Kalamazoo ( / ˌ k æ l ə m ə ˈ z uː / ) is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States, and the main city of the county. According to the 2020 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 73,598. It is the main city of the Kalamazoo–Portage metropolitan area in southwestern Michigan, which had a population of 261,670 in 2020.

One of Kalamazoo's most well-known features is the Kalamazoo Mall, an outdoor shopping area for walking. The city built the mall in 1959 by making part of Burdick Street a place only for walking. However, two of the mall’s four blocks were opened again for cars in 1999. Kalamazoo is home to Western Michigan University, a large public university; Kalamazoo College, a private college that focuses on liberal arts; and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, a two-year college that offers training for careers.

Name origin

The city was first called Bronson, named after its founder, Titus Bronson, in the township of Arcadia. In 1836, the city was renamed Kalamazoo, and the township was renamed Kalamazoo in 1837. The name "Kalamazoo" comes from a Potawatomi word first recorded in a British report in 1772. The Kalamazoo River, which flows through the modern city of Kalamazoo, was part of the route between Detroit and Fort Saint Joseph (now Niles, Michigan). During the French era and later, French-Canadian traders, missionaries, and soldiers were familiar with this area. The river was known as "La rivière Kikanamaso" by French and Canadian people. This name was also recorded by Father Pierre Potier, a Jesuit missionary, while traveling to Fort Saint Joseph in the fall of 1760.

Some believe the Potawatomi word "Ki-ka-ma-sung," meaning "boiling water," described a fall event where Native Americans raced to a river and back before a pot of water boiled. Another theory suggests the name "negikanamazo" might mean "otter tail" or "stones like otters." A different idea is that the name refers to "the mirage or reflecting river." Another story says "boiling water" described fog on the river as seen from the hills near the city's downtown. The name "Kalamazoo" was also used for the river that flows across most of the state.

The name Kalamazoo, which sounds unfamiliar to many English speakers, is sometimes used to represent distant or unusual places, as in the phrase "from Timbuktu to Kalamazoo." Today, T-shirts in Kalamazoo feature the slogan "Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo." This phrase was created by the Kalamazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote the city.

History

The area where the modern city of Kalamazoo now stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell tradition, who lived there before the year 1000. Evidence of their presence includes a small mound in Bronson Park, located in downtown Kalamazoo. The Hopewell civilization decreased in population after the eighth century and was later replaced by other groups. When European explorers first arrived in the region, the Potawatomi culture was living there.

René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, passed near the present city of Kalamazoo in late March 1680. The first Europeans to live in the area were traveling fur traders in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Some traders stayed in the area during the winter, and by the 1820s, at least one trading post had been built.

During the War of 1812, the British set up a blacksmith shop and a prison camp in the region.

The 1821 Treaty of Chicago gave the United States control of the land south of the Grand River, but the area around present-day Kalamazoo was kept as the village of Potawatomi Chief Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish. Six years later, the 1827 Treaty of St. Joseph transferred the land that would become the city of Kalamazoo to the United States.

In 1829, Titus Bronson, who was born in Connecticut, built the first cabin within the current city limits of Kalamazoo. He created a town plan in 1831 and named it the village of Bronson. This should not be confused with another small town called Bronson, Michigan, located about fifty miles (80 km) to the south-southeast.

Bronson was often described as unusual and argumentative, and he was eventually forced to leave the town. The village was renamed Kalamazoo in 1836, partly because Bronson was fined for stealing a cherry tree. Today, a hospital and a park in the city are named after him. Kalamazoo became a legally recognized village in 1838 and a city in 1883.

The rich farmland attracted successful farmers from New England and upstate New York. These farmers sent their sons to Kalamazoo, where they became businessmen, professionals, and entrepreneurs who started many factories.

On August 27, 1856, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in Kalamazoo during a campaign rally for John C. Fremont, the first Republican presidential candidate. The speech was discovered by historian Thomas I. Starr in a newspaper and published in a booklet. This was Lincoln’s only visit to Michigan. In July 2022, a local group called the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute placed a statue of Lincoln in Bronson Park to honor this event.

