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Genesee County, Michigan

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Genesee County (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 406,211,<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the fifth-most populous county in Michigan, and the most populous in Mid Michigan. The county seat and largest city is Flint (birthplace of General Motors).<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Genesee County consists of 33 cities, townships, and villages. It is considered to be a part of Mid Michigan.

The county was named after Genesee County, New York, which in turn comes from the Seneca word Gen-nis'-hee-yo, meaning "Beautiful Valley".<ref name="clarke">Template:Cite web</ref> Genesee County comprises the Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area. A major attraction for visitors is Crossroads Village, a living history village north of Flint.

Genesee County is noted for having had the fossil of an ancient whale known as Balaenoptera Lacepede<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> unearthed in Thetford Township during quarry work and estimated at 11,000 years old.<ref>Template:Cite web Paleobiology Database: Thetford Center</ref>

History

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Formative period

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Genesee County was created on March 28, 1835, from territory taken from Lapeer, Shiawassee and Saginaw counties. The county was attached to Oakland County for judicial purposes.<ref name=hc1907>Template:Cite book</ref> The only township organized at the time was Grand Blanc, formed in 1833 consisting of additional township areas of the present Fenton, Mundy, Flint, Mount Morris, Genesee, Burton, Atlas and Davison townships. (Atlas and Davision township survey areas were then in Lapeer County.) Flint Township followed in formation by the legislature on March 2, 1836, splitting away from Grand Blanc with the township areas of Burton, Genesee and Mount Morris plus additional township areas of the present day Clayton, Montrose, Flushing, Thetford and Vienna.<ref name=hgc>Template:Cite book</ref> On April 4, 1836, the county was fully organized.<ref name=hc1907/> Organized on July 26, 1836, Argentine Township included two township survey areas taking Fenton away from Grand Blanc Township plus the current Argentine area west of Fenton.<ref name=hgc/>

In the organizing act of March 11, 1837, two townships (Mundy and Vienna) were organized in the county. Mundy had an additional township area to the west. Vienna consisted of the northern tier of three township areas in the county at the time taking two areas from Flint Township. With this act just a week after Michigan's admission as a state, the county was fully cover with 5 township governments.<ref name=hgc/>

The townships of Genesee, Fenton, and Flushing were formed on March 6, 1838. Genesee and Flushing were split off from Flint Township.<ref name=hgc/> Fenton was split off from Argentine Township. Genesee included half the survey area to the west. While Flushing included the other half of that survey area (township 8 North range 6 East), the full township area further west (township 8 North range 5 East) then another survey area and half the row below (township 7 North range 5,6 East).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Thus Flint Township consisted of one and a half township survey areas.

Fifteen northerly sections of survey area township 7 north range No. 7 east in Flint Township plus southerly sections of Genesee Township were set off by the Michigan Legislature as Kearsley Township in 1839. On March 7, 1843, the legislature abolished this township returning the sections back to Flint and Genesee townships.<ref>Template:Harvp</ref> Thus Flint Township consisted of approximately one and a half township survey areas.

Two new townships were formed by the state on March 9, 1842. Thetford was the eastmost survey area split off from Vienna. While Gaines was formed with the western township survey of Mundy.<ref name=hgc/>

The county was enlarged on March 9, 1843, by adding a column of townships on its east from Lapeer County. From north to south, the townships were Forest, Richfield, Davison and Atlas.<ref name=hgc/>

On March 25, 1846, an additional two townships were formed, Clayton and Pewanagawink. Clayton split the southernmost survey area from Flushing Township. Pewanagawink took the westernmost survey area from Vienna and changed its name to Montrose by act of January 15, 1848.<ref name=hgc/>

Mount Morris Township was created on February 12, 1855,<ref name=hgc/> from a single survey township area with its two halves taken from Flushing and Genesee townships. Flint Township was split into three parts upon the formation of the City of Flint. The County Board of Supervisors split the remaining township survey area into two; the western area become Garland Township (this name only last until the Flint name was restored on February 5, 1856) and the remaining eastern survey area became Burton Township.<ref name=hc1907/>

Modern era

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Plans for the Genesee Recreation Area was placed in Flint's master plan in 1950. This was present to Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Board of Trustees in 1964 with C.S. Mott getting behind the plan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1968, the county park system was started with the purchase of vacant land.<ref name="scv">Template:Cite news</ref> with funds from the Mott Foundation, with a stipulation that a parks commission be formed.<ref name="University of Michigan-Flint">Template:Cite web</ref>

