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trading post formed
Jacob Smith, a fur trader on cordial terms with both the local Ojibwas and the territorial government founded a trading post in Flint itself in 1819. On several occasions, Smith negotiated land exchanged with the Ojibwas on behalf of the U.S. government, and he was highly regarded on both sides. Smith apportioned many of his holdings to his children. As the perfect spoton the overland route between Detroit and Saginaw, Flint grew into a small village. -
first flint born mayor
David Demorest Aitken was born in Flint Township on September 5, 1853 -
Lumber
In the latter half of the 1800s, Flint became a lumber center, and at the turn of the 20th century the revenue and infrastructure from lumbering funded the establishment of the local carriage making industry. -
Buick emerges
In 1904, local entrepreneur William C. Durant was brought in to manage Buick, which became the largest manufacturer of automobiles by 1908. -
Flint Institute of music
In 1917 J. Dallas Dort formed the Flint Community Music Association "to promote the community interest of the City of Flint by a common, or general participation in music. -
Mayor Edwin Atwood
Edwin Wood Atwood was born in Flint, September 14, 1875, the son of William A. and Helen C. (Wood) Atwood. His father, William, served as Mayor of Flint in 1882. Edwin was elected Mayor of Flint in 1920 and 1921. -
Flint Institute of arts
The Flint Institute of Arts was born in 1928 when Mrs. J. Bruce MacDonald and Mrs. Walter Winchester, aided by George Crapo Willson solicited $10,000.00 from local residents to build a community art center. -
sit down strike
During the sit down strike of 1936-1937, the fledgling United Automobile Workers triumphed over General Motors, inaugurating the era of labor unions. The successful mediation of the strike by Governor Frank Murphy, culminating in a one page agreement recognizing the Union, began an era of successful organizing by the UAW -
George M. Algoe and Gm 50 millionth
George M. Algoe was Mayor of Flint during the 1955 Flint Centennial celebration, the General Motors 50 millionth automobile celebration and General Motors%u2019 50th anniversary. -
Bower Theater
Bower Theater's construction started in 1957. The process of building the theater ran through the winter and into the spring of 1958. Bower Theater was opened that summer. The theater was named after F.A."Dutch" Bower who donated money to the City of Flint to build the theater. -
Edward Rollert
In 1959 Edward D. Rollert was named Buick General Manager and elected a GM Vice-President. Under his leadership production increased by more than 100 percent in the first four years. -
Track Hall of fame Floyd Bates
Floyd Bates, Jr., a native of Flint, Michigan and the son of two athletically gifted parents, Adelaide and Floyd Bates,Sr. was a product of the Flint School system. Floyd was a high jumper and hurdler on the Southwestern High School track team from 1959-1961. -
Population mark
The city's population peaked in 1960 at almost 200,000. -
Sloan museum
The Sloan Museum was built in the loving memory of Alfred P. Sloan and opened on November 14, 1966 -
michigan suffers
Since the late 1960s, Flint has suffered from disinvestment, deindustrialization, and depopulation.
