Alamo Township near Kalamazoo in Kalamazoo County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Kalamazoo Region

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

1. The Kalamazoo Region Marker

Inscription. Kalamazoo is an Indian word said to mean "boiling water." Originally it was applied to the river that flows northwesterly to Lake Michigan. A trickle of settlers in the late 1820's became a torrent in the 1830's as the region's fertile prairies, oak openings, bottom lands, and ample sources of water power became known. The village of Bronson, founded in 1829 by Titus Bronson, is now the city of Kalamazoo. Here Lincoln made his only known Michigan speech. J. Fenimore Cooper wrote about the area in Oak Openings. Kalamazoo College, founded in 1833, Nazareth College (1897), and Western Michigan University (1903) are here. Once famous for its celery and its stoves, Kalamazoo is now known for many products including paper and drugs. The nation's first permanent pedestrian mall was opened in the downtown section in 1959.

Erected 1964 by Michigan Historical Commission and Kiwanis Club of Kalamazoo. (Marker Number S222c.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 42° 21.362′ N, 85° 39.476′ W. Marker is near Kalamazoo, Michigan, in Kalamazoo County. It is

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in Alamo Township. It is on U.S. 131 at milepost 43, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located at a rest area on the US 131 southbound lanes approximately 1¼ mile south of Exit 44 (W. D Avenue). Marker can only be accessed from the southbound lanes of the freeway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kalamazoo MI 49009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cooper Congregational Church (approx. 2.8 miles away); DeLano Homestead (approx. 3.1 miles away); Kindleberger Park (approx. 5 miles away); Edward Israel Arctic Pioneer (approx. 5.1 miles away); Stuart Neighborhood (approx. 5.2 miles away); Henderson Park West Main Hill Historic District (approx. 5.2 miles away); French-Allen House (approx. 5.2 miles away); The Stuart House (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kalamazoo.

Also see . . . The History of Kalamazoo MI. From the kalamazoomi.com website. (Submitted on September 25, 2013.)

Photographed by Nathan Bierma, July 11, 2022

2. The Kalamazoo Region Marker

Photographed by Nathan Bierma, July 11, 2022

3. The Kalamazoo Region Marker

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

4. The Kalamazoo Region Marker

Located on a median between the car parking and truck parking lots

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 827 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on July 13, 2022, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 4. submitted on September 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.