Genesee County, Michigan Explained

County:Genesee County
State:Michigan
Seal:Genesse County mi seal.png
Founded Year:1835 (created)
1836 (organized)
Founded Date:March 28
Seat Wl:Flint
Largest City Wl:Flint
Area Total Sq Mi:650
Area Land Sq Mi:637
Area Water Sq Mi:13
Area Percentage:1.9%
Census Yr:2020
Pop:406211
Density Sq Mi:640
Time Zone:Eastern
Web:https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/
District:7th
Ex Image:Genesee County MI Courthouse.JPG
Ex Image Size:200
Ex Image Cap:Genesee County Courthouse in Flint
District2:8th

Genesee County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 406,211,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Michigan. The county seat and population center is Flint (birthplace of General Motors).[2] Genesee County consists of 33 cities, townships, and villages. It is considered to be a part of the greater Mid Michigan area.

The county was named after Genesee County, New York, which in turn comes from the Seneca word Gen-nis'-hee-yo, meaning "Beautiful Valley".[3] 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[4] unearthed in Thetford Township during quarry work and estimated at 11,000 years old.[5]

History

Formative period

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.[6] 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.[7] On April 4, 1836, the county was fully organized.[6] 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.[7]

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.[7]

The townships of Genesee, Fenton, and Flushing were formed on March 6, 1838. Genesee and Flushing were split off from Flint Township.[7] 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).[8] Thus Flint Township consisted of one and a half township survey areas.

15 northerly sections of survey area Township No. 7 north of range No. 7 east in Flint Township plus southerly sections of Genesee Township was 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. 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 east most survey area split off from Vienna. While Gaines was formed with the western township survey of Mundy.[7]

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.[7]

On March 25, 1846, an additional two townships were formed, Clayton and Pewanagawink. Clayton splitting the southernmost survey area off from Flushing Township. Pewanagawink took the westernmost survey area from Vienna and changed its name to Montrose by act of January 15, 1848.[7]

Mt. Morris Township was created on February 12, 1855,[7] 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 with the western area becoming 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.[6]

Modern era

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.[9] In 1968, the county park system was started with the purchase of vacant land.[10] with funds from the Mott Foundation, with a stipulation that a parks commission be formed.[11]

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.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14] By August 9, 2016, the two offices were merged.[15]

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.[16] In July 2010, the County Board voted to merge the clerk and register of deeds offices, effective January 1, 2013.[17]

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.[18] [19]

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.[20]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (1.9%) is water.[21]

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

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.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census[22] 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.[23],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 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.

Government and politics

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 in recent elections, with the Democrats carrying it by less than 10 points in both 2016 and 2020. 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.[24]

Genesee County is a founding member of the Karegnondi Water Authority The "outcounty" area (all but the city of Flint) receives library services from the Genesee District Library.[25] The county equivalent for school is the Genesee Intermediate School District, which consist of school districts considered primarily within Genesee County. Charles Stewart Mott Community College is the local community college[12] serving the same area as the GISD.

Elected officials

Executive officesOfficerParty
Prosecuting Attorney
& County Counsel
David LeytonDemocratic
SheriffChristopher R. Swanson
County Clerk/Register of Deeds:Domonique D. Clemons
County TreasurerDeborah Cherry
Drain Commissioner,
County Water Agent & KWA CEO
Jeffrey Wright
County SurveyorKim R. Carlson
[28]
Board of Commissioners
DistrictCommissionerParty
1stVacantDemocratic
2ndCharles H. WinfreyDemocratic
3rd
Chair
Ellen EllenburgDemocratic
4thVacantDemocratic
5thJames AveryDemocratic
6thShaun ShumakerRepublican
7thMartin Cousineau Democratic
8thDale WeighillDemocratic
9thMichelle DavisDemocratic
[29]
Circuit Court Judges
DivisionJudge
Chief Judge
Civil/Criminal
Richard B. Yuille
Chief Judge Pro-Tem
Civil/Criminal
Archie L. Hayman
Chief Judge Pro-Tem
Family
Duncan M. Beagle
Civil/CriminalJoseph J. Farah
Civil/CriminalElizabeth Kelly[30]
FamilyJohn A. Gadola
Civil/CriminalBrian Pickell
FamilyDavid J. Newblatt
FamilyMichael J. Theile
67th District
DivisionJudge
Fenton Court,
Chief Judge
Mark McCabe
Mt. Morris Court
Chief Judge
Vikki Haley
Davison CourtJennifer Manley
Flushing CourtDavid Goggins
4th (Grand Blanc)Christopher R. Odette
Burton CourtHon. Judge Mark Latchana
OfficeDistrictOfficeholderPolitical party[31]
U.S. Representative7thElissa SlotkinDemocratic
8thDan Kildee
State Senator22ndLana TheisRepublican
24thRuth Johnson
26thKevin Daley
27thJohn D. CherryDemocratic
State Representative67thPhil GreenRepublican
68thDavid Martin
69thJasper MartusDemocratic
70thCynthia Neeley
71stBrian BeGoleRepublican
72ndMike Mueller
97thMatthew Bierlein

