Kalamazoo, MI

ZachariahDaMan · November 5th, 2009, 10:51 PM

Kalamazoo has about 72,700 people. I was pleasantly surprised with Kalamazoo. I would have to say it is my 3rd favorite city in Michigan, after GR and Detroit.

araman0 · November 6th, 2009, 01:04 AM

Wow, looks very nice; very clean. I'll be passing through Kalamazoo for the first time this Sunday on my way to Detroit, and can't wait to check it out.

Why has metro Kalamazoo's economy done so well despite the rest of Michigan's economy? Is it the city's leadership? Business diversification? There aren't any universities or major governmental operations in Kalamazoo as far as I know.

hudkina · November 6th, 2009, 04:34 AM

The University plays a major role, though unlike Ann Arbor, the campus isn't integrated into the Downtown area.

El Mariachi · November 6th, 2009, 05:39 AM

really nice city. Looks very walkable. Dig that mural.

robk1982 · November 6th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by araman0

Why has metro Kalamazoo's economy done so well despite the rest of Michigan's economy? Is it the city's leadership? Business diversification? There aren't any universities or major governmental operations in Kalamazoo as far as I know.

www.wmich.edu

- 4th largest University in the state (25,000+)
- Carnegie Doctoral/Research - Extensive classification (the highest rating for research universities)
- A new College of Engineering campus was opened earlier this decade and houses a successful business incubator for hi-tech start ups
- Plans are underway to begin a medical school, and a downtown arena may be built that the University would be the major tenant at.

Go BRONCOS!!!

***desertpunk*** · November 6th, 2009, 03:16 PM

A classic american town!

Lmichigan · November 7th, 2009, 02:59 AM

Yep, without WMU, Kzoo would be Battle Creek if we're being honest. WMU is a pretty substantial research university. In some other states, WMU would be top-tier in terms of size and scope, but since Michigan has UofM, MSU, and WSU, WMU often gets grouped with EMU and CMU in people's minds.

robk1982 · November 7th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmichigan

Yep, without WMU, Kzoo would be Battle Creek if we're being honest. WMU is a pretty substantial research university. In some other states, WMU would be top-tier in terms of size and scope, but since Michigan has UofM, MSU, and WSU, WMU often gets grouped with EMU and CMU in people's minds.

Unfortunately, some of those people include members of our glorious Detroit-based media, who often refer to Michigan's "3 research universities".

If it wasn't for the horrible tenure of ex-President Judith Bailey, WMU could easily have the third highest enrollment out of Michigan universities. It was almost at 30,000 when I was a freshman in 2000, but then had a pretty big drop when Bailey came along.

Lmichigan · November 7th, 2009, 09:32 AM

I don't think I need to tell you, but you and I both know bigger isn't always better, and a drop in enrollment may not be a bad thing. WMU is big enough.

EastSider · November 7th, 2009, 10:49 AM

Love the historic building stock. Thanks for sharing.

robk1982 · November 8th, 2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmichigan

I don't think I need to tell you, but you and I both know bigger isn't always better, and a drop in enrollment may not be a bad thing. WMU is big enough.

I would agree with that. My point, and I probably wasn't clear, was that WMU had some good momentum going in a lot of areas (enrollment being one of them) before Judith Bailey was hired as President. Nearly all of that momentum was destroyed, and I felt that the university at best, stopped dead in its tracks for a few years, and at worst, lost a step or two in regards to its performance and reputation. Schools like Wayne State, Oakland, GVSU, and CMU have had obvious gains in the last decade (not just in enrollment), while Western has not. Fortunately things have begun to change.

Chadoh25 · November 9th, 2009, 10:01 PM

Nice looking town!!!!

Mudhen419 · November 11th, 2009, 03:11 AM

Was that a canal i saw running thru the city?

The fifth third building looks like one of our skyscrapers in toledo minus the very top of ours.....

Good luck in Hockey K-Zoo looks like you guys have a good team but the Walleye are up 2-0 on ya for the season so far!

Lmichigan · November 11th, 2009, 05:21 AM

Mudhen,

Kalamazoo sits on the Kalamazoo River, but what you're probably seeing is the Arcadia Creek which flows through parts of downtown. Like a lot of other small streams through urban areas, it was put underground for decades, but channeled and opened back up to open-air.

***Jaybird*** · November 11th, 2009, 05:45 AM

What a great-looking city!!! Charming and historic!!! Another MI city definitely worth visiting...

bneidlinger · November 22nd, 2009, 02:38 PM

Nice to see the old home town on here.

The Urban Politician · November 23rd, 2009, 04:22 AM

Ahh, Battle Creek's bigger, somewhat more progressive and sophisticated brother...

Growing up, Kalamazoo always seemed like the "big city" nearby, where all the action was.

