Fenton, Michigan

Fenton, Michigan
City
City of Fenton
Clockwise from top: Downtown Fenton; Fenton city hall; Shiawassee River
Flag Seal Logo
Location within Genesee County
Fenton Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°47′52″N83°42′18″W / 42.79778°N 83.70500°W / 42.79778; -83.70500
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Counties	Genesee, Livingston, and Oakland
Settled	1834
Incorporated	1863 (village) 1964 (city)
Named for	William M. Fenton
Government
• Type	Council–manager
•  Mayor	Sue Osborn (I) [1]
•  Mayor Pro Tem	Pat Lockwood
•  City council	Nancy Draves Brad Jacob David McDermott Scott Grossmeyer Pat Lockwood Cherie Smith
•  City manager	Lynn Markland
Area [2]
• Total	6.97 sq mi (18.07 km2)
• Land	6.65 sq mi (17.23 km2)
• Water	0.32 sq mi (0.84 km2)  4.57%
Elevation	902 ft (275 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,050
• Density	1,811.76/sq mi (699.49/km2)
Demonym(s)	Fentonian, Fentonite
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48430
Area code(s)	248 and 810
FIPS code	26-27760 [3]
GNIS feature ID	0625893 [4]
Website	www.cityoffenton.org

Fenton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan that lies mostly in Genesee County, with small portions in neighboring Oakland County and Livingston County. It is part of the Flint Metropolitan statistical area.

History

Fenton grain elevator

It was first established in 1834 and was originally named "Dibbleville" after Clark Dibble, one of the first settlers. It was platted in 1837 as "Fentonville" by William M. Fenton ^[5] who later became lieutenant governor of Michigan. When the settlement was incorporated as a village in 1863 the name Fenton was used. ^[6] The settlement's post office used the name Fentonville from 1837 until 1886, when it adopted the current name.

In the 1970s, the city leveled its downtown buildings and closed Leroy Street as part of an urban renewal plan. ^[7] On August 24, 2007, an EF2 tornado hit Fenton, damaging several homes and a school, and almost completely destroying the soon to be opened Tractor Supply Company, tearing off its roof. This left many people without power, putting the city in a state of emergency. There were no fatalities or serious injuries. ^[8] In July 2011, the first proposed building, Cornerstone, to restore the city's old downtown area was announced. ^[7]

As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,756. ^[9] The city was incorporated from Fenton Township in Genesee County, and the city and township are administratively autonomous. Fenton includes several historic buildings. It was home to the first aviation school in Michigan and the A.J. Phillips Fenton Museum. ^{[10] [11]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 7.00 square miles (18.13 km²), of which 6.68 square miles (17.30 km²) is land and 0.32 square miles (0.83 km²) (4.57%) is water. ^[12]

Numerous municipalities in Michigan span two counties, but Fenton is one of two municipalities in Michigan to span three; the other is Lansing. The overwhelming majority of Fenton is in Genesee County, with a total area of 6.88 square miles (17.82 km²), of which 6.56 square miles (16.99 km²) is land and 0.32 square miles (0.83 km²) is water. The Genesee County portion represents 98.29% of Fenton's area and 99.99% of its population. Of Fenton's 11,747 residents, all but 10 live in Genesee County. The other 10 live in Fenton's Livingston County portion, which has a land area of 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²). A minuscule portion with no residents extends into Oakland County with a land area of 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²). ^[13]  

The Tipsico Lake Project is a brownfield redevelopment project to restore the land and surrounding area. ^[14]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	735		—
1870	2,353		220.1%
1880	2,152		−8.5%
1890	2,182		1.4%
1900	2,408		10.4%
1910	2,331		−3.2%
1920	2,507		7.6%
1930	3,171		26.5%
1940	3,377		6.5%
1950	4,226		25.1%
1960	6,142		45.3%
1970	8,284		34.9%
1980	8,098		−2.2%
1990	8,444		4.3%
2000	10,582		25.3%
2010	11,756		11.1%
2020	12,050		2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [15]

Fenton United Methodist Church

A.J. Phillips Building (1900)

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 12,050 people, 5,025 households, and 3,060 families living in the city. The population density was 1,811.8 inhabitants per square mile (699.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93% White, 1.6% African American, 0.5% Asian, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

There were 5,025 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age of the city was 38.2 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64, and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.4% male and 55.6% female.

2010 census

As of the census ^[16] of 2010, there were 11,756 people, 5,067 households, and 2,953 families living in the city. The population density was 1,759.9 inhabitants per square mile (679.5/km²). There were 5,572 housing units at an average density of 834.1 per square mile (322.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 5,067 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.7% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 36 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.7% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64, and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 10,582 people, 4,335 households, and 2,709 families living in the city. The population density was 1,612.5 inhabitants per square mile (622.6/km²). There were 4,569 housing units at an average density of 696.2 per square mile (268.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.25% White, 0.60% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.80% of the population.

There were 4,335 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,400, and the median income for a family was $55,637. Males had a median income of $44,874 versus $30,435 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,435. About 4.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

Schools

World of Wonder

North Road Elementary State Road Elementary Tomek Elementary

Andrew G. Schmidt Middle School

Fenton High School

Highways

US Highway 23 runs north and south through the west side of the city as a freeway. The original routing of US 23 ran northeast along Shiawassee Avenue to Leroy Street, then north along Leroy to the northern edge of the city. The portion of old US 23 south of Silver Lake Road, along with Silver Lake Road itself west back to US 23, was designated a business route of US 23 in 1958, before being removed as a state trunkline in 2006.

Utilities

The municipality operates its own water system. ^[17]

Notable people

• Cynthia Roberts Gorton (1826–1894), blind poet and author
• Ira W. Jayne (1882–1961), Wayne County Circuit Court Chief Judge ^[18]

References

Notes

1. "Fenton mayoral seat unnoposed[sic], five vie for council seats". tctimes.com. myfenton. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fenton, Michigan
5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  125.
6. Romig 1986, p. 194.
7. DeFever, Dana (July 13, 2011). "Proposed $4-million project in Fenton to serve as first step to revitalize downtown". The Flint Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
8. EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 2007 - 40, DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY CITY OF FENTON, GENESEE COUNTY
9. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Fenton city, Michigan". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 18, 2011.
10. Fenton by Donna Seger, Kenneth Seger 2009
11. Fenton Museum Archived 2013-09-28 at the Wayback Machine City of Fenton
12. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
13. "Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). 2010 United States Census . United States Census Bureau. September 2012. pp. Michigan 21, 30, 36, and 64. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
14. City of Fenton Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. "Brownfield Redevelopment Authority". City of Fenton. Tipsico Lake Road Project. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-11-25.
17. Adams, Dominic (June 27, 2014). "Flint monthly water and sewer bills highest in Genesee County by $35". The Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
18. "Retired Wayne Judge is Dead". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. January 23, 1961. p. 13.

Sources

• Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN   978-0-8143-1838-6.

External links

• Michigan portal

• City of Fenton official website