The seat of Van Buren County, Paw Paw, Michigan is situated at the confluence of the east and south branches of the Paw Paw River in northeast Paw Paw Township, in the southwestern Lower Peninsula.
The northern portion of the city wraps around a portion of Maple Lake, and includes Maple Island and Brigg Pond. Ackley Lake is just outside the northeast village limits.
I-94/runs east-west through the southern portion of the village, and Red Arrow Highway roughly parallels the Interstate to the north, and both intersect M-40 and County Road 665 within the village.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Paw Paw include Lawton, Mattawan, Lawrence, Gobles, Decatur, Bloomingdale, Hartford, Marcellus, Breedsville, Bangor, Portage, and Kalamazoo.
Maple Lake was created by the village government through the erection of a hydropower dam in 1907. The 172-acre lake has a maximum depth of about fifteen feet, with the deepest areas associated with the old river channel. The lake is popular for fishing. Just off the shores of the lake, in the northeast, Maple Island is owned and maintained by the village as a park, and is accessible by a footbridge or by canoe or kayak.
European-American settlement of the area began in 1828, and the community was named for the pawpaw trees that grew along the river, although they are far less common today.
Rodney Hinkley established a farm in the northern part of the current village in 1832. That same year, Pierce Barber built a sawmill along the river in what is now the western part of the village. The following year, he sold out to Peter Gremps and Lyman I. Daniels, who also acquired a large tract of the adjoining land.
Gremps opened the first store in the community and became its first postmaster on May 7, 1834. In the spring of 1838, Gremps and Daniels arranged to have a townsite surveyed and platted, and Paw Paw was designated the county seat that year.
Gremps returned to the East to bring his family to settle in Paw Paw and, while he was way, Daniels offered Daniel O. Dodge an entire block of the new community if he would operate a tavern there. Dodge's Tavern was located on the south side of Main Street, which is now Michigan Avenue. At that time, the town was so heavily wooded that travelers sometimes passed through without realizing there was a town there.
By 1840, Paw Paw had a doctor's office, store, and tavern, as well as carpenters, coopers, cabinet makers, blacksmiths, tanners, carriage makers, lawyers, and teachers, but the town was still largely agricultural.
In 1846, Judge Evert B. Dyckman and the Rev. Joseph Woodman platted a 16-block addition to the east of the original plat. A couple of years later, other sections were added, including land belonging to Isaac Willard on the west side of the river. A partner of Gremps, Willard opened a store on Main Street, and was largely responsible for the development of Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Between 1857 and 1887, the Paw Paw Railroad connected Paw Paw with Lawton, where it joined the Michigan Central Railroad. Operating from 1987 and 1995, the Kalamazoo, Lake Shore and Chicago Railway later through the village.
Paw Paw was incorporated as a village in 1859, and was reincorporated in 1867.
After four large fires that destroyed homes and downtown businesses, a fire department was established, and this promoted the need for a public water system, on which construction began in 1898. The village acquired a site from the Paw Paw Mineral Water Company, which had been bottling water from a local mineral spring.
In 1890, a municipal electric system was built on the east branch of the Paw Paw River. However, it soon became apparent that this site lacked a sufficient water supply to provide 24-hour electric service. In 1893, the village discontinued operations at that site, and built another electric plant at the west end of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, using water from the south branch of the Paw Paw River. By 1906, this was overloaded, after which a dam was built on the river, creating Maple Lake.
On December 8, 1937, a large snowstorm caused the waters of Maple Lake to rise, washing away the electric plant and the bridge connecting Maple and Ackley lakes. The plant was rebuilt two years later, but power has been provided by Michigan Gas and Electric Company on a contract basis since the 1950s.
Paw Paw Public Schools provides public PK-12 education to the village through Paw Paw Early Elementary School, Paw Paw Later Elementary School, Paw Paw Middle School, Paw Paw High School, and the Cedar Street Community & Family Center.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the village of Paw Paw, Michigan. Topics related to the municipal, county, or any other governmental bodies within the village, and local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events, are appropriate here.
