Local History

Government

Kalamazoo County Courthouses

Beginning in 1838, Kalamazooans would see three different courthouse buildings rise up on Court House Square before December 2023, when the courts were moved to the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center on Eleanor Street.

Annexation

From 1843 to 1962, the village/city of Kalamazoo expanded its geographic jurisdiction from a half a square mile to approximately 25 square miles. Much of the area that was annexed…

Bradley, Gilbert H., Jr.

“Gil has something unique to offer our community. During his ten years as a resident of Kalamazoo, he has been a student, factory worker, union member, teacher, social worker, and…

Caroline Ham

First elected to the Kalamazoo City Commission in 1975, Caroline Ham has the distinction of being the city’s first woman mayor, having beat out several other candidates in 1981 in…

City Hall

“Kalamazoo’s finest example of Art Deco architecture”

Corporation Hall - City Hall

Kalamazoo Village officers first got a home of their own with the 1867 construction of Corporation Hall on the west side of S. Burdick Street between South Street and Michigan Avenue. Fire companies were located on the first floor, with additional...

Epaphroditus Ransom

He was one of those men whose lives are constantly in the spotlight. Whether for good or ill, the fortunes of Epaphroditus Ransom were well known to characters of all sorts, for he mingled freely with old stock New Englanders and pioneer...

First Post Office Building

A building like few others in Kalamazoo’s history, the city’s first post office building was situated on the corner of S. Burdick Street and W. South Street. It’s protruding turret…

Kalamazoo County Jail

Kalamazoo wasn’t exactly a “wild west” sort of town in its early days. In fact, “Kalamazoo was noted for being one of the most orderly places of its size in the country.” Still, the county jail was seen as a necessary deterrent to crime...

Kalamazoo Mayors

Before 1884, Kalamazoo was a village, led by a village president. In 1884, Kalamazoo became incorporated as a city and the office of mayor was instituted. List compiled by Kris Rzepczynski,…

Kalamazoo Village Presidents

Before 1884, Kalamazoo was a village, led by a village president. In 1884, Kalamazoo became incorporated as a city and the office of mayor was instituted. List compiled by Kris Rzepczynski, former KPL staff…

Kalamazoo’s City Government

In 1836, the Village of Bronson was renamed Kalamazoo. Seven years later it was incorporated as a village. In 1884, the Village of Kalamazoo adopted a charter and was incorporated as a city. The city instated a commission-manager form of...

Luna "Lou" Henshaw

Luna “Lou” Henshaw (later Zwisler) holds the distinction of being the first woman elected to sit on the Kalamazoo City Commission.

New Deal Projects

Works Progress Administration poster, Library of Congress Collection Throughout the late 1930s, the Roosevelt administration’s New Deal programs (Works Progress Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, Civil Works Administration, Farm Security Administration,…

Stuart, Charles Edward

Charles E. Stuart was among the first, and some would say best, legal professionals to settle in the village of Kalamazoo. The street and surrounding neighborhood that bear his name are a testament to his lasting impact on the Kalamazoo community.

U.S. Congressmen

In 2023, the 4th U.S. district congressmen represents Kalamazoo County, but in the past, the district began as the 3rd, and then changed to the 6th in 1993. The following…

Washington, Arthur, Jr.

In January of 2003, the Justice Center facility at Crosstown Parkway and S. Burdick Street was named in honor of Kalamazoo’s first black city commissioner, Arthur Washington Jr.. A humble…

Wells, Hezekiah G.

Hezekiah G. Wells holds the distinction of having served as village president more than any other citizen.