Editing Fenton Township, Michigan (section)

==History==
The township land was initially a part of [[Grand Blanc Township, Michigan|Grand Blanc Township]] when it was organized March 9, 1833, and a part of Genesee County when it was formed by the territorial legislature in 1835.<ref name=hgc>{{cite book| last = Wood| first = Edwin O.| title = History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions| publisher = Michigan Historical Commission| year = 1916| url = http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch5/pio.html| access-date = 2016-12-03| archive-date = 2006-10-06| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061006120254/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch5/pio.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> The Fenton survey township area was a part of [[Argentine Township, Michigan|Argentine Township]] starting July 26, 1836 when it was separately organized.<ref name=hgc/>

Clark Dibble, a pioneer from [[New York (state)|New York]], was the first white settler to purchase land in the township, in March 1834. Other settlers followed at Dibble's invite from [[Grand Blanc Township, Michigan|Grumlaw]], with Dustin Cheney and his family first to move there, forming the community of Dibbleville.<ref name="hgc0">{{cite book|last1=Wood|first1=Edwin O.|title=History of Genesee county, Michigan, her people, industries and institutions|date=1916|publisher=FEDERAL PUBLISHING COMPANY|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|url=http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch26/pt1.html|access-date=September 8, 2016|chapter=The Villages of Genesee County, Part I|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131141/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch26/pt1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in 1837, William M. Fenton and Robert LeRoy bought land, a sawmill and water rights from Dibble, who moved elsewhere. Fenton and LeRoy had the settlement, then known as ''Dibbleville,'' platted. According to local legend, Fenton and LeRoy decided who would name the town in a game of poker. The town would be named after the winner and the main street after the loser. Fenton won and the town was known as ''Fentonville''.

On June 26, 1837, the Fentonville post office opened and was renamed Fenton on February 25, 1866.<ref>Via {{gnis|2585919|Fenton Post Office}}
*directoriesUSA. Michigan Business Directory, 2007/2008. 2007/2008. 12-Dec-2007.
*Ellis, David M. Michigan Postal History, The Post Offices 1805-1986. 12-Dec-1993.</ref>  The Township of Fenton was organized on March 6, 1838.<ref name=hgc/>

The town was incorporated as the [[Fenton, Michigan|Village of Fenton]] in 1863.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} While in 1871, [[Linden, Michigan|Village of Linden]] was incorporated from the area in the center of the township.<ref name="hgc0"/>

The Township became a Charter Township in 1980. In 1988, Linden completely separated from the township when the community changed its incorporated status from village to city.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

In 2000, the township, along with the cities of Fenton and Linden, passed a millage to turn the Tri-County Parks & Recreation share department into a parks and recreation metropolitan district. While Argentine Township and Tyrone Townships defeated the millage. Tri-County ceased operation on December 1, 2000, when the Southern Lakes Regional Parks & Recreation District began operations.<ref name="ft">{{cite web|title=Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation|url=http://www.fentontownship.org/local_pages/southern_lakes.htm|website=www.fentontownship.org|author=Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation|publisher=Township of Fenton|access-date=December 2, 2016|archive-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230110629/http://fentontownship.org/local_pages/southern_lakes.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>