Kalamazoo is in
Kalamazoo County (is the county seat), and in the
West-Southwest Region. It lies south of
Grand Rapids along Interstate 94, on the Kalamazoo River banks.
The original site was a fur trading post in the late 18th Century. The area was deeded to the U.S. by the Potawatomi people in 1827. In 1829, pioneer Titus Bronson brought in permanent settlers. "Kalamazoo" is taken from a Potawatomi phrase, meaning "the rapids at the river crossing."
1994 census data indicated the population at around 228,800. The January average temperature is 24.7 degrees and in July it is 72.9 degrees. Kalamazoo products include pharmaceuticals, paper products, robots, machinery, automotive components, plastics, medical equipment, flight controls and chemicals. Downtown Bronson Park, named for the community's founder, features an Indian mound and sculpture. Frank Lloyd Wright's Parkwyn Village is located here. The city is the home of Western Michigan University.
Kalamazoo is part of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan metro area.
