Located about 70 miles northwest of Detroit, Flint is a historic community perched along the Flint River. With a population of about 81,000, it is the largest city in Genesee County and the twelfth largest in Michigan. Despite its size, it has a level of interconnectedness primarily found in small towns. Neighborhood groups are heavily involved, residents radiate pride, and annual events showcase an unparalleled sense of community.
Also known as Vehicle City, Flint developed as a powerhouse in automotive manufacturing after General Motors established its roots there in 1908. With an increase in well-paying careers, thousands of people migrated to the city to look for work, and small businesses began to flourish. Vehicle City’s economy took off and quickly became one of the strongest in the country. When sweeping manufacturing layoffs devastated the area during the late 20th century, Flint slipped from Michigan’s highest-earning city to one of the lowest. The city’s economy struggled for years, eventually leading Governor John Engler to declare a state of financial emergency in 2002. While the city grappled with this economic devastation, The Flint Water Crisis of 2014 struck a cruel blow to an area barely on its feet.
Despite these struggles, Flint residents have shown the world the true meaning of resilience. “It takes a special type of tenacity to live in Flint, and to love Flint despite everything that gets thrown at it, and a lot has gotten thrown at it over the years,” says Janet O’Keefe, lead librarian at Gloria Coles Flint Public Library in the city's Central Park. The city continues to fight back from these setbacks, driven by an improving housing market, promising infrastructure changes, a blossoming downtown and community pride. With health care, manufacturing and education providing new jobs, Vehicle City is on the move.
Flint is historically known as “Vehicle City” because of its importance in the birth of the automobile industry.
In Flint, the Gloria Coles Public Library hosts the Michigan Storytellers Festival yearly.
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An update on the Flint water crisis
Flint was the epicenter of one of the most significant public health crises in American history. In April 2014, unelected city managers switched the town’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River to save money. Record levels of Legionnaires’ disease swept the city, and numerous people complained of hair loss, rashes and other illnesses. Tests revealed dangerously high levels of lead and bacteria in the city’s water supply, prompting Genesee County to declare a state of emergency. Repair efforts took half a decade, but bi-yearly reports show that as of 2019, Flint’s water is safe to consume — even in high-risk areas. “I don’t think anyone trusts [the water] completely,” O’Keefe says. “We have a filtering system [at the library], most people use filters, but there are some who still use bottled water.” Recent tests show that lead levels have risen since 2021 but remain below federal regulations.
The Flint River flows through downtown Flint.
The Flint Water Crisis 2014 struck a cruel blow to the area, but Flint has started to rebound.
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Affordable houses, new construction and a broad selection
One of Flint's most attractive features is its affordable housing. With a median home price of about $60,000, it’s far more accessible than surrounding cities, including Grand Blanc and Flushing, which have median home prices in the mid-$200,000s. Options are broad and diverse, ranging from tiny, $15,000 fixer-uppers in Bunche to $500,000 mansions in Woodcroft Estates . While many homes have had their lead pipes replaced, the city will not replace the pipes in vacant houses. Buyers of vacant houses should be sure to have their plumbing inspected and pipes replaced if necessary.
The city is also diversifying its townhouse and condominium options. The Genesee County Landbank Authority, in partnership with the city and state, recently funded the construction of the 16-unit Gate House project near Downtown Flint . “I think most people are excited about it because we're getting more housing, and not just more housing, we're getting new housing, renovated housing,” says Tierra Howard, a broker, Realtor and owner of HowardHomes4You. “People want somewhere nice to live. So, I'm really excited about all the development that we have.”
Breaking ground in June of 2024, this initiative comes after Uptown Reinvestment Corporation and the Michigan Community Capital partnered in 2023 to construct six new affordable homes in Flint’s Carriage Town Historic District . The mixed-income condominium development is the first of its kind in the city.
Flint's historical Carriage Town district has many well-maintained homes.
Older houses in Flint offer fixer-upper opportunities for new homeowners.
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Choice public schools and passionate colleges
Flint offers choice schools – students may attend public schools in the city or surrounding suburbs. The Flint Public School District has a D rating on Niche and has 9 elementary, one middle and one high school. It serves around 2,800 students. Grand Blanc Community Schools is also nearby and has an A-minus rating. It’s ranked the best school district in the Flint area, serving over 7,800 students across 10 elementary, three middle and one high school.
