Kalamazoo, MI has a history that dates back to the early 1900s. Kalamazoo was first a Native American name, which no one really knows the origin of, but some say that it means mirage of reflecting river, and others say it has something to do with bubbling water. Most of the city of Kalamazoo is on the bank of a bend of the Kalamazoo River. Small parts of this river run through the city. The northern part of Kalamazoo is sitting on a nice flat valley known as the Kalamazoo Valley, the western portion lies on small hills. Most of the population in the city is located to the south. Some of the water that is supplied to Kalamazoo is provided by a watershed that lies within the Al Sabo Preserve in Michigan, just south of Kalamazoo.Looking through the Kalamazoo, MI yellow pages and the Kalamazoo, MI business directory, you will find many historical and interesting places to visit and see. The famous Kalamazoo mall is the first outdoor mall built in the United States and is a four block long mall. In 1999, two blocks of the mall were changed to allow traffic to drive through.
The centerpiece of Kalamazoo is the Bronson Park area, which was named after the founder Titus Bronson. In the park you can see the Indian mounds and a fountain that shows the brutal feelings that existed between the white settlers and Native Americans. In the 1980s, a strong tornado hit the city of Kalamazoo and the town lost a lot of their biggest trees. This park is the location that Abraham Lincoln made a public speech and a marker stands to honor that event. Many old homes line the old streets of the neighborhoods of Stuart Avenue, South Street, and the Vine Historic district areas. Many of these homes have been restored to the times in the previous century for visitors to see. The Underground Railway Home that is located on Cass Street was built in 1835 by the first doctor that lived in the county and this house was once a safe home that hid the slaves back in the slave days.The city of Kalamazoo is host to three breweries and pubs that produce all kinds of beers. They are also home to one of the largest producers of flavorings such as peppermint.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