Flint Community Junior College was turned into a county-wide institution with a referendum and millage proposal passing the voters in 1969. To reflect this, the college was renamed Genesee Community College on July 5, 1970. In 1973, it was renamed to Charles Stewart Mott Community College after the death of C.S. Mott.<ref name=ftp>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2009, County Commissioners directed County Corporate Counsel to discuss with the County Prosecuting Attorney a possible merger of his office with the County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of December 2011, County Counsel Ward Chapman was intending to retire by the end of the year raising the possibility again of a merger.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By August 9, 2016, the two offices were merged.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Emergency Management & Homeland Security Department was merged by the County Commission into the Sheriff's Department in June 2010 with the department director position being demoted to a manager level post while eliminating a programming coordinator.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2010, the County Board voted to merge the clerk and register of deeds offices, effective January 1, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On October 26, 2010, Genesee County became a founding member of the Karegnondi Water Authority with Board of Commissioners Chair Jamie W. Curtis representing the County on the Authority Board.<ref name=fj>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=fj0>Template:Cite news</ref>

On May 30, 2012, it was reported Genesee County has had 45 confirmed tornadoes since 1950 (most notably the 1953 Flint–Beecher tornado), more than any other county in Michigan in that time period.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Most of the land in the county is very flat, but the southern end is hilly and covered by several lakes.Template:Citation needed

The county is mostly drained by the Flint River, which is dammed into Mott Lake and the Holloway Reservoir in the northeast corner of the county. The southeast corner and southern end are drained by the Shiawassee River.Template:Citation needed

Adjacent counties

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Transportation

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Major highways

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  • Template:Jct - runs north and south through central Genesee County, merges with US 23 in Mundy Township
  • Template:Jct - runs north and south through central Genesee County, merges with I-75 in Mundy Township
  • Template:Jct - alternate route of I-75/US23, runs north and south through central Genesee County
  • Template:Jct - runs north and south through central Genesee County
  • Template:Jct - runs north and south through western Genesee County, along the borders with Shiawassee County and Saginaw County, terminating north of I-69
  • Template:Jct - runs north and south through eastern Genesee County
  • Template:Jct - runs east and west through central Genesee County
  • Template:Jct - runs east and west through central Genesee County, west of I-475
  • Template:Jct - runs east and west through northern Genesee County, west of M-15

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

The 2010 United States Census<ref name=AmFactFinder>Template:Cite web</ref> indicates Genesee County had a 2010 population of 425,790. This is a decrease of 10,351 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -2.4% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 169,202 households and 111,620 families in the county. The population density was 668.5 per square mile (258.1 square kilometers). There were 192,180 housing units at an average density of 301.7 per square mile (116.5 square kilometers). 74.5% of the population were White, 20.7% Black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 2.6% of two or more races. 3.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 18.0% were of German, 11.0% Irish, 10.6% English, 5.5% Polish 5.4% American and 4.8% French ancestry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> , There were 169,202 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were husband and wife families, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.0% were non-families, and 28.4% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, 25.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate<ref name="AmFactFinder" /> indicates the median income for a household in the county was $38,819 and the median income for a family was $48,979. Males had a median income of $27,269 versus $18,082 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,860. About 16.9% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under the age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. Template:Clear

Government and politics

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Genesee County is a Democratic stronghold. It has only voted for a Republican candidate five times since 1932. The county, however, has shifted to the right since 2016, with the Democrats carrying it by less than 10 points in each election since, including by less than 5 points in 2024. It last voted for a Republican during the 1984 landslide reelection of Ronald Reagan.

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations and safeguards public health, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions—police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc.—are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

The Genesee County Road Commission, an independent county government unit, is head of a five-member Road Commission. Road Commissioners are appointed by the County Board of Commissioners with the daily management is handled by a manager-director.

Genesee County, except for the City of Flint, is under the jurisdiction of the 67th District Court of Michigan. District Courts have a limited jurisdiction as charged under state law. The 67th District Court operates in seven divisions, each with a single judge except for the Central Court Division, which is used for jury and felony cases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Genesee County is a founding member of the Karegnondi Water Authority<ref name="fj" /> The "outcounty" area (all but the city of Flint) receives library services from the Genesee District Library.<ref name=fj3>Template:Cite news</ref> The county equivalent for school is the Genesee Intermediate School District, which consist of school districts considered primarily within Genesee County.Template:Citation needed Charles Stewart Mott Community College is the local community college<ref name=ftp/> serving the same area as the GISD.

  • Flint Area Narcotics Group is a Genesee County area anti-drug units head by the Michigan State Police consisting of 17 local members, some of whom loan police officers and resources to the group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
  • Genesee Auto-Theft Investigation Network (GAIN) is a Genesee County Sheriff Department led anti-auto theft task forces with local government members.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Elected officials

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Executive offices Officer Party
Prosecuting Attorney
& County Counsel 		David Leyton rowspan=6 Template:Party shading/Democratic|Democratic
Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson
County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Domonique D. Clemons
County Treasurer Deborah Cherry
Drain Commissioner,
County Water Agent & KWA CEO 		Jeffrey Wright
County Surveyor Kim R. Carlson

