The Taymouth Indians of the Huron Tribe were the first people to inhabit the Vienna Township area. Saginaw Road was the main Indian trail going from Saginaw to Detroit, where the Indians traded animal pelts with the European settlers. In 1833 Charles McLean came from Saginaw County and became Vienna Township's first settler.

Because of the abundance of pine timber and Brent and Pine Run Creeks, the lumbering industry prospered in the area. Then, as the land was cleared of trees, it became a farming community and stagecoach stop. The small settlement of Pine Run was expected to become a thriving city, such as Saginaw and Flint, but when the railroad went through Varney (Clio) the crossroad village lost its importance. Other early villages in Vienna Township were Clio and Farrandville.

Now a suburban community located between Flint and Saginaw, Vienna Township enjoys a combination of open spaces, residential development, small-scale agricultural activity and business development.

The roots of the township government can be traced back to the new England town government and the Northwest Ordinances. The first State Constitution established townships in 1835. Since then there have been three state constitutional conventions that have further defined the power of townships.

Today, modern Michigan townships are a political subdivision of the state, and as such they only have those powers granted to it by the state. Townships are not home rule municipalities and are subservient to the county in which they are located.

In 1978 Vienna Township became a Charter Township which gave it additional responsibilities for its citizens health, safety and welfare. The various duties of Vienna Township's elected Representatives, Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and four Trustees are fulfilled on a part-time basis. Their duties run the gamut from managing cemeteries, police and fire services to the protection of public funds. Township government is the most efficient form of government and allows your local officials to be accessible and responsive to the needs of the people.

Your involvement as a citizen is a key to effective, responsive government. The Township of Vienna has ten citizen boards and commissions. The Township Board appoints members. Vienna Township citizens participate in the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Election Inspectors, Building Board of Appeals, Parks & Recreation Committee, Metropolitan Alliance, Library Board, Business Development Authority, Fire Authority and The Board of Review. All meetings are open to the public.

Vienna Township citizens are served by the Genesee County Sheriff Department with officers exclusively assigned to Vienna Township. The Township operates a County Sheriff Substation at 3370 West Vienna Road with patrol and investigating personnel. A detective sergeant and six deputies provide 24-hour-a-day police protection.