YES, there really is a Kalamazoo!  Originally an American Indian name (some say the Potowatami tribe, others say it was the Chippewa)  given to the area meaning reflecting waters, or boiling water in the valley.  But nobody knows for sure.  Authors and poets have used the name Kalamazoo in many of their works, most notably Glenn Miller in his song from the 1940s.

Kalamazoo, MI has been known as the Celery City because so much celery was grown in the black soil of the area.  Later Kalamazoo became known as the Paper City because of all of the paper manufacturers that built factories in the area.

Then in 1959 Kalamazoo became known as the Mall City.  The very first outdoor pedestrian only mall was built in Kalamazoo.  More recenlty, Kalamazoo has been known as the bedding plant captial of the world. 

Kalamazoo, MI has been the home of some very famous companies.  Gibson Guitars.  Checker Cabs.  The Upjohn Company.  The Stryker Corp. all had their home base in Kalamazoo.

In 1829 Titus Bronson built the first cabin within the modern city limits on Arcadia Creek, west of the present Westnedge Avenue. A year later he replaced it with a permanent cabin on the present site of Bronson Park in downtown Kalamazoo.

Today, Kalamazoo is home to Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College. and Davenport University.

Kalamazoo, MI is a great place to live and work.  An abundance of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities are available.

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