Platt Maps

The Heritage Room contains a variety of Platt Maps of Kalamazoo County and the surrounding communities which are excellent for individuals researching their family history, conducting house and land research, or just wondering about the history of the community. Unfortunately, due to their fragile nature most of these items are available only through an appointment with the archivist which can be made by calling (269) 329-4542 ext. 608. Information on the maps include names of land owners, location of schools and government buildings, cemeteries, road ways (often un-named), and lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.

Kalamazoo County:

1873, 1890 and 1910 including the townships of: Alamo, Cooper, Richland, Ross, Oshtemo, Kalamazoo, Comstock, Charleston, Texas, Portage, Pavilion, Climax. Prairie Ronde, Schoolcraft, Brady and Wakeshma.

Also within the collection is a large Kalamazoo County wall map from 1861.

Van Buren County:

1873 and 1912, including the townships of: Almena, Antwerp, Arlington, Bangor, Bloomingdale, Columbia, Covert, Decatur, Geneva, Hamilton, Hartford, Keeler, Lawrence, Paw Paw, Pine Grove, Porter, South Haven, Waverly

Ottawa and Kent Counties, ca. 1890 including the townships of:
Ottawa County-Chester, Spring Lake, Crockery, Polkton, Wright, Grand, Robinson, Allendale, Talmadge, Olive, Blendon, Georgetown, Holland, Zeeland and Jamestown

Kent County:

Tyrone, Solon, Nelson, Spencer, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Oakfield, Alpine, Plainfield, Cannon, Grattan, Walker, Grand Rapids, Ada, Vergennes, Wyoming, Paris, Cascade, Lowell, Byron, Gaines, Caledonia and Bowne

Allegan County:

1873 and 1913, including the townships of: Lake Town, Fillmore, Overisel, Salem, Door, Leighton, Saugatuck, Manlius, Heath, Monterey, Hopkins, Wayland, Ganges, Clyde, Pine Plains, Allegan, Watson, Martin, Casco, Lee, Cheshire, Trowbridge, Otsego and Gun Plain.