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Recommended Resources
Amore Pizza Ristorante & Sports Lounge
Situated on West Michigan Avenue in Paw Paw, Michigan, the Italian restaurant is open seven days a week. Its address, a map, hours of operation, and contacts are posted on the site, which includes a menu and the ability to place orders online. Offering pizza and Italian, American, and Mexican cuisine, Amore serves lunch, dinner, coffee, and a full bar, and offers catering and delivery services, takeout, and a full lunch buffet, as well as entertainment, dancing, and group accommodations.
http://www.amorepizzapawpaw.com/
Affiliated with the Choice Hotels Group, eligible stays can earn points and free stays for Choice Privileges Rewards members, and non-members may join online. Located on Ampey Road in Paw Paw, Michigan, the hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites, and details of its room options include photographs, rates, and online bookings. A summary of the facilities, the address, a list of amenities, guest reviews, a virtual tour, and an overview of nearby attractions and events are provided.
https://www.choicehotels.com/michigan/paw-paw/comfort-inn-hotels/mi154
A photo gallery depicts this lodging facility, including photographs of representative rooms, lobby, and other common areas. Located off of I-94, the hotel is near Swiss Valley and Timber Ridge ski areas, and convenient for business, vacationing, or commuting travelers. As part of the Choice Hotels Group, members of its Choice Privileges Rewards program will earn points or discounts on eligible stays, and non-members may sign up for the program online. Online reservations are available.
https://www.choicehotels.com/michigan/paw-paw/econo-lodge-hotels/mi280
Paw Paw Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber serves to advance the economic viability of its members and the community, encouraging growth, embracing change, and expanding opportunities. An introduction to the Chamber is provided, including a member directory, networking opportunities, and an online member application. Other resources include a guide to local guest accommodations, shopping venues, and restaurants, as well as a calendar of events, and notices and information about sponsored community events and fundraisers.
https://www.pawpawchamber.com/
The origins of the library were the private library of the late Rev. E.H. Harvey, which was offered by his widow, Mrs. Florence Harvey, on the condition that the village provide a building and annual support for library service. Its history is told here, board members and staff are acknowledged, and the Friends of the Library organization is introduced. The library's location, hours of operation, a calendar of events, an overview of its services, and on-site and digital resources are offered.
https://www.pawpawlib.org/
The K-12 school system in Paw Paw, Michigan includes an early and a late elementary school, a middle school, a high school, and a community and family center, each of which is highlighted here, with schedules, faculty, and staff information, and other details. The district's resources for students, adults, parents, staff, and alumni are discussed, and its policies on facility use and scheduling are included. District departments and employment opportunities are included on the site.
https://www.ppps.org/
Created and maintained by the South Haven Van Buren County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the site features the village of Paw Paw, Michigan, with an eye toward promoting the area as a tourism and vacation destination. Featured are area lodging facilities, restaurants, and attractions, as well as shopping and entertainment venues, wineries, breweries, art, culture, and theater offerings. Sports and outdoor recreation sites, campsites, and other amenities in Paw Paw are highlighted.
http://www.stayinpawpaw.org/
Located in Van Buren County, the civil township's principal village is Paw Paw, in the northeastern portion of the township. The official township website provides the address and a map showing the location of the township offices, office hours, and contacts. A township calendar, meeting agendas and minutes, and a staff directory are included, along with an introduction to township departments, community services, and public safety programs and services. Notices are posted on the site.
http://www.pawpawtownship.org/
Founded in 1829 and organized in 1837, Van Buren County was named for Martin Van Buren before he became president. The official county website publishes county commission agendas and minutes, tax information, maps and GIS data, employment opportunities, and connections for the Sheriff's office and county court system. Also included is a business directory, and a guide to county services, parks, and facilities, as well as local schools, health services, and services to seniors and youth.
https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/
Paw Paw is the county seat of Van Buren County, in Southwest Michigan. The official municipal website offers the text of the master plan of the village, a profile of the community, demographics, area amenities, economic and finance opportunities, and job availabilities, along with a guide to village departments, programs, and facilities. The village council, commissions, and boards, agendas and minutes, code of ordinances, FOIA policies, administrative contacts, and downloadable forms.
https://www.pawpaw.net/
The multi-day event is held each September in Paw Paw, Michigan. Schedules for the upcoming festival are posted, and a festival map shows the location of the various events, as well as parking and transport information, a list of sponsors, vendor information, setup times, as well as application forms. Volunteer opportunities are highlighted, and an online volunteer application is included. Festival board information, contacts, and a guide to places to stay within the village are included.
https://www.wineandharvestfestival.com/
