Kalamazoo County, Michigan

Infobox U.S. County
county = Kalamazoo County
state = Michigan




map size = 225
founded = May 7, 1830
seat = Kalamazoo | area_total_sq_mi =580
area_land_sq_mi =562
area_water_sq_mi =18
area percentage = 3.16%
census yr = 2000
pop = 238603
density_km2 =164
web = www.kalcounty.com
|

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 KalamazooGR|6. It is part of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Area.

Geography

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

Geographic Features

*Kalamazoo River
*Portage River

Major highways

Interstates

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US highways

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Michigan State Trunklines

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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

USCensusPop
1840= 7380
1850= 13179
1860= 24646
1870= 32054
1880= 34342
1890= 39273
1900= 44310
1910= 60327
1920= 71225
1930= 91368
1940= 100085
1950= 126707
1960= 169712
1970= 201550
1980= 212378
1990= 223411
2000= 238603
estyear=2005
estimate=240720As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 238,603 people, 93,479 households, and 57,956 families residing in the county. The population density was 425 people per square mile (164/km²). There were 99,250 housing units at an average density of 177 per square mile (68/km²). 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. 18.3% were of German, 11.5% Dutch, 10.3% English, 8.4% Irish and 7.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 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.

History

"See," Etymology of Kalamazoo for detail on the origin of the name. "See also," List of Michigan county name etymologies.

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: Mary Balkema (Republican)
* Drain Commissioner: William B. French (Republican); Patrick Krause (Acting)
* County Surveyor: Robert ("Bob") 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
*PortageVillages
*Augusta
*Climax
*Richland
*Schoolcraft
*VicksburgUnincorporated
* Comstock Northwest
* Eastwood
* Greater Galesburg
* South Gull Lake
* Westwood

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

Bibliography and further reading

* [http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Kalamazoo.htm Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Kalamazoo County]

References

External links

* [http://www.kalcounty.com/ Kalamazoo County Government]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikalama/historychronology.htm Chronology of Township, Village and City Formation]