In the 1940s, Kalamazoo became the first city to install curb cuts.

In 1959, the city created the Kalamazoo Mall, the first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the United States, by closing part of Burdick Street to car traffic. The mall was designed by Victor Gruen, who also designed the first enclosed shopping mall in the United States, which opened three years earlier. Two sections of the mall were reopened to car traffic in 1999 after much discussion.

An F3 tornado hit downtown Kalamazoo on May 13, 1980, killing five people and injuring 79.

On February 20, 2016, Kalamazoo was the site of a series of random shootings that killed six people. A suspect was arrested by police without incident.

• North Burdick Street in 1908
• Academy Street in 1908
• Old public library in 1908
• Paper mills in 1908

In the past, Kalamazoo was known for producing windmills, mandolins, buggies, automobiles, cigars, stoves, and paper and paper products. Agriculturally, it was once famous for growing celery. Although much of the area has become suburban, the surrounding land still produces crops like corn and soybeans. Many landmarks and hiking trails are still connected to the city’s history of celery farming.

Kalamazoo was the original home of Gibson Guitar Corporation, which led to the creation of Heritage Guitars, a company still based in the area. Gibson Guitar Corporation was formed as "Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Co., Ltd." on October 11, 1902, by craftsman Orville Gibson. One model was called the Gibson Kalamazoo "Melody Maker" Electric Guitar. In the 1980s, operations were moved from Kalamazoo to Memphis, Tennessee (Electric Division) and Bozeman, Montana (Acoustic Division). Some workers from the original factory stayed in Kalamazoo to start Heritage Guitars.

Kalamazoo was once called the "Paper City" because of the paper mills in and near the city. The Allied Paper Corporation operated several mills and employed 1,300 people in Kalamazoo during the late 1960s. As forests in West Michigan were cut down, paper mills closed.

Early in the 20th century, Kalamazoo was home to the Brass Era car company Barley.

Kalamazoo was also the headquarters of Checker Motors Company, which once made the Checker Cab and produced sheet-metal parts for other car companies. Checker Motors closed on June 25, 2009, due to the Late-2000s recession.

Geography

Kalamazoo is mostly located on the southwest side of a large bend in the Kalamazoo River, with a small part, about 2.8 square miles (7.3 square kilometers), on the opposite bank. Small streams like Arcadia Creek and Portage Creek flow through the city. The northeastern part of Kalamazoo is in the wide, flat Kalamazoo Valley, while the western areas rise into low hills. Small lakes are found throughout the region. Kalamazoo lies halfway between Detroit and Chicago along I-94. It is also 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Grand Rapids and 75 miles (121 kilometers) southwest of Lansing.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kalamazoo has a total area of 25.11 square miles (65.03 square kilometers), with 0.43 square miles (1.11 square kilometers) covered by water.

The city's suburban population is mainly found to the south in Portage and to the west in Oshtemo and Texas townships.

Part of Kalamazoo's water supply comes from the Al Sabo Preserve, a protected area in Texas Charter Township, Michigan, located immediately southwest of the city.

Another area, Kleinstuck Marsh, is a popular spot for hikers and birdwatchers. It is located south of Maple Street, between Oakland Drive and Westnedge Avenue, which is a major north-south road in the city.

Kalamazoo has a humid continental climate, classified as Köppen Dfa. Summers are hot, humid, and long, lasting from May to September. Tornadoes are rare but possible. In 1980, a major tornado damaged downtown Kalamazoo. Winters can be very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping below 0°F (-18°C). Snowstorms can occur as late as early April, but some winter days have no snow. Lake-effect snowstorms are common during the winter.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 73,598. The median age was 28.9 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 11.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.1 males aged 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 29,844 households in Kalamazoo. Of these, 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 26.2% were married-couple households, 27.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 32,443 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

As of the census of 2010, there were 74,262 people, 29,141 households, and 13,453 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,009.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,161.8/km²). There were 32,433 housing units at an average density of 1,314.1 per square mile (507.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.1% White, 22.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 2.8% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 6.4% of the population.

