Editing Grand Blanc Township, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Grand Blanc Township, Michigan
| official_name      = Charter Township of Grand Blanc
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Grand Blanc Charter Township seal.png
| seal_size          = 150
| 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      = Grand Blanc Township
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| image_map          = Grand Blanc Charter Township, MI location.png
| mapsize            = 250
| map_caption        = Location within [[Genesee County, Michigan|Genesee County]]
| 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        = Scott Bennett
| leader_title2      = Deputy Supervisor/Police Chief
| leader_name2       = William Renye
| leader_title3      = Superintendent
| leader_name3       = Dennis Liimatta
| leader_title4      = Clerk
| leader_name4       = Dave Robertson
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1823
| established_title1 = Organized
| established_date1  = 1833
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 84.8
| area_total_sq_mi   = 32.7
| area_land_km2      = 84.5
| area_land_sq_mi    = 32.6
| area_water_km2     = 0.3
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.1
| area_water_percent = 0.37
| 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   = 39846
| 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|56|05|N|83|38|49|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 258
| elevation_ft       = 846
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code        = {{ubl|48439 ([[Grand Blanc, Michigan|Grand Blanc]])| 48507 (Flint)| 48442 (Holly)}}
| area_code          = [[Area code 810|810]]
| website            = {{URL|www.grandblanctwpmi.gov}}
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 26-33300<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        = 1626368<ref>{{gnis|1626368}}</ref>
| footnotes          = <ref name="fj3"/><!-- leadership --><ref name="fj4"/><!-- Zip Codes -->
}}
<!-- Infobox ends -->
'''Grand Blanc Township''' is a [[charter township]] of [[Genesee County, Michigan|Genesee County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The population was 39,846 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]], a slight increase from 37,508 at the [[United States Census, 2010|2010 census]]. The city of  [[Grand Blanc, Michigan|Grand Blanc]] was formed out of part of the township's survey area. The Charter Township is the largest suburb of Flint.

==Communities==
* '''Whigville''', also known as Gibsonville,<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Edwin O. |title=History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions |orig-year=1916 |url=http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch26/pt2.html |access-date=12 September 2007 |edition=Online |year=2002 |chapter=26 |chapter-url=http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch26/index.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006115357/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch26/pt2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> is an unincorporated community as designated by the posted signs in the Township along Hill Road, [[M-54 (Michigan highway)|Dort Highway]] and [[Saginaw Trail|Saginaw Street]].<ref>[http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~22387~730139:-Map-of-Genesee-County,-Michigan--D Map of Genesee County, Michigan]. Drawn, compiled, and edited by H.F. Walling, C.E. ... Published by R.M. & S.T. Tackabury, Detroit, Mich. Entered ... 1873, by H.F. Walling ... Washington. The Claremont Manufacturing Company, Claremont, N.H., Book Manufacturers</ref>

== History ==
Originally settled by Chippewa Indians, the township took its name—French for "Great white"—from French traders who arrived before 1800. Afterwards, pioneer families began settling in the township. Jacob Stevens settled at the survey township center and future city with his family in 1823.<ref name=mpn>{{cite book |last1=Romig |first1=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |date=1986 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=9780814318386 |pages=231–232 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-FPXEGRo-YC&q=Grand+Blanc&pg=PA222 |access-date=February 12, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Stony Run post office was formed in the area when it was in Oakland County on June 6, 1934, with Marston W. Richards as the first postmaster.<ref name="mpn0">{{cite book |last1=Romig |first1=Walter |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |date=1986 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=9780814318386 |pages=540 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-FPXEGRo-YC&q=Genesee+County&pg=PA540 |access-date=July 9, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

The oldest unit of government in Genesee County, Grand Blanc Township was organized on March 9, 1833, by the Territory of Michigan. Then the township included the survey area of the future townships of Atlas, Burton, Davison, Fenton, Flint, Genesee, Mount Morris and Mundy. With the March 2, 1836 formation of Flint Township, Grand Blanc lost in addition the township survey areas of Burton, Genesee and Mount Morris to Flint. With the July 26, 1836 organization of Argentine Township, Grand Blanc lost Fenton to the new township. Mundy was split off on its March 11, 1837 organization. By March 1843, Atlas and Davison had been organized.<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 = 2019-02-12| 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 township center began to boom in 1864 with the arrival of the railroad<ref name=mpn/> (now known as the [[CSX Saginaw Subdivision]]). On June 3, 1878, the Stony Run post office was closed then reopened on December 10, 1878, operating only to October 23, 1879.<ref name="mpn0"/>

