Kalamazoo County (pronounced KAL-ə-mə-ZOO) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2020, the population was 261,670. The county seat is Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo County is included in the Kalamazoo–Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology

The name is said to mean "the mirage or reflecting river," and the original Indian name was "Kikalamazoo."

History

Kalamazoo County was established in 1830, though the exact date it was separated from another area is not known. The village of Kalamazoo, which was then called Bronson, became the county seat in 1831.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county covers a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km²), out of which 562 square miles (1,460 km²) is land and 19 square miles (49 km²) (3.2%) is water.

• Kalamazoo River
• Portage River

Transportation

• Kalamazoo Metro Transit
• Kalamazoo station

• The Kalamazoo & Battle Creek Metro Area has Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.

• I-94 runs from east to west through the center of the county, passing three miles (4.8 km) south of Kalamazoo.
• BS I-94 runs from the far eastern side of Kalamazoo to an intersection with I-94 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of Kalamazoo.
• US 131 runs from north to south through the west-central part of the county.
• Bus. US 131 links the northern part of Kalamazoo to US 131.
• M-43 enters the western side of the county 8.7 miles (14.0 km) south of the northwestern county corner. It runs eastward through Oshtemo Township and turns north at U.S. 131.
• M-89 enters the county near the midpoint of the northern county line. It runs in the southeast direction to an intersection with M-43 north of Richland and then runs eastward from Richland, exiting the county 3.4 miles (5.5 km) south of the northeastern county corner.
• M-96 starts on the far eastern side of Kalamazoo and runs eastward to Augusta, exiting the county 5.9 miles (9.5 km) south of the northeastern corner of the county.
• M-343 starts on the northeast side of Kalamazoo and runs along Gull Road to Richland.

Demographics

According to the 2020 census, the county had a population of 261,670 people. The median age of residents was 36.2 years. Twenty-one point nine percent of residents were under the age of 18, and sixteen point three percent were 65 years of age or older.

For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.9 males aged 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 7.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 5.6% of the population.

Seventy-eight point four percent of residents lived in urban areas, and 21.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 106,906 households in the county. Twenty-seven point seven percent of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.8% were married-couple households, 20.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 114,021 housing units in the county, of which 6.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.7% were owner-occupied, and 36.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.

According to the 2010 United States census, there were 250,331 people living in the county. Eighty point one percent were non-Hispanic White, 11.1% were Black or African American, 2.2% were Asian, 0.5% were Native American, and 3.0% were from two or more races. Four point zero percent were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

According to the 2000 United States census, there were 238,603 people, 93,479 households, and 57,956 families living in the county. The population density was 425 inhabitants per square mile (164 per square kilometer). There were 99,250 housing units at an average density of 177 per square mile (68 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the county was 84.57% White, 9.73% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Two point six four percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Eighteen point three percent were of German ancestry, 11.5% Dutch, 10.3% English, 8.4% Irish, and 7.2% American ancestry. Ninety-three point seven percent spoke English as their first language, and 2.8% spoke Spanish.

There were 93,479 households, of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them. Forty-seven point seven percent were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.00% were non-families. Twenty-eight point zero percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population included 24.10% under the age of 18, 15.20% aged 18 to 24, 28.20% aged 25 to 44, 21.10% aged 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,022, and the median income for a family was $53,953. Males had a median income of $39,611, and females had a median income of $27,965. The per capita income for the county was $21,739. About 6.50% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those aged 65 or over.

Government

Kalamazoo County strongly supported the Republican Party after the Civil War. From 1884 to 1988, voters chose the Republican presidential candidate in all elections except three: 1912, 1936, and 1964. However, starting in 1992, the county has voted for the Democratic Party in every presidential election through 2024. The county voted more strongly for Democrats after 2008, following a similar trend in many urban areas across the country. Even though Michigan voted more for Republicans in 2016, Kalamazoo County supported the Democratic candidate at a level similar to recent years.

The county government manages the jail, provides law enforcement in unincorporated areas, maintains rural roads, operates local courts, stores records of property deeds and mortgages, keeps vital records, enforces public health rules, and works with the state to provide welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners manages the budget but has limited power to create laws or rules. In Michigan, most local government tasks, such as fire services, building and zoning rules, tax assessments, and street maintenance, are handled by individual cities and townships.

(Information current as of October 2022)

Communities

• Galesburg
• Kalamazoo (county seat)
• Parchment
• Portage

• Augusta
• Climax
• Richland
• Schoolcraft
• Vicksburg

• Brady Charter Township
• Comstock Charter Township
• Cooper Charter Township
• Kalamazoo Charter Township
• Oshtemo Charter Township
• Pavilion Charter Township
• Texas Charter Township

• Comstock Northwest
• Eastwood
• Greater Galesburg (former)
• Scotts
• South Gull Lake
• Westwood