Kalamazoo

Formed May 7, 1830 (23^rd county)

Kalamazoo County (261,663), Kalamazoo (73,570)

The masonry and marble Art Deco structure was built in 1937 and sits on a square at Michigan, Rose, Academy, and Church streets.  Michigan State Highway 43 is Michigan Street.  M. J. C. Billingham and Smith, Hickman & Gryllis are the courthouse architects.  The building features faux columns and veteran memorials on the grounds.  An Administration Building was added in 1978.  There were 1836 and 1887 versions earlier in Kalamazoo, the only county seat.  Kalamazoo County was formed on May 7, 1830 from Native American Territory as the 23^rd county.  The county and county seat get their names from the river which is Native American for “reflecting water.” 

Kalamazoo County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 9 Commissioners (legislative.)  Five Circuit Court Judges, Seven District Court Judges, Three Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Kalamazoo County (judicial.) Kalamazoo County is in the southwest part of the southern peninsula.  Grand Rapids, Michigan is directly north of the county.  The county center is 7 miles Southeast of Kalamazoo.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Barry, Calhoun, Branch, Saint Joseph, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan counties. 

The area of the county is 580 square miles.  It is 57 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 9 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 451.1 persons per square mile making it 8 out of 83 in the state.  Kalamazoo County has 51.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 94 crosses the county east to west from Calhoun County to Van Buren County.  United States Highway 131 goes north to south from Allegan County to Saint Joseph County.  The county is a rectangle.  The City of Kalamazoo is in the northern third of the county.  Kalamazoo is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 28.1% of the county population.  This county is in the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area.