ABOUT FENNVILLE
Fennville was named after E. A. Fenn, who moved here from New York
City in 1853. Fenn eventually opened a sawmill, and it was from this that
the settlement was originally called Fenn's Mill. The name was
subsequently changed to Fennville in the late 1800's.
On February 20, 1889, Fennville was incorporated as a village. The first
Village President was Frank S. Raymond, who was in the hardware
business with L.S. Dickinson and also was partners with J. E. Hutchinson
in both a store and the bank. The Federal Census listed the population of
Fennville in 1890 as 360. On February 7, 1961, Fennville became a City.
T.E. Van Dussen became the first Mayor of the City. The current
population, according to the 2,000 Census, is 1459.
Today Fennville is governed by the City Commission, who appoint the
Mayor of the City. The City Commission consists of seven elected officials
who hold four year terms. The Commission meets on the first and third
Monday of the month to set policy and make decisions for the operation of
the City.
The City's largest employers are Birds Eye Foods and the Fennville Public
Schools. Our Chamber of Commerce holds the Goose Festival annually
in October, a delightful event with many parades, vendors, and
entertainers. Several excellent eateries are found in our City, including Su
Casa, journeyman, Rye, the Blue Goose, and the Tastee Treet. There are
also unique and comfortable bed and breakfast establishments here in
Fennville which is located a few minutes from the shore of Lake Michigan.
Our area offers fine golf courses, horseback riding, and hunting or
game/bird watching at the nearby Todd Farm game preserve or the
Allegan Forest. Hiking and cycling are also common pastimes for the
area.
For further information on the history of Fennville, please refer to the
sources listed below. These books, written by local historian Kit Lane, are
available for purchase at Alexander's Drug Store in Fennville.
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