Say Hello to Kalamazoo:
Big City Opportunity with Small Town Approachability
Located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, midway between Chicago and Detroit, Kalamazoo offers a perfect blend of easy living and sophisticated, big-city opportunities. Largely due to its college-town influence, Kalamazoo has always been known as a center for the arts. With a rich and diverse community culture, Kalamazoo offers a renovated and vibrant Art Deco downtown, historic neighborhoods, outstanding museums and theatres, and multiple pristine lakes.
Kalamazoo’s robust economy is founded on the presence of renowned educational institutions, a rich history in the life sciences field and philanthropic investment by community leaders. Its diversified workforce is highly educated and boasts one of the nation’s highest concentrations of Ph.D.’s at more than two times the national average per capita.
The city of Kalamazoo is divided into 22 neighborhoods, with great diversity in the character of each. Closer to the city center are historical residential areas, with modern developments located in the southwest. The Central Business District and the neighborhoods to the south contain much of the area’s retail shopping, mixed with a residential populace.
Kalamazoo Area Rental Housing Association
Kalamazoo’s surrounding communities offer a variety of living styles to suit the tastes of its diverse population. To learn about Kalamazoo’s suburbs, click on the following communities for more information.
Comstock Northwest
Eastwood
Mattawan
Parchment
Portage
Schoolcraft
Westwood
Pictured above: Kalamazoo Air Zoo
Kalamazoo offers endless fun – a wealth of cultural and entertainment opportunities from symphony performances to night clubs, from avante gaurde theatre to traveling Broadway shows – coupled with an impressive mix of more than 300 restaurants.
All Ears Theatre debuted in January 2002 as a collaboration of local artists organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Twelve free performances (comedies and dramas) in the style of radio’s golden age are presented each season.
The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the cultural life in greater Kalamazoo through arts management services, grant programs, education, advocacy, arts council, programs, and event promotion.
One of the nation’s oldest Equity resident summer-stock theatres, the Barn Theatre is a longtime Michigan entertainment destination. Sixty years and nearly 500 performances under the same management is a benchmark nearly unparalleled in the theatre industry.
Discover Kalamazoo offers a detailed list of dining and nightlife options.
The Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival is a non-profit organization that fosters and supports a passion for keyboard music and artistry. Through a world-class festival, noncompetitive artist awards, year-round education programs, special performances and commissioning new music, The Gilmore makes great music a treasure for everyone to share.
The Kalamazoo Air Zoo is a highly charged, multi-sensory atmosphere that is like no place else on Earth. Voted the “Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners”, the Air Zoo features many amusement park-style rides, full-motion flight simulators, 4-D Missions Theater, Magic Planet, Space Ball and a Zero Gravity Experience, as well as historical exhibits and educational activities.
The Kalamazoo Concert Band is an adult ensemble comprised of more than 100 adults from the southwestern Michigan area. Over 25 of these members are current or retired music educators and teachers while the rest represent a diversity of occupations. Membership in the KCB is by audition and the band rehearses weekly, performing four free concerts each season.
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is both a museum and community art school. Since 1924, KIA has worked to cultivate both the creation and appreciation of the visual arts.
The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents professional orchestra performances and education programs for audiences throughout southwest Michigan, fostering lifelong appreciation and support for symphonic music.
Located on Western Michigan University’s campus, Miller Auditorium is ranked as one of the top ten facilities in the United States, and is the third largest theatre in Michigan. Miller Auditorium has always been careful to never lose sight of its purpose in the cultural landscape of the community, and has become the premier center for performing arts not only in Kalamazoo, but also in all of Southwest Michigan.
The State Theatre offers a full range of big-name concerts throughout the year.
Built in 1974, Wings Stadium has been home to the Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League since the 2000-01 season. The Stadium is also a full entertainment venue offering concerts, professional hockey, family shows, and trade shows.
Volunteer Kalamazoo connects residents to the various volunteer opportunities in their communities.
Feeding America West Michigan exists to ensure good food is available to the hungry in the community. By saving good surplus food from going to landfills, they can distribute that reclaimed food to pantries, shelters, and other local anti-hunger organizations in West Michigan counties.
The Kalamazoo community is home to a wealth of diversity initiatives and resources.
The Hispanic Center of West Michigan serves as a resource for the Hispanic and broader community.