There were 29,141 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.1% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.8% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 26.2 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 27% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 18.2% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $31,189, and the median income for a family was $42,438. Males had a median income of $32,160, versus $25,532 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,897. About 13.6% of families and 24.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

The city of Kalamazoo is divided into 22 neighborhoods, many of which have neighborhood associations. The Neighborhood Development Division of the city's government works with these groups to use money from federal, state, and local governments, including funds from the Community Development Block Grant program, to improve communities and support economic growth.

Economy

In 2007, Kalamazoo was named to Fast Company's "Fast 50: Most Innovative Companies 2007" for its community capitalism approach to improving the economy. In 2012, Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked Kalamazoo fourth among the Ten Best Cities for Cheapskates. The city was listed in NerdWallet.com's 2014 "Top 10 Best Cities for Work-Life Balance."

Kalamazoo has many local breweries and brewpubs that make a variety of beer styles. One well-known brewery is Bell's Brewery, which began as the Kalamazoo Brewing Company in 1985. It was founded by Larry Bell. The brewery has grown from its original location in Kalamazoo, which includes the Eccentric Cafe, to another location in nearby Comstock Charter Township. Bell's beer is sold in 40 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Other local breweries include Tibb's Brewing Company, Rupert's Brewhouse (2013-2019), Boatyard Brewing Co. (2014-2019), One Well Brewing, and Latitude 42 Brewing Company, which is located in the southern suburb of Portage. Smaller businesses like Olde Peninsula Brewpub, Bravo! restaurant, and Bilbo's Pizza and Brewing Company also make their own beer. Kalamazoo is a hub for home brewing and works with nearby Grand Rapids to support the American craft beer industry. Events like Kalamazoo Beer Week (annual) and the Kalamazoo Craft Beer Festival have grown from the craft beer industry. In 2015, a craft beer trail and passport were introduced. A shuttle bus (Kalamazoo Brew Bus) and party bike tour service became available in 2016.

In 2015, Rupert's Brew House entered the craft spirits market. Two other distilleries, Green Door Distilling (formerly Revival Distilling) and Kalamazoo Distilling Company, are in the process of getting licenses.

The A.M. Todd Company, a major producer of peppermint oil and other flavorings, is based in Kalamazoo. Its founder, Albert M. Todd, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 55th Congress.

Kalamazoo is also home to Kalsec, another flavorings company. It was founded by Paul H. Todd Jr., Albert Todd's grandson and a U.S. Representative in the 89th Congress. Kalsec was originally called the Kalamazoo Spice Extraction Company and is still owned by Todd family descendants.

Health technology company Stryker Corporation was founded in Kalamazoo in 1941 and had its headquarters there until 2023.

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet designs and makes outdoor kitchen equipment.

Fabri-Kal, a company that makes food service containers from thermoform plastic or plant-based materials (Greenware product line), has had its corporate headquarters in Kalamazoo since the 1960s. The company closed its manufacturing facilities in Kalamazoo in 1991 but returned in 2008 with a new, LEED-certified facility that is 400,000 square feet. Recently, Fabri-Kal has introduced sustainable and plant-based materials and innovations to reduce plastic in packaging.

Parker Hannifin Aerospace's Hydraulic Systems Division (HSD) is located at 2220 Palmer Ave in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 170,000-square-foot facility designs, makes, and services hydraulic parts for military and commercial aerospace sectors. It produces hydraulic axial piston pumps and motors, electric motor-driven pumps, hydraulic power transfer/supply units, electrohydraulic power modules, hydraulic thrust-reverser and landing gear actuators, accumulators, reservoirs, filter modules, and valve packs.