<ref name=e2012>Template:Cite news</ref>

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Board of Commissioners
District Commissioner Party
1st Vacant Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
2nd Charles H. Winfrey Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
3rd
Chair 		Ellen Ellenburg Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
4th Vacant Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
5th James Avery Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
6th Shaun Shumaker Template:Party shading/Republican|Republican
7th Martin Cousineau Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
8th Dale Weighill Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
9th Michelle Davis Template:Party shading/Democratic|Democratic

<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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Circuit Court Judges
Division Judge
Chief Judge
Civil/Criminal 		Richard B. Yuille
Chief Judge Pro-Tem
Civil/Criminal 		Archie L. Hayman<ref name=e2012/>
Chief Judge Pro-Tem
Family 		Duncan M. Beagle
Civil/Criminal Joseph J. Farah
Civil/Criminal Elizabeth Kelly<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Family John A. Gadola
Civil/Criminal Brian Pickell
Family David J. Newblatt
Family Michael J. Theile

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67th District
Division Judge
Fenton Court,
Chief Judge 		Mark McCabe
Mt. Morris Court
Chief Judge 		Vikki Haley
Davison Court Jennifer Manley
Flushing Court David Goggins
4th (Grand Blanc) Christopher R. Odette<ref name=e2012/>
Burton Court Hon. Judge Mark Latchana
  • Probate Court Judges
    • Jennie E. Barkey, chief
    • F. Kay Behm<ref name=e2012/>

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Office District Officeholder Political party<ref name=e2022>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. Representative 7th Tom Barrett rowspan=1 Template:Party shading/Republican|Republican
8th Kristen McDonald Rivet rowspan=1 Template:Party shading/Democratic|Democratic
State Senator 22nd Lana Theis rowspan=3 Template:Party shading/Republican| Republican
24th Ruth Johnson
26th Kevin Daley
27th John D. Cherry Template:Party shading/Democratic| Democratic
State Representative 67th Phil Green rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Republican|Republican
68th David Martin
69th Jasper Martus rowspan = 2 Template:Party shading/Democratic|Democratic
70th Cynthia Neeley
71st Brian BeGole rowspan=3 Template:Party shading/Republican|Republican
72nd Mike Mueller
97th Matthew Bierlein

Recreation

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The county has a park system headed by a Parks and Recreation Commission and a director appointed by the county board of commissioners recommended by the parks commission. Commission president is Joe Krapohl with Barry June as acting director.<ref name=fj4>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1968, the county park system was started with the purchase of vacant land<ref name="scv"/> with funds from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, with a stipulation that a parks commission be formed.<ref name="University of Michigan-Flint"/>

In January 2018, Genesee County Parks & Recreation purchased land along the Kearsley Creek for $700,000 from the Poulos family, owners of the White Horse Tavern in Flint, with assistance from a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. The new Atlas County Park opened on April 29, 2018.<ref name=fj4/>

Parks and other venues in the county system totaling 11,500 acres are:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

  • Buell Lake Park, Thetford Township, fishing site, picnic area, playground, ball diamond, picnic pavilions to rent, snowmobile area and radio-controlled model airplane field
  • Davison Roadside Park, Burton, picnic area and beginner sledding hill
  • Flushing County Park, Flushing Township, picnic pavilions, ball diamond, playgrounds, tennis courts, cross country ski trails
  • Holloway Reservoir Regional Park, Richfield and Oregon townships, 5,500 acres, canoe launch below Holloway Reservoir Dam, Walleye Pike Boat Launch
    • Buttercup Beach
    • Elba Equestrian Complex
    • Hogback Hills, snowmobile area and sledding/tobogganing
    • Wolverine Campground
  • Linden County Park, Fenton Township, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, ball diamond, snowmobile area, intermediate sledding, toboggan hill and walking trails
    • Clover Beach on Byram Lake
  • Richfield County Park, Richfield Township, ball diamonds, bicycle-motocross track, canoe-launching site, cross-country ski trails, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, snowmobile area, tennis courts and walking trails
  • Goldenrod Disc Golf Course, Richfield Township, 18-basket disc golf course.
  • Genesee Recreation Area on Mott Lake, Township
    • Bluebell Beach and Splash Pad
  • For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum, Burton
  • Atlas County Park, Hegel Road in Atlas Township<ref name=fj4/>
  • Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad
  • Stepping Stones Falls - has a trail that connects to the Flint River Trail<ref name="scv"/>

Genesee County is the only one in Michigan without a state park.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Communities

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File:Genesee County, MI census map.png
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Genesee County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

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Villages

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Charter townships

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Civil townships

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Education

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Public school districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

There is a state-operated school: Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD).

In 1994 the Michigan School for the Blind moved back to Flint with MSD when the blind school's Lansing campus closed.<ref>Template:Cite news - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.</ref>

See also

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References

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Template:Genesee County, Michigan Template:Central Michigan Template:Michigan Template:Authority control Template:Coord

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