Comstock Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Comstock Township, Michigan
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Charter township
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| Charter Township of Comstock | ||
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| Nickname(s):
Comstock
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| Motto(s):
"A Community with Opportunity"
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Location within Kalamazoo County and an administered portion of the CDP of Comstock Northwest
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 Comstock Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Comstock Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| County | Kalamazoo | |
| Organized | 1834 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Charter township | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 35.3 sq mi (91.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 33.3 sq mi (86.3 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.9 sq mi (5.0 km2) | |
| Elevation | 810 ft (247 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,231 | |
| • Density | 432.07/sq mi (166.82/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes | ||
| Area code(s) | 269 | |
| FIPS code | 26-077-17680 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626126 | |
Comstock Charter Township is a special kind of local government area called a charter township in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It's located just east of the city of Kalamazoo. In 2020, about 15,231 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring Comstock: Local Communities
Comstock Township is home to several smaller communities, each with its own unique features.
Comstock: The Original Settlement
The community of Comstock is found in the western part of the township. It's located along the Kalamazoo River and a highway called M-96. The township is named after this community.
The first sawmill in Kalamazoo County opened here in 1831. A gristmill, which grinds grain, was built soon after in 1832. A post office started operating in February 1832. The first school, Comstock School, opened in 1833.
Comstock Northwest: Near Kalamazoo
Comstock Northwest is a specific area in the northwest part of the township. It borders the city of Kalamazoo.
East Comstock and Lawndale
East Comstock is a small area just east of the main Comstock community. It's also on M-96, near Morrow Lake. Lawndale is another small place located between East Comstock and Galesburg, also along M-96.
Galesburg: A Neighboring City
The city of Galesburg borders the eastern part of Comstock Township. Many people living in the eastern part of the township use the Galesburg ZIP code.
Education: Schools in Comstock Township
Students living in Comstock Township attend schools from three different public school districts:
- Comstock Public Schools, located in Comstock (Kalamazoo), Michigan.
- Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools, located in Galesburg, Michigan.
- Gull Lake Community Schools, located in Richland, Michigan.
History of Comstock Township
The land that is now Comstock Township was first surveyed in 1827. The first settler arrived in 1829. More settlers came in the early 1830s, including Horace H. Comstock, who the township is named after.
Comstock Township was officially organized by the government in 1834. Before that, it was part of a larger area called Arcadia Township. Over time, smaller townships like Richland, Ross, Charleston, and Climax were separated from it. Comstock Township became a charter township in 1964. This means it has more local control over its government.
Geography: Land and Water
Comstock Township covers about 91.3 square kilometers (about 35.2 square miles). Most of this area, about 86.3 square kilometers (33.3 square miles), is land. The rest, about 5.0 square kilometers (1.9 square miles), is water. The Kalamazoo River flows through the middle of the township from east to west. This river includes Morrow Lake, which is a reservoir.
Population: Who Lives Here
In 2020, the township had a population of 15,231 people. The average household size was about 2.57 people. The average family size was about 3.04 people.
The population includes people of all ages. About 26.8% of the population was under 18 years old. About 11.8% of the population was 65 years or older. The average age of people in the township was 37 years old.
Getting Around: Transportation
Comstock Township has good transportation options:
- Highways: Interstate 94 runs through the township, with several exits. State highways M-96 and M-343 also serve the area.
- Public Transit: The Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus system provides bus service within Comstock Township. You can take a bus to the Kalamazoo Transportation Center in downtown Kalamazoo.
- Railroads: Freight trains from Norfolk Southern and Grand Trunk Western / Canadian National railroads operate here. For passenger trains, Amtrak provides service about 4 miles west in downtown Kalamazoo.
- Airport: The Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport is about 5 miles southwest. It offers daily flights for both people and cargo.
Economy: What Comstock is Known For
Comstock Township has some interesting businesses and industries.
"Bedding Plant Capital of the World"
The rich soil along the Kalamazoo River valley is perfect for growing plants. This has made the Comstock area famous as the "Bedding Plant Capital of the World." Comstock Township is home to the largest bedding plant cooperative in the United States. This means many plant growers work together. They sell hundreds of thousands of plants each year to garden centers all over the country. You can often see these plants in parks and along roads.
Bell's Brewery
Comstock Township is where the main production facility for Bell's Brewery is located. This brewery started in 1985. In 2003, it moved its main production to a large facility in Comstock Township. The brewery expanded in 2012 and is now the largest brew house in Michigan. It can produce over 1 million barrels of beverages each year.
Midlink Business Park
The Midlink Business Park is a large area with many different businesses. It used to be a big General Motors factory. After the factory closed in 1998, the site was bought by a group of public and private partners. They worked to turn the huge 2.2 million-square-foot building into a business park. By 2010, 13 different businesses were operating there, including a hotel.