The Upjohn Company was a pharmaceutical research and manufacturing firm started in Kalamazoo in 1886. Through mergers and acquisitions between 1995 and 2003, Upjohn's assets became part of Pfizer Corporation. Most of Upjohn's original facilities remain, with some renovated and others used for new purposes. Many of the former Upjohn facilities in Portage are now operated by Pfizer or Zoetis. In downtown Kalamazoo, some buildings are now part of the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, the research and development headquarters of Zoetis, and office space for Bronson Methodist Hospital.

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) is a partnership between Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching hospitals, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Methodist. Planning for the school began in 2008, and it received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in October 2012. The school welcomed its first class in August 2014 and is a private nonprofit supported by donations, clinical revenue, research, student tuition, and endowment income. In March 2011, Western Michigan University received a $100 million gift from anonymous donors for the medical school.

The global Research and Development organization of Zoetis, the world's largest producer of medicine and vaccinations for pets and livestock, is based in downtown Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo hospitals include Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital, Bronson Methodist Hospital, and Ascension Borgess Hospital.

In 2014, Newell Rubbermaid established a global product design center in Kalamazoo, bringing together 15 global design units at the Western Michigan University Business Technology

Government

The government of Kalamazoo is run using a system where a commission and a manager work together. The city commission is the group that represents the city and has seven members: six commissioners and a mayor. These members are elected every four years without political parties involved. The person who gets the most votes in an election becomes vice mayor for the first two years of their term until a new vice mayor is chosen. The current city commission includes Mayor David Anderson, Vice Mayor Don Cooney, and commissioners Jeanne Hess, Chris Praedel, Qianna Decker, Stephanie Hoffman, and Esteven Juarez. The current mayor, David F. Anderson, was elected to a second term on November 2, 2021, winning 78.7% of the vote against Ben Stanley.

The vice mayor of Kalamazoo is Don Cooney, who was elected in 2021 with 69.37% of the vote.

The city manager is the city's main administrator. The manager is hired by the city commission and works under their direction.

Crime

Kalamazoo has a higher crime rate compared to the national average. Crime is found in many areas of Kalamazoo, with higher rates in certain neighborhoods, including Edison, the Northside, and Vine. Crime is lower in the downtown area and much of the southwest area. In 2015, the rate of serious assaults was 793.3 per 100,000 people—3.3 times the national average. The murder rate was 12.5 per 100,000 people in 2010 and 7.9 per 100,000 people in 2014. In 2016, Uber driver Jason Dalton committed shootings in Kalamazoo County that resulted in 6 deaths and 2 serious injuries. Between 2008 and 2013, firearms were used in 61% of homicides in Kalamazoo County, compared to 77% statewide.

Education

Kalamazoo is home to Western Michigan University. The university has four campuses in Kalamazoo (West Campus, East Campus, Parkview Campus, and Oakland Drive Campus) as well as several locations in other parts of Michigan. West Campus, located just west of downtown, has the largest number of university students, programs, and school services. In 2005, Western Michigan was ranked as the number 2 wireless campus in the United States, according to a national survey by the Intel Corporation. In 2014, the WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine (WMed) opened, welcoming its first class of 54 students.

Each May, WMU hosts the International Congress on Medieval Studies. Organized by faculty and graduate students at the Medieval Institute, the Congress brings about 3,000 professors and students from around the world to present and discuss topics related to the Middle Ages.

Kalamazoo College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1833, is located on a hill across from WMU's original campus.

Kalamazoo is also home to Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Davenport University, and the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center (KAMSC). Construction of the new Kalamazoo Valley Community College Culinary and Allied Health campus began in August 2014. Kalamazoo was also the home of Nazareth College, which closed in 1992.

The public schools for most of Kalamazoo are managed by Kalamazoo Public Schools. Every graduate of Kalamazoo Public Schools receives a scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for four years at any public university or community college in Michigan, starting with the class of 2006. This program is called the Kalamazoo Promise.

Small parts of Kalamazoo are in other school districts: Parchment School District, Comstock Public Schools, and Portage Public Schools.

