Parchment, Michigan

Parchment is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census recorded a population of 1,804. The name is derived from the parchment company that used to manufacture there.Parchment is located just northeast of the city of Kalamazoo, and is mostly surrounded by Kalamazoo Township.HistoryThe Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company was founded in 1909. The founder, Jacob 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, "Uncle Jake" left a tract of 40 acres (160,000 m2) located in the center of the city, this later became Kindleberger Park in his honor. Later in 1939 Parchment became a city by a majority vote, and has become known as "The Paper City" since then. Over the years the KVP company was bought out by or merged with other companies including, Sutherland Paper Company, Brown Company, James River, and finally Crown-Vantage. 2000 marked the end of paper making in Parchment and the city has struggled to keep itself afloat. Now a great debate in the city exists as to what to do with the old paper mill property. As of 2011 the first mill building has been demolished with plans to demolish the other building at a later date.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.93sqmi, of which 0.92sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water.Parchment is east of the Kalamazoo River.DemographicsIn the November 2010 gubernatorial election, 588 ballots were cast in the city of Parchment.