Flint, Michigan

Flint
Flag of Flint
Official seal of Flint
Nicknames: 
  • Vehicle City (official)
  • Flint Town (unofficial)
Motto(s): 
"Strong and Proud"[1]
Map
Interactive map of Flint
Flint is located in Michigan
Flint
Flint
Flint is located in the United States
Flint
Flint
Coordinates: 43°01′08″N 83°41′36″W / 43.01889°N 83.69333°W / 43.01889; -83.69333
Country United States
State Michigan
CountyGenesee
Settled1819
Incorporated1855
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • BodyFlint City Council
 • MayorSheldon Neeley (D)
 • City Council[2]
Council Members
  • Leon El-Alamin (NP), 1st Ward
  • Ladel Lewis (D), 2nd Ward
  • Quincy Murphy (D), 3rd Ward
  • Judy Priestley (R), 4th Ward
  • Jerri Winfrey-Carter (D), 5th Ward
  • Tonya Burns (D), 6th Ward
  • Candice Mushatt (D), 7th Ward
  • Dennis Pfeiffer (NP), 8th Ward
  • Eva Worthing (D), 9th Ward
Area
 • City
34.10 sq mi (88.33 km2)
 • Land33.44 sq mi (86.61 km2)
 • Water0.67 sq mi (1.72 km2)
Elevation
751 ft (229 m)
Population
 • City
81,252
 • Estimate 
(2021)[6]
80,628
 • RankUS: 438th
MI: 12th
 • Density2,429.78/sq mi (938.13/km2)
 • Urban
298,964 (US: 134th)[4]
 • Urban density1,455.1/sq mi (561.8/km2)
 • Metro
404,208 (US: 135th)
DemonymFlintstone[7]
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48501–48507, 48531, 48532, 48550–48557, 48559
Area code810
FIPS code26-29000
GNIS feature ID0626170[8]
Websitecityofflint.com

Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan.[9][10] At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 81,252,[5] making it the twelfth-most populous city in Michigan. The Flint metropolitan area is located entirely within Genesee County. It is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Michigan with a population of 406,892 in 2020.[11] The city was incorporated in 1855.

Flint was founded as a village by fur trader Jacob Smith in 1819 and became a major lumbering area on the historic Saginaw Trail during the 19th century. 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 grew into an automobile manufacturing powerhouse for GM's Buick and Chevrolet divisions, especially after World War II up until the early 1980s recession. Flint was also the home of a sit-down strike in 1936–37 that played a vital role in the formation of the United Auto Workers.

Since the late 1960s, Flint has faced several crises. The city experienced an economic downturn after GM significantly downsized its workforce in the area from a high of 80,000 in 1978 to under 8,000 by 2010. From 1960 to 2010, the population of the city nearly halved, from 196,940 to 102,434. In the mid-2000s, Flint became known for its comparatively high crime rates and has repeatedly been ranked among the most dangerous cities in the United States according to crime statistics.[12] The city was under a state of financial emergency from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2011 to 2015.[13][14]

From 2014 to 2019, Flint faced a public health emergency due to lead contamination in parts of the local water supply as well as an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.[15][16]The acute lead crisis has been addressed as the city has secured a new source of clean water, installed modern copper pipes to nearly every home, and distributed filters to all residents who want them. However, a legacy of distrust in public authorities remains.[17]

  1. ^ "City of Flint, Michigan". City of Flint, Michigan. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  2. ^ City of Flint (2016). "City of Flint City Council Members". Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  4. ^ United States Census Bureau (December 29, 2022). "2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications". Federal Register.
  5. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Moore, Kristin (December 1, 2015). "Mayor Karen Weaver Unveils 100 Day Plan" (Press release). City of Flint, Michigan. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 'With our legendary Flintstone spirit we will prevail.'
  8. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  10. ^ "Genesee County, MI official website". Gc4me.com. February 28, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  11. ^ "2010 Census and Michigan Demographic Data". Michigan.gov. November 6, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  12. ^ Growing up in America's most dangerous city, Flint Al Jazeera, October 24, 2013
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference budget2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Flint's finances in better shape; no more emergency managers". Associated Press. April 29, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  15. ^ Governor declares state of emergency over lead in Flint water The Flint Journal, January 5, 2016
  16. ^ Al Hajal, Khalil (January 13, 2016). "87 cases, 10 fatal, of Legionella bacteria found in Flint area; connection to water crisis unclear". The Flint Journal. Michigan Live. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  17. ^ Robertson, Derek. "Flint Has Clean Water Now. Why Won't People Drink It?". POLITICO. Retrieved December 23, 2020.