- Genesee County -
Genesee County was created on March 28, 1835, from territory taken from Lapeer,
Shiawassee and Saginaw counties. It was named for Genesee County, New York. Many
local place names in the county, including the county itself, are also from New
York and Pennsylvania, reflecting the pattern of settlement. The county was
enlarged on March 9, 1843, by adding a column of townships on its east from Lapeer
County.
The county is divided into seventeen townships, the whole of which contain a total area of
650 square miles. The largest city, and county seat, is Flint.
The City of Flint has self-rule. Land within the city overlaps
parts of Mount Morris, Genesee, Flint and Burton townships.
Flint was founded as a village by fur trader Jacob Smith in 1819, became a major lumbering
area during the 19th century, and was incorporated in 1855. From the late 19th century to
the mid 20th century, the city was a leading manufacturer of carriages and later automobiles,
earning it the nickname "Vehicle City". General Motors (GM) was founded in Flint in 1908,
and the city was the major manufacturing site for GM's Buick and Chevrolet divisions,
especially after World War II up until the early 1980's recession.
