The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

GENESEE, a county in the E. central part of Michigan, contains 500 square miles. It is drained by the Flint and Shiawassee rivers, and by Thread and Kearsley creeks. The surface is rolling: the soil is mostly a dry and fertile sandy loam. Extensive oak openings are found in the S.; the other parts produce dense forests of pine and other timber. Wheat, Indian corn, oats, and grass are cultivated, and pine lumber is exported. In 1850 the county produced 134,021 bushels of wheat; 128,326 of corn; 84,334 of oats; and 16,964 tons of hay. It contains 4 churches, 2 newspaper offices, and 3876 pupils attending public schools. The streams furnish extensive water-power. A plank-road about 85 miles long extends from the county seat to the Saginaw river. Organized in 1836. Capital, Flint. Population, 12,031.