Culture

The city has an Arts Council. Every first Friday of the month, the council holds an event called 'Art Hop.' This free event allows downtown businesses and galleries to display art from local artists. Visitors move from place to place, enjoying art, live music, and meeting artists. A popular location during Art Hop is the Park Trades Center, which includes the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Glass Art Kalamazoo, and other studios.

On New Year's Eve, Kalamazoo hosts an annual New Year's Fest celebration in Bronson Park and nearby areas. This event, started in 1985, offers activities for all ages, such as music, magic, comedy, exhibitions, fireworks, and food. People can walk between venues to enjoy the events.

Music groups and performers appear at the downtown State Theatre, Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium, and the Wings Event Center.

Bell's Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo holds an annual "Eccentric Day" celebration on the December Friday after Western Michigan University finals end. This event honors the brewery's Eccentric Ale.

The Moped Army was created in Kalamazoo in 1997.

Kalamazoo no longer has a zoo. The Milham Park Zoo closed in 1974. Next to Milham Park is the Milham Park Golf Course, built in 1936. This 18-hole course is entirely within Kalamazoo. In winter, sledding and cross-country skiing are free activities at the golf course. The Kalamazoo Nordic Skiers club maintains ski trails for the public.

In 2002, the Kalamazoo Public Library was named "Library of the Year" by Library Journal. The library has a main building, four branches, and until 2010, a bookmobile service. In 2014, the library opened 'The Hub,' a public space for digitizing photos, making podcasts, and preserving old media.

Kalamazoo has several theaters and performance venues, including the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, The New Vic Theatre, Farmers Alley Theatre, Crawlspace Theatre Productions, The State Theater, and the Barn Theatre in nearby Augusta. Plays and musicals are also performed at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University.

The Kalamazoo Animation Festival International (KAFI), a project of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, supports animation artists, promotes Kalamazoo's animation industry, and provides entertainment. KAFI hosts a festival every two years, along with film screenings and workshops. The first KAFI festival in 2002 had 235 submissions and nearly 1,000 attendees. The 2007 festival received over 500 entries from 37 countries. The festival includes an animated film competition with $15,000 in prizes and events for students, artists, and the public. Past winners include Bill Plympton, Chris Landreth, and John Canemaker.

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is the city's main art museum. It has more than 3,600 artworks, focusing on 20th-century American art. The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, opened in 1881, is run by Kalamazoo Valley Community College. It has interactive exhibits for children, a planetarium, and a Challenger Learning Center.

In Hickory Corners, northeast of Kalamazoo, is the Gilmore Car Museum, which displays cars from Walt Disney movies. The Kalamazoo Air Zoo, located in Portage, south of town, shows many types of aircraft, including biplanes and jets.

The Gibson Guitar Corporation was founded in Kalamazoo in 1902. It encouraged musicians to play various styles, such as classical, folk, and rock. The company moved to Nashville in 1984. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, started in 1921, is directed by Raymond Harvey. Kalamazoo also hosts the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, a Bach Festival, the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music, and the Stulberg International String Competition.

Local and independent music groups have produced pop stars like The Verve Pipe (RCA artists) and Thought Industry (Metal Blade artists). Kalamazoo also hosts the Kalamashoegazer music festival, which has taken place for 13 years and features local and national shoegaze and dream pop bands.

Sports

Kalamazoo is home to three non-college sports teams:

• The Kalamazoo Growlers Summer Collegiate baseball team plays its games at Homer Stryker Field. The team is currently part of the Northwoods League.
• The Kalamazoo Wings (also called K-Wings) is a minor league hockey team that plays its games at Wings Event Center. The team has been playing since 1974 and is currently part of the ECHL. It is connected to the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL and the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL.
• The Kalamazoo FC is a soccer team in the National Premier Soccer League. It was started in 2016.

