About Charter Township of Flint:

Welcome to the Charter Township of Flint, Genesee County, Michigan web site...One of the nation's leading retail corridors with a dynamic business climate, a vibrant industrial community, and one of the most efficient transportation systems in the Midwest.

Flint Township boasts a population of more than 33,601. It is located in the heart of Genesee County, Michigan, (with a total population of 403,000), and lies adjacent to the city of Flint.

More than 100,000 people visit us daily to shop our retail establishments, to dine in our
fine restaurants and to conduct business.

Additional History:

Flint Township was first organized on March 2, 1836. One year prior, the first settlers, Elijah Carman and his family, erected the first log cabin. Deacon Carman, as he was known by those who settled the township, held religious gatherings in his home and was a true pioneer, relying on hunting for food, tanning hides for clothing, and clearing dense forests for farming. He died in 1840 at the age of 40. His son, Reuben, later built the land into good farmland which he later named Carmandale.

The Carman family was closely followed by the Jesse Torrey family. In October of 1836, it settled on 400 acres and cleared the area to farm. This founded the Torrey settlement. Settlers who followed the Carman and Torrey families included other familiar names such as Dye, Utley, Bristol, Carter and Miller. In 1837, Michigan Territory became a state. During the years that followed, many roads were laid and traveled in the area: Bristol, Atherton, Maple, Hemphill, Judd, Van Slyke, Linden, Torrey, Hill, Book, Jennings and Reid. The Fentonville Plank Toll Road was built in 1851 with a toll of one cent per mile. This road is now Fenton Road. Freight wagons traveled between Detroit and Flint on this road. One freight line was owned by Harry Farrow who lived on a farm that is now Bishop International Airport.

The first schoolhouse in Flint Township was built in 1878 on the banks of Swartz Creek on land owned by Jesse Torrey. Eventually 10 school districts were established within Flint Township. Many were one-room buildings centered in the heart of the various settlements.