The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber is dedicated to working with all members of the community to increase the economic advancement of Hispanic owned businesses and to assist in the professional growth of Hispanic business leaders in West Michigan.
The National Diversity Education Program is a multi-year joint project of the Japanese American National Museum and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.
Outdoor activities are plentiful in Kalamazoo, no matter what time of year. Fish, swim, sail, or boat in one of Kalamazoo’s 83 lakes or visit the sandy shores of Lake Michigan—just a 40-minute drive or three-hour bike ride away on the Kal-Haven Trail. Around every corner in Kalamazoo, there is a park or trail with areas for picnics, biking, hiking or horseback riding.
Bittersweet Ski Area offers 20 open runs and variety of skill levels.
Cold Brook Park offers camping, boating, fishing, swimming, disc golf, and much more.
Echo Valley Winter Sports Park has something for everyone to enjoy winter sports: tobogganing, skating, tubing, and more.
The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail is the newest Kalamazoo County Park. The trail is free to use and has a paved-asphalt surface that is 12-feet wide. It’s a multi-purpose trail for non-motorized transportation and recreation.
Kalamazoo Rod & Gun Club is a private club for enthusiasts of shooting sports and fishing.
Kalamazoo Rugby Football Club welcomes all skill levels year-round.
Kalamazoo Speedway is the only NASCAR sanctioned short track in Michigan and hosts races weekly from the end of March through the middle of October.
The Kalamazoo Sport and Social Club is perfect for the Grand Rapids 21 and up, professionals. We offer a unique opportunity to meet other physically and socially active individuals. From Dodgeball, Kickball, to Flag Football. All teams are coed.
Kalamazoo Wiffle Ball Club is one of the nation’s premier programs.
The Kalamazoo Wings are a mid-level professional hockey team.
Comprised of two distinct areas, Markin Glen Park features hiking trails through a beech maple forest alongside swimming, fishing, and camping areas.
Prairie View Park offers boating, fishing, hiking and more.
River Oaks Park features soccer fields, picnic areas, playgrounds and more.
Soccer-Zone is a multi-sport complex offering recreation for youth and adults.
The Courthouse is a private facility designed specifically for basketball, volleyball, and fitness programs. A wide variety of programs both for kids and adults are offered.
Timber Ridge Ski Area offers skiing, tubing, and snowboarding on 16 trails.
Wings West is home to the West Michigan Hounds, a AAA team. The rink is available for rent and open skate.
US-131 Motor Sports Park has a history of offering the finest shows featuring the most prominent drivers in the sport of championship drag racing.
Golf
Kalamazoo has a variety of golf courses for every skill level:
Restaurant Search
Our partners at the Convention and Visitors Bureaus have a complete listing of area restaurants and a handy search tool.
Breweries
Bell’s Brewery
Arcadia Brewing
Boatyard Brewing Company
Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing
Latitude 42 Brewing Company
Olde Peninsula Brewpub
One Well Brewing
Rupert’s Brew House
Tibbs Brewing Company
From preschool to PhD, education is a priority for the Kalamazoo community.
With public, private, parochial, technical and charter schools in the mix, parents have many choices on how their children are educated.
Public Schools
Comstock Public Schools
The Comstock Public School District is a full service district with the services and programs of a large metropolitan school system in a small rural setting. We pride ourselves on keeping classroom sizes small and our ability to be responsive to the needs of each child in the district.
Gull Lake Community Schools
The Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation supports a vibrant learning environment which enhances student achievement and advances the role of the schools in the community.
Mattawan Consolidated Schools
Mattawan Consolidated School will be a collaborative and innovative learning community where every individual is valued, challenged and connected.
Portage Public Schools
Through a partnership of school staff, students, parents and community, all Portage Public Schools students will become effective communicators, responsible citizens, self-directed learners and complex thinkers. In order to accomplish this mission:
Private Schools
Catholic Schools of Greater Kalamazoo
Hackett Catholic Central is committed to preparing our students for lifelong success by promoting and developing faith, character, and academic achievement in a supportive and challenging Catholic faith-based environment.
Kalamazoo Christian School Association
The Kalamazoo Christian Schools have established a solid reputation for excellent academic and extracurricular programs. All subjects are taught with the knowledge that Jesus is Lord over all creation. The Bible is our foundation and guide in exploring the world in all of its dimensions.