The Western Michigan University Broncos, who compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference, play their games at the following on-campus venues:

• Waldo Stadium (football)
• Lawson Arena (hockey)
• University Arena (basketball and volleyball)
• Hyames Field (baseball)
• Ebert Field (softball)
• Kanley Track (outdoor track and field)

Hyames Field was the location for the first two College World Series in 1947 and 1948. Future U.S. President George H. W. Bush was a first baseman for Yale in the 1947 series.

The Kalamazoo College Hornets and Kalamazoo Valley Community College Cougars also have several college sports teams.

Kalamazoo is the hometown of several famous athletes, including former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, former NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings, former NFL running back T. J. Duckett, the world’s number one prize money winning pro bass fisherman Kevin VanDam, former MLB pitcher Scott Olsen, former NHL player Adam Hall, and former Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires. Kalamazoo was also the hometown of longtime Detroit Tigers owner John Fetzer, who owned the American League team from 1961 through 1984, when he sold the franchise to Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan.

The United States Tennis Association Boys 18 and 16 National Tennis Championships are held every summer at Kalamazoo College. The event has included players like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, James Blake, and Andy Roddick before they became professional.

The Kalamazoo Rugby Football Club, started in 1988, plays in the Michigan Rugby Football Union.

Since 2006, Wings Event Center has been the home of the Kalamazoo Derby Darlins roller derby league teams. Wings Event Center and the Kalamazoo Curling Club will host the 2019 U.S. National Curling Championship.

The annual Kalamazoo Marathon is a USA Track & Field-certified and Boston Marathon-qualifying event. It is part of a weekend of running and walking events.

In 1984–1986, the Kalamazoo Kangaroos, a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) team, played in Kalamazoo.

In 2022–2023, The Kalamazoo Galaxy, a basketball team in The Basketball League (TBL), played at Wings Event Center.

Media

Kalamazoo has one daily newspaper called the Kalamazoo Gazette, which now prints seven editions and delivers two each week. Business Review Western Michigan, a business publication based in Kalamazoo that covers news in Western Michigan, was merged with MLive’s online coverage in late 2012. The parent company of both the Gazette and Business Review is Advance Publications, Inc.

WWMT, West Michigan’s CBS station, is licensed and operates from Kalamazoo but serves the entire West Michigan area. The station was originally owned by John Fetzer, a famous broadcasting pioneer and former owner of the Detroit Tigers, and was known as "WKZO-TV." Fetzer also introduced radio to Kalamazoo in 1931 with AM 590 WKZO. He also created Kalamazoo’s first cable television system, called Fetzer Cablevision, which was an earlier version of the current cable service, Charter Communications.

Public Media Network, located in downtown Kalamazoo, hosts media outlets. Charter cable channels 187-191, which are part of Public Media Network, broadcast daily public access programs that are available to the public.

Kalamazoo is part of the West Michigan television market, which includes Grand Rapids and Battle Creek. Most television channels that serve the entire market can be received in Kalamazoo, such as WWMT, WOOD-TV (NBC), WXMI (Fox), WZPX (Ion), and WLLA (religious). Some channels from the northern part of the market reach Kalamazoo through satellite or translator signals, such as WTLJ Muskegon (religious, via W26BX), WGVU-TV Grand Rapids (PBS, via WGVK), and WXSP-CD Grand Rapids (MyNetworkTV, via WOKZ-CA). WOTV in Battle Creek broadcasts ABC and CW programming for the southern part of the market, including Kalamazoo. Charter provides all West Michigan channels to Kalamazoo subscribers, including WZZM, the ABC affiliate for Grand Rapids and the northern part of the market.

WIDR is a college-run, commercial-free radio station at Western Michigan University. It plays music from many genres and includes some local news and talk programs. Broadcasting at 100 watts on 89.1 FM, WIDR can be heard within a 20-mile radius of the campus.

WMUK is also on Western Michigan University’s campus. It broadcasts local music programs, such as jazz and classical performances, and includes programming from NPR. WMUK broadcasts at 50,000 watts in high definition on 102.1 FM.

