in the community. == History == Originally, the city of Onamia was organized from the merger of two communities, the village of Onamia (Ojibwe: Onamanii-zaaga'iganiing) and the village of Ericksonville (Ojibwe: Gibaakwa'igaansing). Onamia is named after Lake Onamia, whose name derives from the Ojibwe word onaman ("red ochre", or, locally, "vermilion"). Ericksonville was incorporated in 1898. Onamia was incorporated in 1908. == Geography == Onamia is in northern Mille Lacs County, on the south shore of Lake Onamia and 3 miles (5 km) south of Mille Lacs Lake. U.S. Route 169 passes through the east side of the city, leading south 22 miles (35 km) to Milaca, the county seat, and north 20 miles (32 km) to Garrison on the northwest shore of Mille Lacs Lake. State Highway 27 passes through Onamia as its Main Street, leading northeast 12 miles (19 km) to Isle at the southeast end of Mille Lacs Lake, and west 40 miles (64 km) to Little Falls on the Mississippi River.