"Said 'Excuse me Mr. Johnson,' he said 'Call me Beau.' / 'I think this is my biggest fear, the road before me is unclear.' / He said 'Close your eyes my child and let the old man steer.' / I said 'Oh, thanks anyway, what would Fenton Lawless say?' / Five years in the saddle and I've gotta take the reins." - From "5 Years" by Kimya Dawson
Originally called Dibbleville (chuckle about that for a second), and later, Fentonville, this town of just under 12,000 modern residents was eventually named Fenton in 1863. Sprawled across Genesee, Oakland and Livingston Counties in Michigan, Fenton has seen a lot of reconstruction since the 1970s, when its downtown was destroyed to make way for a more modern commercial center. In 2007, a tornado wiped out further construction that is still being redesigned and replaced. Several classic buildings, like the A.J. Philips Building, the U.S. Post Office and the Fenton Fire Hall, still remain.
Once you've found a rental home or house to buy in the area, you'll need to set up several utility accounts to make sure the property is ready for you and all of your gadgets
"Said 'Excuse me Mr. Johnson,' he said 'Call me Beau.' / 'I think this is my biggest fear, the road before me is unclear.' / He said 'Close your eyes my child and let the old man steer.' / I said 'Oh, thanks anyway, what would Fenton Lawless say?' / Five years in the saddle and I've gotta take the reins." - From "5 Years" by Kimya Dawson
Originally called Dibbleville (chuckle about that for a second), and later, Fentonville, this town of just under 12,000 modern residents was eventually named Fenton in 1863. Sprawled across Genesee, Oakland and Livingston Counties in Michigan, Fenton has seen a lot of reconstruction since the 1970s, when its downtown was destroyed to make way for a more modern commercial center. In 2007, a tornado wiped out further construction that is still being redesigned and replaced. Several classic buildings, like the A.J. Philips Building, the U.S. Post Office and the Fenton Fire Hall, still remain.
Moving to Fenton
Once you've found a rental home or house to buy in the area, you'll need to set up several utility accounts to make sure the property is ready for you and all of your gadgets. Most residents of Fenton set up electricity accounts with Northeast Power while the Fenton City Water Department takes care of running water and sewage needs. Midwest Satellite and Charter Communications can take care of your Internet and cable hookups, and The City of Fenton will provide you with a trash collection schedule and put your home on the route if it isn't already there. Unfortunately, Fenton is lacking a centralized recycling program (boo!), but there are private facilities in and around town for certain materials.
When it comes to rental apartments and houses in Fenton, cats and dogs are often allowed, which almost makes up for the missing recycling program. You can rent an apartment in one of the many apartment complexes here, such as Georgetown Park, for a reasonable cost per month. One and two-bedroom apartments are close in price, so you can spring for the extra space without blowing your whole paycheck. Three-bedroom semi-luxury apartments are available in many complexes for about twice the price of an average apartment. Sure, it's more change to cough up, but if that's what you're into, go with it! These high-end rentals come with gym memberships and a few other perks, depending on your choice.
Looking for a house to rent? Fenton houses span quite a few budgets, which means there are plenty of options for the motivated house hunter. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom house could set you back less than a small apartment in some parts of town while a two bedroom, 1.5 bath could cost just a bit more than a luxury apartment. Whatever your price range and style, there's something for you here. All you have to do is look around.
Where to Live in Fenton
Fenton is situated right next to the huge Seven Lakes State Park, so if you're a camping and nature aficionado looking for a new place to live, this town is totally for you. The town has nine distinct neighborhoods, of which Deerfield Center is the largest. This section is sparse, with homes here generally dating from 1970 to 1999. The Linden Road neighborhood is in the center of Fenton, though it is not the commercial center. Here you'll find the Coyote Pres Golf Club and several small lakes. Parshallville, to the south, boasts many new homes that are slightly more expensive to own or rent than in other areas of Fenton. The Lake Fenton neighborhood, to the far northeast of the town center, is mostly comprised of Lake Fenton and other small lakes as well as mid-sized and large houses. These are surprisingly less expensive than most others in town! Georgetown Parkway, just to the south of the Lake area, is highly residential and comprised of apartment complexes, mid-sized houses and small houses. The City Centre is south of Parkway; this is where you can find commercial and retail facilities. Ridgeview, White Lake and Runyon to the south of Fenton's City Center have further industrial facilities and residential sections.
Lucky's Steakhouse, Bangkok Peppers and Hungry Howie's, Oh My!
That's right. There are lots of cool restaurants vying for your affection in Fenton. From made-to-order BBQ to food from across the pond, there's something for every night of the week and then some. Oh, and there's a McDonald's, just for good measure. If that's not enough to excite you, check out the Holly Hotel, a Victorian-style lounge with a story behind it.
When stuffing your face gets boring, grab the fishing and camping supplies, and head off to the Seven Lakes State Park. Here you'll find 230 acres of outdoorsy goodness, space to think and the elements needed to get back to nature.
All in all, Fenton is a pretty great place to call home. It has beautiful homes, green space, hiking and biking trails, and decent cuisine to boot.