WKDS is West Michigan’s only high-school student-run radio station. It began broadcasting in 1983 on 89.9 FM from Loy Norrix High School. The call letters stood for "Kalamazoo District Schools" (now Kalamazoo Public Schools). For most of its history, WKDS only broadcast during the day and not on weekends. In 2004, the station started broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to prevent an outside group from taking over its airtime. WKDS was part of a county-wide Education for Employment program for many years. The radio station is still owned by Kalamazoo Public Schools, though the EFE program has ended. Students from the area continue to operate the station.

FM radio stations that originate from or can be heard in Kalamazoo include:

• WCXK 88.3 – Kalamazoo – Christian Adult Contemporary
• WIDR 89.1 – Kalamazoo – College/Variety
• WKDS 89.9 – Kalamazoo – High School/Variety
• WCSG 91.3 – Grand Rapids – Christian Adult Contemporary
• WZUU 92.5 – Mattawan/Kalamazoo – Classic Rock
• WBCT 93.7 – Grand Rapids – Country
• WWDK 94.1 – Jackson/Lansing/Battle Creek/Kalamazoo – Classic Country
• WKLQ 94.5 – Grand Rapids – Adult Album Alternative
• W238AL 95.5 – Kalamazoo – Urban Adult Contemporary (FM translator for AM 1560)
• WLKM-FM 95.9 – Three Rivers – Adult Contemporary
• WMAX-FM 96.1 – Holland/Grand Rapids – Sports
• WTOU 96.5 – Portage/Kalamazoo – Modern Adult Contemporary
• WGRD 97.9 – Grand Rapids – Mainstream Rock
• WNWN 98.5 – Coldwater/Battle Creek/Kalamazoo – Country
• WBCH-FM 100.1 – Hastings – Country
• WQXC 100.9 – Otsego/Kalamazoo – Oldies
• WMUK 102.1 – Kalamazoo – NPR/Talk/Classical/Jazz
• WKFR-HD2 102.5 – Kalamazoo – Urban Contemporary //WBXX 104.9
• WYHA 102.9 – Grand Rapids – Christian
• WKFR 103.3 – Battle Creek/Kalamazoo – CHR/Top 40
• WVGR 104.1 – Grand Rapids – NPR/Talk
• WBXX 104.9 – Marshall/Battle Creek – Urban Contemporary
• WSRW 105.7 – Grand Rapids – Adult Contemporary
• WJXQ 106.1 – Jackson/Lansing/Battle Creek – Mainstream Rock
• WVFM 106.5 – Kalamazoo – Variety Hits
• WKZO 106.9 – Kalamazoo – News/Talk (FM translator for AM 590)
• WTNR 107.3 – Greenville/Grand Rapids – Country
• WRKR 107.7 – Portage/Battle Creek/Kalamazoo – Classic Rock

AM radio stations that originate or can be heard in Kalamazoo include:

• WKZO 590 – Kalamazoo – News/Talk – (FM translator at 106.9)
• WAKV 980 – Allegan/Otsego – Adult Standards
• WKMI 1360 – Kalamazoo – Talk
• WZOX 1660 – Kalamazoo – Urban Adult Contemporary

Transportation

• I-94
• BS I-94
• US 131
• Bus. US 131 north of downtown Kalamazoo
• M-96
• M-343
• A-45

Kalamazoo is connected by highways I-94, US 131, M-96, and M-343. These roads were part of an early road in Michigan from the 1800s that started in Detroit and went to Lake Michigan. Most of this road later became Old US 12, which was renamed when I-94 was built next to it. This road was also called the Red Arrow Highway, named after a World War I army group. The name "US 12" was later moved to a different road between Detroit and New Buffalo. In some areas outside Kalamazoo, like Van Buren and Berrien counties, parts of Old US 12 are still called the Red Arrow Highway. The term "Old US 12" is no longer used much today.