Charter Academies
Oakland Academy
The mission of the Academy is to provide a high quality general program of fundamental education in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, conduct, health/physical education and art.
Paramount Charter School
We provide a safe, small, nurturing K-8 environment, where students achieve more and significantly impact the high schools they attend.
Kalamazoo offers parents very good quality child care alternatives. Take a look of some of the more popular options below.
Kindercare:
Each day, KinderCare provides a balanced approach to learning, giving you the peace of mind that your child will have fun as he develops socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. We give your child the tools to become confident and self-aware. In a caring and stimulating atmosphere, our passionate and engaging teachers give your child endless opportunities to grow, learn, and imagine—whether building a spaceship to blast off to Mars or inviting a new friend to share a story during group time. While academics play a role in development, we believe there are many other opportunities for enhancing the whole child.
Child Development Centers:
We are a Child Care Provider located in Southwestern Lower Michigan. We offer full and part time educational Child Care Programs for children two weeks to twelve years throughout the school year and also provide an extensive summer program. We are the preferred choice of more families in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties than any other Child Care Program.
The Kalamazoo Drop-In Child Care Center (KDCCC):
KDCCC was established to provide free, short-term child care for low-income families with children from six weeks through the age of five. The objectives of our service are to enable parents with young children to more rapidly negotiate the maze of appointments and services often required to obtain employment, permanent housing, register for school or attend classes and eventual self-sufficiency. We also give parents a “healthy” break from the demands of parenting. We have created a warm, safe, and supportive environment for children and their parents.
Milwood Commons Preschool and Childcare: Milwood Commons exists to provide a place where children, ages infant through five, can grow and develop physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
Milwood Commons Preschool and Childcare values the partnership we have with families, as children grow and develop the necessary skills needed to become active participants in their families and communities. Every child at Milwood Commons Preschool and Childcare is welcomed, loved just as they are, and valued for the unique gifts they bring.
West Michigan is home to a diverse population and vibrant faith communities, including Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Hispanic, Islamic, Jewish, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish, Protestant, Russian, Sudanese and Vietnamese institutions.
Kalamazoo’s business directory offers a search engine for all places of worship in the area.
Kalamazoo offers an array of healthcare options, ranging from large health systems to small hospitals and clinics that are sure to fit your needs.
Hospitals
Borgess Hospital provides expertise in multiple medical services and is one of the top heart hospitals in Michigan with over 15,000 heart patients each year.
Bronson Hospital provides care in virtually every specialty—cardiology, orthopedics, surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, oncology—with advanced capabilities in critical care as a Level I Trauma Center. In addition, Bronson Hospital boasts the onlyChildren’s Hospital in Southwest Michigan.
Behavioral/Mental Health
The Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, also referred to as “The State Hospital”, is the largest psychiatric hospital in the state of Michigan. They can be reached at (269) 337-3000.
Kalamazoo Community Mental Health serves adults with mental illness, substance abuse issues, children with serious emotional conditions, individuals with developmental disabilities and offers support to the families with these conditions.
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services provides numerous behavioral and mental health services with professional excellence, Christian integrity, and compassion.
The Psychological Consultants of Michigan offer mental health services that include marital & family therapy, child & spouse abuse counseling, therapy for depression & anxiety and much more.
WRAPS is a program driven to improve the care for children’s mental health by offering support, resources and services to meet their individual needs.
Children’s Health Care
The Children’s Hospital at Bronson Methodist Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Southwest Michigan, providing services such as Children’s Health and the Child Life Program.
Cancer Centers
The West Michigan Cancer Center is a leader in cancer care and offers innovative cancer treatment, therapies and contemporary clinical procedures.
Heart Care
Advanced Cardiac Healthcare offers six convenient locations throughout Kalamazoo that provide cardiac services driven to meet the needs of its patients.
The Borgess Heart Institute is a leader in cardiology in West Michigan. In addition to launching the first open-heart surgery program, Borgess Heart Institute is also home to the first freestanding cardiac rehabilitation center in the area.
Neurology Centers
Bronson Hospital provides neurological services through highly-skilled doctors trained to diagnose, treat and manage patients with multiple neurological disorders.
