KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN

'Kalamazoo County' is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 238,603. the county seat is Kalamazoo⁶.

Contents

Geography

Geographic Features

Major Highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Government

Kalamazoo County elected officials

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

Villages

Townships

Unincorporated

External links

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,503 km² (580 mi²). 1,455 km² (562 mi²) of it is land and 47 km² (18 mi²) of it (3.16%) is water.

Geographic Features

★ Kalamazoo River

★ Portage River

Major Highways

★ I-94

★ US 131

★ M-43

★ M-89

★ M-96

Adjacent counties

★ Barry County - northeast

★ Allegan County - northwest

★ Calhoun County east

★ Van Buren County west

★ Branch County southeast

★ St. Joseph County south

★ Cass County southwest

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 238,603 people, 93,479 households, and 57,956 families residing in the county. The population density was 164/km² (425/mi²). There were 99,250 housing units at an average density of 68/km² (177/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.57% White, 9.73% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 93.7% spoke English and 2.8% Spanish as their first language.
There were 93,479 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.00% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 15.20% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,022, and the median income for a family was $53,953. Males had a median income of $39,611 versus $27,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,739. About 6.50% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Kalamazoo County elected officials

★ Prosecuting Attorney: Jeffrey R. Fink (Republican)

★ Sheriff: Michael J. Anderson (Republican)

★ County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Timothy A. Snow (Republican)

★ County Treasurer: Sharon A. Cubitt (Republican)

★ Drain Commissioner: William B. French (Republican)

★ County Surveyor: Robert E. Snell (Republican)

★ County Commission or Board of Commissioners: 17 members, elected from districts (10 Republicans, 7 Democrats)

★ Circuit Court: 7 judges (non-partisan)
(information as of February 2006)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

★ Galesburg

★ Kalamazoo

★ Parchment

★ Portage

Villages

★ Augusta

★ Climax

★ Richland

★ Schoolcraft

★ Vicksburg

Townships

★ Alamo Township

★ Brady Township

★ Charleston Township

★ Climax Township

★ Comstock Township

★ Cooper Township

★ Kalamazoo Charter Township

★ Oshtemo Township

★ Pavilion Township

★ Prairie Ronde Township

★ Richland Township

★ Ross Township

★ Schoolcraft Township

★ Texas Township

★ Wakeshma Township

Unincorporated

★ Comstock Northwest, CDP

★ Eastwood, CDP

★ Greater Galesburg, CDP

★ South Gull Lake, CDP

★ Westwood, CDP

External links

★ Kalamazoo County Government

★ Chronology of Township, Village and City Formation