Kalamazoo lies on the lower reaches of the Kalamazoo River at its confluence with Portage Creek, 35 miles east of Lake Michigan, 107 miles west of Ann Arbor, and 70 miles west of Lansing. The city also represents the halfway point between Chicago and Detroit. The mucky marshland between the river and the creek once supported vast celery fields; today the fertile soil supports large bedding-plant fields.
Nearby Lake Michigan and the prevailing westerly winds produce a lake effect, which increases cloudiness and snowfall during the fall and winter months. Kalamazoo rarely experiences prolonged periods of hot, humid weather in summer or extreme cold during the winter. Precipitation is generally well distributed throughout the year, and the wettest month is usually June. Average seasonal snowfall is nearly 70 inches annually.
Area: 25.18 square miles (2000)
Elevation: Ranges from 700 to 1,000 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: January, 24.7° F; July, 72.9° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 36.4 inches of rain, 70 inches of snow