It continues to do well--K-Zoo is more of the white collar, service-oriented counterpart to Battle Creek's blue collar nature.

MastaMarek · November 23rd, 2009, 04:25 AM

nice pics mate!! I used to live in Mattawan. lol.

November 5th, 2009, 10:51 PM	#1
ZachariahDaMan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 228 Likes (Received): 0	Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo has about 72,700 people. I was pleasantly surprised with Kalamazoo. I would have to say it is my 3rd favorite city in Michigan, after GR and Detroit.

November 6th, 2009, 01:04 AM	#2
araman0 Purdue U. / Marquette U. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Madison Posts: 1,347 Likes (Received): 8	Wow, looks very nice; very clean. I'll be passing through Kalamazoo for the first time this Sunday on my way to Detroit, and can't wait to check it out. Why has metro Kalamazoo's economy done so well despite the rest of Michigan's economy? Is it the city's leadership? Business diversification? There aren't any universities or major governmental operations in Kalamazoo as far as I know. __________________ "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi Madison, Wisconsin construction rundown \| My Flickr Page

November 11th, 2009, 05:45 AM	#15
*Jaybird* Making Detroit look good! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mitchell, Ontario Posts: 3,889 Likes (Received): 20	What a great-looking city!!! Charming and historic!!! Another MI city definitely worth visiting... __________________ I'm a kind of person feeling like living back in the 1950s, one who favors and enjoys the Golden-age, rust-belt cities of Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, and the Gothic skylines of New York and Philadelphia. In my eye, they have more character, soul, and history to be pictured than today's world-class, cosmopolitan, and sprawling cities. Jaybird's ZENFOLIO Photo Galleries Jaybird's PBASE Photo Galleries

November 23rd, 2009, 04:22 AM	#17
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,968 Likes (Received): 0	Ahh, Battle Creek's bigger, somewhat more progressive and sophisticated brother... Growing up, Kalamazoo always seemed like the "big city" nearby, where all the action was. It continues to do well--K-Zoo is more of the white collar, service-oriented counterpart to Battle Creek's blue collar nature. __________________ It is humanly impossible to walk through Chicago's core and not consider it one of the world's great cities unless you are inwardly angry at the place for somehow threatening or robbing your hometown of its vitality or integrity.

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November 6th, 2009, 04:34 AM	#3
hudkina Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Detroit Posts: 4,570 Likes (Received): 8	The University plays a major role, though unlike Ann Arbor, the campus isn't integrated into the Downtown area.

November 6th, 2009, 05:39 AM	#4
El Mariachi Has Left the Building Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Near Lake Michigan Posts: 6,000 Likes (Received): 86	really nice city. Looks very walkable. Dig that mural.

November 6th, 2009, 03:16 PM	#6
*desertpunk* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ELP ~ ABQ Posts: 29,654 Likes (Received): 1382	A classic american town!

November 7th, 2009, 02:59 AM	#7
Lmichigan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 2,727 Likes (Received): 6	Yep, without WMU, Kzoo would be Battle Creek if we're being honest. WMU is a pretty substantial research university. In some other states, WMU would be top-tier in terms of size and scope, but since Michigan has UofM, MSU, and WSU, WMU often gets grouped with EMU and CMU in people's minds.

November 7th, 2009, 09:32 AM	#9
Lmichigan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 2,727 Likes (Received): 6	I don't think I need to tell you, but you and I both know bigger isn't always better, and a drop in enrollment may not be a bad thing. WMU is big enough.

November 7th, 2009, 10:49 AM	#10
EastSider Fresh Coast Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,704 Likes (Received): 0	Love the historic building stock. Thanks for sharing.

November 9th, 2009, 10:01 PM	#12
Chadoh25 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 7,572 Likes (Received): 248	Nice looking town!!!!

November 11th, 2009, 03:11 AM	#13
Mudhen419 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 2,271 Likes (Received): 2	Was that a canal i saw running thru the city? The fifth third building looks like one of our skyscrapers in toledo minus the very top of ours..... Good luck in Hockey K-Zoo looks like you guys have a good team but the Walleye are up 2-0 on ya for the season so far!

November 11th, 2009, 05:21 AM	#14
Lmichigan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 2,727 Likes (Received): 6	Mudhen, Kalamazoo sits on the Kalamazoo River, but what you're probably seeing is the Arcadia Creek which flows through parts of downtown. Like a lot of other small streams through urban areas, it was put underground for decades, but channeled and opened back up to open-air.

November 22nd, 2009, 02:38 PM	#16
bneidlinger Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 28 Likes (Received): 0	Nice to see the old home town on here.

November 23rd, 2009, 04:25 AM	#18
MastaMarek BANNED Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 30 Likes (Received): 0	nice pics mate!! I used to live in Mattawan. lol.