Recreation

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.[32]

In 1968, the county park system was started with the purchase of vacant land[10] with funds from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, with a stipulation that a parks commission be formed.[11]

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.[32]

Parks and other venues in the county system totaling 11,500 acres are:[33]

Genesee County is the only one in Michigan without a state park.[34]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Charter townships

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

Public school districts include:[35]

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.[36]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts . . September 15, 2021.
  2. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 . mdy .
  3. Web site: Bibliography on Genesee County . Clarke Historical Library . Clarke Historical Library . . January 19, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006131803/https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/genessee.aspx . October 6, 2014 . mdy-all .
  4. Web site: Fossilworks: Balaenoptera . paleodb.org . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016185029/http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=36678&is_real_user=1 . October 16, 2012 . mdy-all .
  5. Web site: The Paleobiology Database . December 18, 2009 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016185041/http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=displayCollectionDetails&collection_no=51031 . October 16, 2012 . mdy-all . Paleobiology Database: Thetford Center
  6. Book: Bates, William R. . Historical Collections . 1907 . Michigan State Historical Society, Michigan Historical Commission . 362 . https://books.google.com/books?id=RhUUAAAAYAAJ&q=Garland+Flint+Township&pg=PA362 . The Development of Flint .
  7. Book: Wood, Edwin O. . History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions . Michigan Historical Commission . 1916 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20061006120254/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/lapeer/gen/ch5/pio.html . October 6, 2006 . mdy-all .
  8. Book: Ellis . Franklin . History of Genesee County, Michigan: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers . 1879 . Everts & Abbott . Philadelphia . 199, 269, 328 . November 14, 2017 . University of Michigan Libraries . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511195222/https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/BAD0919.0001.001 . May 11, 2018 . mdy-all .
  9. News: Terry . Tanya . Genesee County Parks celebrates 50 years . August 22, 2018 . Davison Index . May 24, 2018 . en.
  10. News: Terry . Tanya . Genesee County Parks turns 50 years . June 7, 2018 . Swartz Creek View . May 31, 2018 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143616/http://swartzcreekview.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-05-31/News/Genesee_County_Parks_turns_50_years.html . June 12, 2018 . dead .
  11. Web site: Gifford . Paul . Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission Records summary . www.umflint.edu . University of Michigan-Flint . June 7, 2018 . en-us . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140825/https://www.umflint.edu/archives/genesee-county-parks-and-recreation-commission-records . dead .
  12. Web site: Mott Community College . April 18, 2008 . Flint Timeline Project . https://web.archive.org/web/20080530222152/http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/timeline/civics-buildings-01-00/mcc.html . May 30, 2008 . dead .
  13. News: Fonger . Ron . Genesee County prosecutor, corporation counsel offices talk about merger . November 15, 2017 . The Flint Journal . October 2, 2009 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116075416/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/10/genesee_county_prosecutor_corp.html . November 16, 2017 . mdy-all .
  14. News: Fonger . Ron . Ward Chapman, Genesee County's top civil attorney for three decades, files retirement papers . November 15, 2017 . The Flint Journal . December 10, 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116080506/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/12/ward_chapman_genesee_countys_t.html . November 16, 2017 . mdy-all .
  15. News: Young . Molly . County and Genesee Health System locked in battle over $10 million . November 15, 2017 . The Flint Journal . August 9, 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116082503/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/08/county_genesee_health_system_i.html . November 16, 2017 . mdy-all .
