Genesee County, Michigan

Genesee County, Michigan
Genesee County Courthouse in Flint
Seal Logo
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 28, 1835 (created) 1836 (organized)[1][2]
Named for	Genesee County, New York
Seat	Flint
Largest city	Flint
Area
• Total	650 sq mi (1,683 km2)
• Land	637 sq mi (1,650 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (34 km2), 1.9%
Population (est.)
• (2013)	415,376
• Density	668/sq mi (258/km²)
Congressional district	5th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.gc4me.com

Genesee County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 425,790,^[3] making it the fifth-most populous county in Michigan. The county seat and population center is Flint (birthplace of General Motors).^[4] Genesee County is considered to be a part of the greater Mid Michigan area.

Genesee County comprises the Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI Combined Statistical Area.

History

Genesee County was created on March 28, 1835 and was fully organized on April 4, 1836. It was named after Genesee County, New York.^[1] Many local place names in the county are also from New York and Pennsylvania, reflecting the pattern of settlement. A major attraction for visitors is Crossroads Village, a living history village north of Flint.

Genesee is noted for having had the fossil of an ancient whale known as Balaenoptera Lacepede^[5] unearthed in Thetford Township during quarry work and estimated at 11,000 years old.^[6]

In July 2010, the County Board voted to merge the clerk and register of deeds offices, effective January 1, 2013.^[7] On October 26, 2010,^[8] Genesee County became a founding member of the Karegnondi Water Authority.^[8]

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.^[9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 650 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 637 square miles (1,650 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (1.9%) is water.^[12]

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

• Tuscola County (northeast)
• Lapeer County (east)
• Oakland County (southeast)
• Livingston County (southwest)
• Shiawassee County (west)
• Saginaw County (northwest)

Transportation

Airport

• Bishop International Airport

Railroad

• Flint Amtrak station offers daily service on the Blue Water route west to Chicago and east to Port Huron.

Bus

• Flint Mass Transportation Authority
• Greyhound Lines and Indian Trails (both co-located at Flint Amtrak station)

Major highways

• I-75 - runs north and south through central Genesee County, merges with US 23 in Mundy Township
• US 23 - runs north and south through central Genesee County, merges with I-75 in Mundy Township
• I-475 - alternate route of I-75/US23, runs north and south through central Genesee County
• M-54 - runs north and south through central Genesee County
• M-13 - runs north and south through western Genesee County, along the borders with Shiawassee County and Saginaw County and north of I-69
• M-15 - runs north and south through eastern Genesee County
• I-69 - runs east and west through central Genesee County
• M-21 - runs east and west through central Genesee County, west of I-475
• M-57 - runs east and west through northern Genesee County, west of M-15

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census^[18] 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). 15.0% were of German, 8.5% English, 8.0% Irish, 6.7% American and 5.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun ancestry.^[19]

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 the population was spread out with 25.0% under age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 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^[18] 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

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.

Genesee County is a founding member of the Karegnondi Water Authority with Board of Commission Chair Jamie W. Curtis representing the County on the Authority Board.^[8]

Elected officials

^[20]

Communities

Cities

Villages

• Gaines
• Goodrich
• Lennon (partially)
• Otisville
• Otter Lake (partially)

Townships

Charter townships

General law townships

Census-designated places

• Argentine
• Beecher
• Lake Fenton

Unincorporated communities

See also

• Back to the Bricks
• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Genesee County, Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Genesee County, Michigan

References

External links

• Genesee County Michigan
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Genesee County

	Saginaw County	Saginaw County Tuscola County	Tuscola County
	Shiawassee County		Lapeer County
		Genesee County, Michigan
	Livingston County	Oakland County Livingston County	Oakland County

Municipalities and communities of Genesee County, Michigan, United States County seat: Flint Cities Burton Clio Davison Fenton‡ Flint Flushing Grand Blanc Linden Montrose Mount Morris Swartz Creek Villages Gaines Goodrich Lennon‡ Otisville Otter Lake‡ Charter townships Clayton Fenton Flint Flushing Genesee Grand Blanc Montrose Mount Morris Mundy Vienna General law townships Argentine Atlas Davison Forest Gaines Richfield Thetford Unincorporated communities Argentine Atlas Bayport Park Beecher Brent Creek Duffield Farrandville Genesee Huntingtown Kipp Corners Lake Fenton Lakeside Pine Run Rankin Richfield Center Rogersville Russellville Thetford Center Whigville Whitesburg Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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Coordinates: 43°01′N 83°43′W / 43.02°N 83.71°W / 43.02; -83.71