Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo is a city located in Kalamazoo County in southwest Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 77,145. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County6.

Name origin

The city is named after the Kalamazoo River, but no one is certain as to where the name Kalamazoo actually comes from. A lack of evidence means that the truth will likely never be found, but there are four common theories:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• It is derived from the Potawatomi word negikanamazo, which is variously translated as "otter tail" or "stones like otters." This could refer to area wildlife.
• Most widely accepted is the legend of a Potawatomi named Fleet Foot. In order to win his bride, he was required to run from his settlement to a point on the river and back before a pot of water boiled away. This event is thought to have occurred in 1810, a couple of decades before the first permanent white settlers. The Potawatomi word kikalamezo appears on an 1823 atlas of the area. The word translates as "boiling pot" or "place where the water boils," and refers to the Fleet Foot legend.
• The "boiling pot" translation may also refer to various nearby bends in the river that resemble pots.
• An alternate translation of kikalamezo is "mirage" or "reflecting waters," and could refer to the once-clear waters of the river, which are now much less so due to pollution.

Yet another possibility is it meant a place to ford the river. The city was originally established near one of the few places in the area where it was easy to cross by wading.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In response to the strange-sounding name, t-shirts are sold in Kalamazoo that feature the phrase "Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Also, there are songs that use the word, such as "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" by Glenn Miller, "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Kalamazoo" by Ben Folds, "Kalamazoo" by Primus, "Kalamazoo" by Luna. The word also features in the opera "Einstein on the Beach" by Philip Glass. The common phrase "from Timbuktu to Kalamazoo" has also served to popularize the name.

Related Topics:
Glenn Miller - Creedence Clearwater Revival - Ben Folds - Primus - Luna - Philip Glass - Timbuktu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~