Advertising in Kalamazoo, MI
photo credit: dalydose
Originally known as Bronson, Kalamazoo was founded and named by Titus Bronson. In 1837, the name was changed to Kalamazoo, which is a Potawatomi word. The word was originally used to name the local river, meaning “the mirage or reflecting river.” It is thought that the river looked as if it was full of boiling water because of the fog. The original natives to Kalamazoo were Native Americans of Hopewell. After the Hopewell people began to decline, the Potawatomi culture dominated, living there until the European settlers descended. Kalamazoo is home to the first outdoor shopping mall in the US, which opened in 1959.
Kalamazoo Metro Demographics
Population*: 59,698 (18+)
White American: 68.1%
Hispanic or Latino: 6.4%
African-American: 22.2%
From two or more races: 4.6%
Asian American: 1.7%
Native American: 0.5%
Median household income: $31,189
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Sports in Kalamazoo
| ECHL |
| The Kalamazoo Wings |
Events in Kalamazoo
| South Haven’s Annual Ice Breaker Festival | Egg Hunt on the River Walk |
| Storytelling Festival: One World, Many Stories | Back Around the Block Organ Crawl |
| Garage Sale Art Fair | Portage Soccer Classic Tournament |
Most large-scale events in the market are held at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground.
Business and Education in Kalamazoo
Companies of note headquartered in Kalamazoo include Allied Paper Corporation, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Bell’s Brewery, Blood Brothers Auto & Machine Company, Borroughs, Checker Motors Corporation, Fabri-Kal, Handley-Knight, Heritage Guitars, Ihling Brother Everard Company, Kalamazoo, Lake Shore, & Chicago Railway, Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company, Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad, Stryker Corporation, and Upjohn.
Advertising & PR agencies: (AD) LFK Marketing, Inc., Mazwell + Miller, AB Small Business Marketing, Black Lab Five, Mlive Media Group, Business Review West Michigan, Myrick Design Studio, thomas.wrench, Biggs Gilmore, ZGH Design, Inc. (PR) Lam & Associates, LKF Marketing, Inc., Health Wire/Words, Etc., Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC., ImageStream – Creative Communications, Message Coach Public Relations, JW Public Relations, Deksia, McLouglin Marketing, and RUA Associates.
Colleges: There is one public university located within the city limits: Western Michigan University (WMU). Private colleges in the city include Kalamazoo College.
Must see destinations in Kalamazoo, MI
| Alchemist Sculpture Foundry | Fontana Chamber Arts | Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus |
| Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo | The Gilmore | Kalamazoo Concert Band |
| Barn Theatre | Gilmore Care Museum | Kalamazoo Film Society |
| Blue Heaven | Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association | Kalamazoo Nature Center |
| Carver Center | Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra | Kalamazoo Speedway |
| Celery Flats Interpretive Center | Hayloft Theatre | Miller Auditorium |
| Center Stage Theatre | Historic Districts | The New Vic Theatre |
| Chenery Auditorium | Island Fest | State Theatre |
| The Civic | John E. Gray Memorial Museum | The Train Barn |
| Crawlspace Eviction | Kalamazoo Air Zoo | Wineries |
| Farmers Alley Theatre | Kalamazoo Bach Festival | Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center |
For more information on Kalamazoo, please visit the Southwest Michigan First Chamber of Commerce website.