Editing Fenton Township, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Fenton Township, Michigan
| official_name      = Charter Township of Fenton
| native_name        = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| pushpin_map        = Michigan
| pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label      = Fenton Township
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| image_map          = Fenton Charter Township, MI location.png
| mapsize            = 250
| map_caption        = Location within [[Genesee County, Michigan|Genesee County]] (red) and the administered community of [[Lake Fenton, Michigan|Lake Fenton]] (pink)
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Michigan]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Genesee County, Michigan|Genesee]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Supervisor
| leader_name        = Bonnie Mathis
| leader_title1      = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
| leader_name1       = Robert Krug
| leader_title2      = [[Treasurer]]
| leader_name2       = John Tucker
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1834
| established_title2 = Organized
| established_date2  = 1838
| established_title3 = Chartered
| established_date3  = 1980
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 71.3
| area_total_sq_mi   = 27.5
| area_land_km2      = 61.8
| area_land_sq_mi    = 23.9
| area_water_km2     = 9.5
| area_water_sq_mi   = 3.7
| area_water_percent = 13.29
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note    = 
| settlement_type    = [[Charter township]]
| population_total   = 16843
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| timezone           = EST
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|50|00|N|83|45|00|W|region:US-MI_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 265
| elevation_ft       = 869
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 48430 ([[Fenton, Michigan|Fenton]])<br>48451 ([[Linden, Michigan|Linden]])
| area_code          = [[Area code 810|810]]
| website            = {{URL|www.fentontownship.org}}
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 26-27780<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1626276<ref>{{gnis|1626276}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
}}
<!-- Infobox ends -->
'''Charter Township of Fenton''' is a [[charter township]] of [[Genesee County, Michigan|Genesee County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]].  The population was 16,843 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

The cities of [[Fenton, Michigan|Fenton]] and [[Linden, Michigan|Linden]] were formed from areas formerly within the township.

==Communities==
*[[Lake Fenton, Michigan|Lake Fenton]], is an area within the township, defined as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) for statistical purposes by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]].  The [[Lake Fenton Community Schools]] district overlaps a portion of this and adjacent areas.  This CDP includes two [[unincorporated community|unincorporated communities]], [[Lakeside, Genesee County, Michigan|Lakeside]] and [[Bayport Park, Michigan|Bayport Park]].

==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>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|27.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|23.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|3.7|sqmi|km2}} (13.29%) is water.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 12,968 people, 4,883 households, and 3,803 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|543.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 5,247 housing units at an average density of {{convert|219.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 97.02% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.28% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.41% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.77% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.34% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.15% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 4,883 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $71,094, and the median income for a family was $79,579. Males had a median income of $58,425 versus $35,018 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $31,560.  About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

The Fenton Post Office, ZIP code 48430, serves the eastern portion of Fenton Township.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=86000US48430&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=AdvSearch&_lang=en 48430 5-Digit ZCTA, 484 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census</ref>  While the Linden Post Office, ZIP code 48451, serves the western portion of Fenton Township.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=86000US48451&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=AdvSearch&_lang=en 48451 5-Digit ZCTA, 484 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census</ref>

===Southern Lakes Parks & Recreation===
Southern Lakes Regional Parks & Recreation District is a metropolitan district formed with the levying of a millage of .4 mills to operate park and recreational programs. Parks are owned by the cities and township in the district, Fenton City, Fenton Township, and Linden City.<ref name="ft"/>

Tri-County Parks & Recreation was formed in 1993 between Fenton City and Township, Tyrone Township and Fenton Community Schools as a consolidated summer recreation program.<ref name="ft"/>

With Tri-County Recreation's success, a series of "Town Hall Meetings" and "Strategic Study Session" were held for the program to expand to year-round activities. A charter commission was formed for Tri-County Recreation to change its form to a metropolitan district with the addition of Linden City and Argentine Township.<ref name="ft"/>

In November 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"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fentontownship.org/ Fenton Township]

{{Genesee County, Michigan}}

[[Category:Townships in Genesee County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Charter townships in Michigan]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]