Kalamazoo (http://www.ci.kalamazoo.mi.us) is a city in Southwestern Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 77,145, with a metropolitan area of 452,851, which includes neighboring Battle Creek. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County.
The city has a strong higher education presence, being home to Western Michigan University with 25,000 students, Kalamazoo College a private, liberal arts institution, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Because of the the first downtown pedestrian mall in America, Kalamazoo got the nickname the "Mall City" In 1959"
