Kalamazoo Township Weighs Future As Independent City Amid Annexation Pressure

A study is currently taking place on whether or not Kalamazoo Township should officially become a city, thus changing its name.

It’s quite possible that Kalamazoo Township could get city status and potentially go through a name change, as it was once called Arcadia Township before changing its name to Kalamazoo Township back in 1836 when Bronson had officially switched to Kalamazoo.

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This is a township that has been annexed before and because of that, its borders are not only complex but not connecting and are divided into four separate chunks.

However, the city of Kalamazoo or Parchment may be interested in taking over some of the areas of the township, as Township supervisor, David Combs, told MLive:

Parchment is on the precipice of a crisis right now, of not having economic viability, and given its “dwindling tax base,” an infusion could help remedy that. On the city of Kalamazoo side, their interest is in some of the largest business presences that we have in Kalamazoo Township. Losing those would be a huge hit to Kalamazoo Township.

Ultimately, if it goes to a vote, the people will first have to decide if parts of the township should go to other cities and take on a new shape in general, but that wouldn't be until 2027. If the township does become a city, what names do you think would be fitting? Here are some suggestions residents have given:

Kalamatoo
Parzoo
Arcadia (There already is one in Manistee County)
Kalamatwo
Arcadia Woods
Arcadia Heights
Mt. Wrong Turn
Coctok