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1918 Map of Kalamazoo

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Kalamazoo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

The Kalamazoo River defines the industrial and agricultural corridor of this region, winding through the namesake city and northward past Plainwell and Otsego. During this era of burgeoning development, the landscape is densely dotted with rural schoolhouses, including the Miner School, Selma School, and Grand Prairie School, reflecting a well-established network of township communities. The city of Kalamazoo itself shows a concentrated urban grid, flanked by the State Hospital and Nazareth Academy, while the outskirts feature growing residential areas like Oakwood Heights and Parchment.

A robust railroad network, including the Michigan Central RR and the Grand Rapids and Indiana RR, converges on the city, illustrating its role as a regional transit hub. Beyond the river valleys, the terrain opens into the flatlands of Gun Plain and the fertile Rich Land township. Smaller settlements such as Alamo, Doster, and Comstock are clearly mapped, providing a detailed look at the local geography before mid-century suburban expansion changed the character of these outlying villages.