Parchment, Michigan
Parchment is a city of 2,008 people in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, founded in 1909.
Why visit Parchment
Townapedia lists 32 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 1 place to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include State Theatre, Alonzo T. Prentice House, Bronson Park Historic District and Bow in the Clouds Preserve.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 18°F.
Weather in Parchment
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Parchment
Parchment is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2020 census recorded a population of 1,926. The name is derived from the parchment company that used to manufacture paper on the East bank of the Kalamazoo River.
From the Wikipedia article Parchment, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
State Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Theatre and movie theater in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Museums and landmarks32
Alonzo T. Prentice House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
House in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Bronson Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic district of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Charles E. Stuart House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Michigan's second U.S. Senator Charles Stuart home, historic
David Lilienfeld House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
House in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Delano Farms
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic farm near Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Desenberg Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Commercial building in Michigan
East Campus
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Site of the original campus of Western Michigan University
Engine House No. 3
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic firehouse in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Enoch Shaffer House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Single-family home located at 1437 Douglas Avenue in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Gibson, Inc. Factory and Office Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Industrial building
Haymarket Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic district in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Henderson Park-West Main Hill Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic district in Kalamazoo, Michigan
20 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes1
History
The Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company was founded in 1909. The founder, Jacob "Uncle Jake" Kindleberger, set up shop along the Kalamazoo River. The company then started selling pieces of land located around the mill to the mill workers. In 1932, Kindleberger donated 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land located in the center of the city and across the street from the mill. The land was hilly and was determined to be unsuitable for industrial use. This land became Kindleberger Park. In 1939, Parchment became a city. Over the years, the KVP Company was bought by or merged with other companies, including Sutherland Paper Company, Brown Company, Gulf & Western, James River, Fort Howard, Georgia Pacific, and finally Crown-Vantage. In 2000 paper making in Parchment ended, and thereafter the city has struggled to sustain itself. Its population has debated what to do with the old paper mill property. As of 2011 the completed remediation includes the demolition of Mill #1 and the capping of the landfills. In 2018 a crisis followed discovery of municipal water contamination. As of 2026 eighteen buildings remain abandoned with plans to demolish two large above ground storage tanks.
From the History section of Parchment, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries48
Healthcare1
Map of Parchment
96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 1.7 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 1.3 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.1 in |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 3.7 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 3.2 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.4 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 3.3 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 3.7 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.5 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 24°F | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kalamazoo Battle Ck Intl Ap (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Kalamazoo County has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2003-09-23: Power Outage (Other)
- 2001-01-10: Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Kalamazoo 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Galesburg 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Portage 9 mi south, about 15 min by car
- Otsego 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
- Mattawan 14 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Level Park-Oak Park 15 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Battle Creek 17 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Lawton 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Brownlee Park 22 mi east, about 35 min by car
- Marcellus 24 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- PeterBAppledornHouseKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stuart House, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Enoch Shaffer House, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- State Theatre, Gpwitteveen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Haymarket Historic District, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old Fire House No.4, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Desenberg Building, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Henderson Castle at 100 Monroe St, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HenryGilbertHouseKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Alonzo T. prentice House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- VineAreaHistoricDistrictBKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masonic Temple-Kalamazoo, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Portage Street Fire Station, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- DavidLilienfeldHouseKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rickman Hotel, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Michigan Central Depot-Kalamazoo, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old Kalamazoo Central Highschool (14341458587), Kalamazoo Public Library, No restrictions
- SouthStreetHistoricDistrictBKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gibson office, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- LadiesLibraryAssociationBuildingKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Engine House No.3, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- TheMarlboroughKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lawrence and Chapin Buildiing, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Delano Homestead, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Western Michigan University East Hall, Fbthpg, CC0
- IsaacBrownHouseKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Fountain of the Pioneers, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WIlliamLWelshTerraceKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- RosePlaceHistoricDistrictKalamazooMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- US Post Office-Kalamazoo, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- KIArts-Aug-2012, 72elyod, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Augustine Cathedral-Kalamazoo (cropped), rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Cody Hough, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Borgess Hospital entrance, MSwierenga, CC0
- Borgess Hospital, MSwierenga, CC0
- Ascension Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, United States, Imzadi1979, CC BY-SA 4.0
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