• Kalamazoo has train service from Amtrak, with a station in the downtown area that also includes a new bus terminal. Kalamazoo is the main city for Amtrak’s high-speed train route outside the Northeast, where trains travel at 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) between Porter, Indiana, and Albion, Michigan.
• Freight trains run through Kalamazoo on the Grand Elk Railroad, which connects to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Elkhart, Indiana. This rail line was once part of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad.

• Buses to and through Kalamazoo are provided by Greyhound, Indian Trails, and the Kalamazoo trolley.
• Local buses within the city are operated by Metro.

• At the southern end of Kalamazoo is the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), which has flights to major cities and vacation spots. A new $36 million terminal was completed in 2011.

The Kal-Haven Trail is a popular path for biking, walking, running, and snowmobiling. It is 34 miles (55 km) long and runs from South Haven to a trailhead near Kalamazoo. Van Buren County manages the trail from the trailhead to South Haven, even the parts in Kalamazoo County. No trail pass is needed to use it. The Kal-Haven Trail was built on the old path of the Kalamazoo and South Haven Railroad.

The section of the trail east of the trailhead opened in 2008 and connects to downtown Kalamazoo. This part is called the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail and is managed by Kalamazoo County. No pass is required to use this section.

In popular culture

Kalamazoo's name is often used in popular music because it sounds unique and is a good fit for song lyrics. It is sometimes used as a way to refer to a faraway place, though both Kalamazoo and Timbuktu are mostly known for their names rather than their actual locations. Many songs include the name Kalamazoo in their titles or lyrics.

One of the first and most famous songs was "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo" (1942) by the Glenn Miller Orchestra with Tex Beneke. The song was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren. It was later performed by the fictional Gene Morrison Orchestra (playing as the Glenn Miller Orchestra) and the Nicholas Brothers in the 1942 movie Orchestra Wives. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards (music by Harry Warren; lyrics by Mack Gordon).

At least a dozen songs titled "Kalamazoo" have been recorded, with many more versions. In order from earliest to latest, these include: "I've Been Everywhere" (1962) by Hank Snow (from the album of the same name), and the 1996 song "Unchained" (from the same-named album) by Johnny Cash, which was based on a 1959 version by Geoff Mack made popular by Lucky Starr. Other songs include "Down on the Corner" (1969) by Creedence Clearwater Revival (from their album Willy and the Poor Boys), which was covered by many other groups, though the song refers to the "Kalamazoo" line of budget guitars made by Gibson, not the city. Other songs include "Kalamazoo" (1995) by Luna on Penthouse, "Cold Rock a Party" (1996) by MC Lyte on Bad as I Wanna B, "Kalamazoo" (1997) by Primus on Brown Album, "Top of the World" (1999) by Rascalz on Global Warning, "Isn't It Love" (2001) by Andrew Peterson on Clear to Venus (he mentions losing luggage in Kalamazoo), "Kalamazoo" (2002) by Mike Craver on Shining Down, "Kalamazoo" (2004) by Ben Folds on Super D, and "Kalamazoo" (2017) by The Show Ponies on How It All Goes Down.

Kalamazoo was also mentioned in the opera Einstein on the Beach by Philip Glass and in the chorus of the song "Gotta Get Away" by The Black Keys from their album Turn Blue ("I went from San Berdoo to Kalamazoo/Just to get away from you…"). Like the song by Glenn Miller, the Creedence Clearwater Revival and Axton lyrics likely use "Kalamazoo" as an indirect reference to Gibson, which made guitars named "Kalamazoo." In 2011, rapper Young Jeezy mentioned Kalamazoo in the song "Higher Learning" on his album TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition. In 2014, Kalamazoo was mentioned again by Rittz in the song "Bounce" on his album Next to Nothing.

The name "Kalamazoo" was also used for a type of train car made by the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company.

In Dr. Seuss's classic children's book Horton Hatches the Egg, the character Horton the Elephant visits Kalamazoo while he is in the circus.

The 2010 film Cherry was filmed in Kalamazoo.

Sister cities

The city of Kalamazoo, Michigan is home to three sister cities.

• Kingston, Jamaica
• Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
• Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia