Paw Paw is in Van Buren County (of which it is the county seat), and in the West-Southwest Region. This community is located just west of Kalamazoo between Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor along Interstate 94 on the banks of the Paw Paw River near 3 Mile and Paw Paw lakes. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 3,202, an increase of 33 since 1990.

Paw Paw is part of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan metro area.

Historically, Paw Paw was named after the river which flows through it, where Potawatomi Indians referred to it in the early 1800s as "the place where the Paw Paw fruit grows." When European settlers traveled there, they began growing other kinds of fruit due to the excellent soil there. This included grapes. Paw Paw became organized in 1859 and developed into the center of what is known today as "Wine Country".

Today, Paw Paw is best known for its wineries, where many come to visit and taste the regions best fruit of the vine.