KALAMAZOO

Some history
The first town-site speculator to take up land in Kalamazoo County was Titus Bronson, the founder of the county seat. Bronson was born in Connecticut, moved to Ohio in the early 1820s and had subsequently lived in Oakland and Washtenaw counties before coming to Kalamazoo County. Although the exact date of his arrival cannot be ascertained, Bronson apparently first entered the county in the fall of 1829.
    The object of Bronson’s tour of Kalamazoo County was to gain possession of a site that had a good chance of becoming the county seat. He first tarried at Toland’s Prairie but, thinking it not central enough, followed the river westward until he came to the bur oak opening in section 15, Kalamazoo Township. Here, he decided, was a location that might win the seat of justice. It was centrally situated, near what he thought to be the head of navigation on the Kalamazoo River; it had waterpower sites nearby and was on a beautiful bur oak plain.
    Bronson’s intentions were apparently not revealed to the other settlers of the county until after his claim had been selected as the county seat. They apparently thought it quite logical for a man interested in farming to select land on a rich bur oak plain through which flowed a small stream, because it was known that some settlers esteemed the bur oak plains as highly as the prairies. It probably also seemed logical that Bronson, in order to obtain food, would want to spend his first winter with the settlers on Prairie Ronde. His motive for keeping to himself his intentions of attempting to secure the county seat for his land near the Kalamazoo River was undoubtedly to lessen competition for the prize. Thus, when the commissioners assigned by Cass to locate the county seat of Kalamazoo County arrived in early January, 1831, Bronson’s site, being the only serious contender, was selected.
    This place (Bronson, today called Kalamazoo) is situated at the great bend of the Kalamazoo River, on the south-western bank, immediately below the Portage stream. The reasons which influenced the location of the county seat at this place, are:

    It is on the bank of the river, which at that place is navigable, most of the year, for keel boats of several tons.
    It is in the direct line between the two largest prairies in the county, viz: Prairie Round and Gull Prairie; about nine miles from the latter, and about ten from the former place, and Grand Prairie two miles on its west.
    Good roads could be made from it into any part of the county. Four or five large trails set out from this place, leading to as many different place of importance on the St. Joseph and Grand Rivers.
    The great Territorial road passes though it.

The village of Bronson was laid out in March, 1831, and immediately became the political, economic, and social focus of the county. By the end of that year there were fifteen families living in the growing town, a general store, a doctor, an attorney, and several mechanics. The first hotel was built in 1832. In 1834 the Land Office was moved from White Pigeon to Bronson; with it came the flood of land seekers, a bank to handle the money, and a newspaper to record the spectacular growth of the town.
    Many of interior Michigan’s towns had their beginning at waterpower sites where grist and saw mills were the initial services offered. Comstock, in Kalamazoo County, was such a town. Other towns in the area, such as Schoolcraft, were located as retailing centers in the midst of a dense farming population.
    But the critical factor that determined which village would grow into a thriving city was the county seat decision. If a village could win the seat of justice, its growth was assured. In some counties, including Kalamazoo, the county seat designation was made before there were any urban settlements. It was won by that speculator with enough foresight to select a spot which was located central to the county’s area and its present and future population distribution, and offered waterpower or transportation advantages over the other contending sites. Another important requisite for winning the county seat was that the promoter of the particular site be on the scene and willing to bargain for the prize.

Fun Facts
Appeared in Atlases in 1835
Potowatomie Indian word meaning "boiling water"
First called Bronson, changed to Kalamazoo in 1836
Leading commercial source of bedding plants in the 1970's

Colleges and Universities in Kalamazoo
   Western Michigan University
    Kalamazoo Valley Community College
    Kalamazoo College
    Davenport College

Hospitals
   Bronson Methodist Center
    Borgess Medical Center

Major Industries
   Chemical Products
    Pharmaceuticals
    Paper and allied products
    Fabricated metals
    Transportation equipment
    Robotics
    Aircraft controls
    Plastics
    Bedding plants

Industry in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo is known as the industrial town. Its transportation facilities are excellent, because it is half way between Detroit and Chicago. The industry was diversified. The city is famous for its Kalamazoo Stove Company, which marketed its products worldwide. The slogan was "Kalamazoo direct to you." Other industries were papermaking, guitars, taxicabs, and cigars. Farming was also big in Kalamazoo; products included celery, Peppermint and bedding plants.

Some of the text on this page is paraphrased from a 1972 article on "Early Town-Site Speculation in Kalamazoo County" by B.C. Peters, in Michigan History magazine.

This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.