Grand Blanc Centre incorporated as the City of Grand Blanc in 1930.<ref name=mpn/> In 1939, the township and the city started a joint fire department.<ref name="fj">{{cite news |last1=Acosta |first1=Roberto |title=Grand Blanc Township ponders 'divorce' from city over fire services |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/02/grand-blanc-township-ponders-divorce-from-city-over-fire-services.html |access-date=February 12, 2019 |work=Flint Journal |publisher=MLive Media Group |date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> In the 1970s, the Grand Blanc city, township and school district formed a joint parks and recreation department under a commission with 2 members from each entity.<ref name="fj2">{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Emilly |title=Grand Blanc township and city splitting up again -- this time parks and rec department |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2020/02/grand-blanc-township-and-city-splitting-up-again-this-time-parks-and-rec-department.html |access-date=March 13, 2020 |work=Flint Journal |publisher=Mlive Media Group |date=February 18, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

An effort to consolidate the city and township into a single political entity was rejected by voters in both the city and township on May 2, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Summary Report {{!}} Regular Election {{!}} Official Results |url=http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/clerk/images/election%20results/052006/summary.htm |publisher=Genesee County Clerk's Office |access-date=2 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192513/http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/clerk/images/election%20results/052006/summary.htm |archive-date=2 January 2014 }}</ref> In 2014, the superintendent left and the supervisor Micki Hoffman took over day-to-day management.<ref name="fj3" />

On January 20, 2019, the Township Board voted to rescind its joint fire department agreement in 90 days unless a new agreement is reached.<ref name="fj" /> the city decided to start up their own department starting July 25, 2019. Previously, the joint department was funded by each municipal levying a special levy of .5 mil for the department and designating .5 mill of general levy to the department.<ref name="fj0">{{cite news |last1=Acosta |first1=Roberto |title=City of Grand Blanc to start own fire department |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2019/04/city-of-grand-blanc-to-start-own-fire-department.html |access-date=April 15, 2019 |work=Flint Journal |publisher=Mlive Media Group |date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>

After look at the lack of management knowledge on the parks and recreation commission in the spring of 2019, the township and city decided to dissolve the commission. In January 2020, the decision was formalized in January 2020 with the township taking over the department to provide services to both municipalities. The commission's executive director resigned that month and a replacement also was hired and left the post of department director.<ref name="fj2" />

At the June 23, 2020 board meeting, the board voted 5 to 2 to terminate superintendent Dennis Liimatta. After failing to have a quorum at a special meeting on July 1 to address day-to-day operations given the vacancy, supervisor Scott Bennett has used his statutory authority to appointed a deputy supervisor, Police Chief Ron Wiles.<ref name="fj3">{{cite news |last1=Keefer |first1=Winter |title=Supervisor appoints police chief to help manage Grand Blanc Township |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2020/07/supervisor-appoints-police-chief-to-help-manage-grand-blanc-township.html |access-date=July 8, 2020 |work=Flint Journal |publisher=Mlive Media Group |date=July 8, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Voters removed all five (5) of the board members that voted to terminate the former Superintendent Dennis Liimatta, and he was rehired by the newly elected Board on December 14, 2020, after settling a whistleblowers lawsuit brought by Liimatta against the previous board members.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|32.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|32.6|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (0.37%) is water. Thread Creek, a tributary of the [[Flint River (Michigan)|Flint River]], flows from south to north through the township.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 29,827 people, 11,793 households, and 8,184 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|914.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 12,450 housing units at an average density of {{convert|381.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the township was 88.12% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.70% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.51% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.61% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.65% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.09% of the population.

There were 11,793 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $61,458, and the median income for a family was $68,220. Males had a median income of $51,974 versus $34,311 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $27,510. About 2.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Grand Blanc is a charter township with a township board of trustee consisting of a supervisor, clerk, treasurer and four trustees. The board has appointed a superintendent as chief administrative officer, but with a vacancy, the supervisor has used his statuory authority to appointed a deputy supervisor.<ref name="fj3" />

The township government building is located in Whigville with the 48507 Flint zip code.<ref name="fj4">{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Emily |title=Township wants to change its Flint mailing address to 'Grand Blanc, 48507' |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2020/02/township-wants-to-change-its-flint-mailing-address-to-grand-blanc-48507.html |access-date=July 8, 2020 |work=mlive |date=February 11, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
Today, both the city and township governments cooperate to provide services for the community, including senior citizens' services, the Grand Blanc Heritage Museum, McFarlen Public Library.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}
The Township's resident students are served primarily by the [[Grand Blanc Community Schools]] with small areas in the [[Goodrich Area Schools]] and [[Lake Fenton Community Schools]].<ref>{{cite map |author = Department of Technology, Management and Budget |title =Genesee County School Districts |url =http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_GENESEE%20COUNTY.pdf |series =School Districts by County |publisher =State of Michigan |access-date = February 12, 2019 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.twp.grand-blanc.mi.us/ Grand Blanc Township]

{{Genesee County, Michigan}}

[[Category:Charter townships in Michigan]]
[[Category:Townships in Genesee County, Michigan]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Michigan Territory]]