The city is also home to several major colleges in unity. “It really is like a college town,” Howard says. Mott Community College is a small, public two-year institution with a 100% acceptance rate and a C rating on Niche. Kettering University has a B-minus rating on Niche and was ranked as the third best-value college in Michigan. With a B-minus Niche rating, the University of Michigan—Flint is in Downtown Flint, the University of Michigan’s first campus built outside Ann Arbor. The colleges are heavily involved in the city, each offering philanthropic efforts stretching from the north to the south side. Generally, they help with neighborhood clean-up efforts, downtown Flint’s revitalization and various events throughout the city.
Kettering University is one of three universities in Flint.
The University of Michigan’s first campus, built outside Ann Arbor, is in Flint.
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Genesee County’s first State Park, downtown Flint and shopping districts
Flint offers over 11,000 acres of park space and access to the Flint River. Eastside 's Kearsley Park is a local favorite with a playground, open space for field sports, and a pavilion for seasonal concerts. Max Brandon Park offers 107 acres of wooded walking trails, picnic areas, and a playground for a more forested feel. Thread Lake, in South Parks , is a popular space for kayaking, while Bray Road Fishing Site is an ideal pier for catching walleye, bass and catfish.
Flint is also getting a new 230-acre state park along the Flint River, with some parts of the park already open to the public. It will be Genesee County’s first state park. Various trails will connect it to neighborhoods, including Mott Park , colleges such as Kettering, and other trails, including the Iron Belle Trail. Chevy Commons, Mott Recreation Area and Happy Hollow Nature Area are just a few greenspaces that will combine to create the park.
Genesee Crossing and Courtland Center are the city’s major shopping malls. Somerset Town Center is among the strip malls that populate Miller Road. Additionally, just 5 miles east in Burton, the Courtland Center offers even more shopping and dining options. US 23 Drive-In Theatre has been a date night favorite for more than six decades, but when it closes for the winter, residents head to Cinemark Flint West 14.
Downtown Flint is home to the city’s most vibrant food and culture scenes. It's home to Brush Alley and Buckham Alley, where restaurants and bars buzz with energy every weekend. These alleys host events throughout the year, including the Flint Night Market, which features vendors, live music, giveaways and more. Nearby, Flint Farmer's Market is a year-round farmer’s market where vendors know their regulars by name. The market offers a wide range of goods, from coffee shops to fresh cuts of meat to souvenirs. It’s open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The 20-year Downtown Flint Gameplan aims to strengthen Downtown Flint by creating a walkable entertainment hub with ample space for recreation, business expansion and community gatherings. This includes live entertainment venues, the development of residential and commercial communities and the consolidation of civic institutions.
Max Brandon Park offers 107 acres of wooded walking trails, picnic areas, and a playground in Flint.
Flint is creating a walkable entertainment hub downtown.
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Jazz, rap and fine arts in Flint
The Flint Cultural Center is on a mission to build community vitality through the arts, history and science. The center’s campuses include the Sloan Museum & Longway Planetarium, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint Institute of Music and the Flint Public Library. With the help of the Genesee County Arts Education & Cultural Enrichment Millage, residents have free admission to the Flint Institute of Arts and the Sloan Museum of Discovery. The millage includes discounts for live performances at the Flint Symphony Orchestra, the Flint Repertory Theatre and other venues.
Despite the city's struggles, the pulse of music has always reverberated throughout. Famously known for jazz legends like Betty Carter, Don Preston, and the Boogie Woogie Pianist, the distinguished sound of Michigan rap has replaced the flow of classic jazz. Rap legends like MC Breed, Top Authority and The Dayton Family influenced and motivated young rappers to keep pushing the game forward.
Flint residents have free admission to the Sloan Museum of Discovery.
Flint is home to Michigan's largest planetarium.
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14 bus routes, I-75 and Bishop International Airport
The Mass Transportation Authority Flint provides 14 primary bus routes throughout the city. There aren’t many major highways. However, Interstate 475 and Interstate 69 intersect in the city. Your Ride is a free, seasonal trolley service operating from 11 service centers that assists persons with disabilities and senior citizens in navigating the city and other areas of Genesee County. Bishop International Airport, in the city’s southwest, offers commercial air travel.
Curbing gun violence
In 2022, Flint reported a crime rate more than triple the national average. Property crime reports increased into 2023. Overall, though, crime in the city has steadily decreased since 2019, a trend Flint hopes to continue. Addressing gun violence has been one of Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s main concerns since taking office in 2019. In 2021, the mayor declared a gun violence emergency for Flint, which remains in effect today. Initiatives to curb gun violence include gun buyback programs targeting weapons often used in the commission of a crime — along with increased police surveillance, the city hopes this helps continue to decrease crime rates.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