  16. News: Fonger . Ron . Genesee County folds Emergency Management & Homeland Security Department . November 15, 2017 . The Flint Journal . June 29, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116081627/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/06/genesee_county_folds_emergency.html . November 16, 2017 . mdy-all .
  17. News: Fonger . Ron . Genesee County commissioners vote to merge clerk, register of deeds offices . April 7, 2011 . Flint Journal . July 24, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100809045659/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/07/genesee_county_commissioners_v.html . August 9, 2010 . mdy-all .
  18. News: Thorne . Blake . Karegnondi Water Authority sets course for cutting ties with Detroit water . December 6, 2011 . . October 27, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110401195904/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/10/karegnondi_water_authority_set.html . April 1, 2011 . mdy-all .
  19. News: Fonger . Ron . Years in the making, Karegnondi Water Authority is ready to set new course for water . December 6, 2011 . Flint Journal . October 23, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110917085959/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/10/karegnondi_water_authority_is.html . September 17, 2011 . mdy-all .
  20. News: Tornado Alley of Michigan is Genesee County, with more than any other since 1950 . The Flint Journal . May 30, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130611084654/http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2013/05/frequency_of_genesee_county_to.html . June 11, 2013 . mdy-all .
  21. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt . dead . November 13, 2013 . United States Census Bureau . September 21, 2014 . August 22, 2012 .
  22. Web site: U.S. Census website . United States Census Bureau . March 11, 2012 . mdy-all .
  23. Web site: U.S. Census website . Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS) . United States Census Bureau . mdy-all .
  24. Web site: About 67th . County of Genesee . January 17, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070203163156/http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/districtcourt/About_67th/ABOUT%2067TH.html . February 3, 2007 . mdy-all .
  25. News: Thorne . Blake . Voters support new tax for Genesee District Library . September 7, 2016 . The Flint Journal . May 4, 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009150940/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/05/voters_support_new_tax_for_gen.html . October 9, 2016 . mdy-all .
  26. News: Martindale . Mike . MSP investigates drug unit over office drinking . February 27, 2019 . Detroit News . August 1, 2018 . en.
  27. News: Bohn . Dean . Genesee County auto theft unit reorganized, gaining members - again . February 27, 2019 . Flint Journal . MLive Media Group . December 25, 2009.
  28. News: Averill . Andrew . Genesee County election 2012 results so far . January 14, 2013 . Flint Journal . November 7, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121227025724/http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/11/genesee_county_election_result_5.html#incart_river . December 27, 2012 . mdy-all .
  29. News: Fonger . Ron . Two campaigning to lead Genesee County commissioners in 2021 . January 6, 2021 . Flint Journal . MLive Media Group . January 6, 2021.
  30. News: Ahmad . Zahra . Live Genesee County election results for November 2018 midterm . February 27, 2019 . mlive.com . November 7, 2018.
  31. Web site: Genesee County, Michigan - Cumulative Results. Genesee County, Michigan. November 22, 2022. May 9, 2023.
  32. News: Acosta . Roberto . Genesee County parks director to step down after nearly 20 years . June 7, 2018 . Flint Journal . MLive Media Group . April 17, 2018.
  33. News: Genesee County parks directory . June 7, 2018 . MLive . Booth Newspapers . April 10, 2011 .
  34. News: Ron . Fonger . December 25, 2019 . Governor says DNR working to establish state park in Flint . MLive . Booth Newspapers . December 25, 2019 .
  35. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Genesee County, MI. https://web.archive.org/web/20220720052056/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26049_genesee/DC20SD_C26049.pdf . July 20, 2022 . live. U.S. Census Bureau. July 20, 2022. - Text list
  36. News: Leach. Hugh. School for the Blind sale debated. Lansing State Journal. December 11, 2005. 1B, 4B. - Clipping of first and of second page at Newspapers.com.