Moving Companies Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo, Michigan  

Located midway between Chicago and Detroit, the City of Kalamazoo is rapidly becoming an important center for business, education and culture. A strong and dependable work force, combined with innovative and accountable leadership, has made Kalamazoo County one of the most desirable moving destinations.

History:
In 1829, Titus Bronson built the first cabin within the modern city limits on Arcadia Creek, west of the present Westnedge Avenue. A year later, he replaced it with a permanent cabin on the present site of Bronson Park. The county itself was organized by an act of the territorial legislature and approved by the governor on July 3, 1830. The town of Bronson was officially designated the county seat in 1831. Five years later an influential group of men in town, dismayed by the apparent eccentricities of Titus Bronson, had the name of the town changed to Kalamazoo. The city’s first plank roads were built in 1845 with the most important one stretching from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. Although these roads aided transportation, travel on them was slow and sometimes treacherous. The railroads soon became a faster and safer means of transportation. The Michigan Central line first spanned the territory between Detroit and Kalamazoo in 1846, and its link to Chicago was completed in 1852. By 1905, at least six railroads connected Kalamazoo with the rest of the continent. By that time, however, the importance of the railways began to fade. The short-lived interurban systems were attracting short distance passengers and freight shippers. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the development of gasoline powered vehicles and hard-surfaced roads offered the residents of the county improved transportation possibilities.

Economy:
The city of Kalamazoo has a diverse regional economy, anchored by regional employers in the pharmaceutical, health care product, health services, banking and higher education industries. A few of the local organizations that employ more than 1,000 people include Western Michigan University, Pfizer, Borgess Medical Center, Bronson Methodist Hospital and Kalamazoo Public Schools. Kalamazoo’s workforce is as diverse as its economy, ranging from those skilled in manufacturing to research scientists. At the same time, enrollment in local universities and colleges exceeds 45,000 students, creating a base of potential employees that is highly attractive to business and industry. A long-time cultural and commercial hub for the region, Kalamazoo has made tremendous strides over the past decade to rejuvenate its central business district. The city has also worked to revitalize the downtown area, which has now become a dining and entertainment hub of the city.

Tourism:
Begin your exploration of Kalamazoo by visiting some of the city’s famed historic districts. There you will find stately homes lining the grand streets of these celebrated neighborhoods, offering onlooker a glimpse of restored splendor from the previous century. For shopping, head to the Kalamazoo Mall. The first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the U.S., this shopping oasis began its history with the closing of Burdick Street to auto traffic in 1959. The four block mall, stretching from Lovell Street on the South to Eleanor Street on the north, has been restyled to match the attributes of the city. Next, head to Bronson Park. Kalamazoo's traditional downtown centerpiece, Bronson Park’s notable features include an Indian mound, a fountain designed by Alfonse Ianelli and a sculpture, "The Children May Safely Play" by Kirk Newman.

Colleges/Universities:
• Kalamazoo College
• Western Michigan University

Interesting Facts:
• Springs bubbling up in the riverbed are said to have been the inspiration for Kalamazoo's catchy name, an Indian word meaning "place where the water boils."
• It's been called "The Paper City," for its many paper and cardboard mills.

Helpful Links:
• Kalamazoo Real Estate
• Kalamazoo Storage Facility
• Kalamazoo Insurance
• Kalamazoo Dental Offices
• Kalamazoo Moving Guide