Situated on the line between Climax Township and Pavilion Township, in the southeast quadrant of Kalamazoo County, Scotts, Michigan is an unincorporated community.
In Michigan, unincorporated communities don't have defined boundaries. Generally, however, Scotts is considered to be the community situated southeast of the railroad track, and on either side of 36th Street.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Scotts include Climax, Galesburg, Portage, Vicksburg, Augusta, Richland, Kalamazoo, Mendon, Springfield, Athens, Parchment, Schoolcraft, and Battle Creek, while the unincorporated communities of Lawndale, Fulton, and East Comstock are within ten miles.
Prior to its settlement by European-Americans, the area had been inhabited for several thousands of years by indigenous people, such as the Ojibwa, the Ottawa, and the Potowatomi.
Land in the area of Scotts was acquired by Dan Wheeler in 1845, and the site that became known as the Scotts Mill Site, just west of the current village, was settled in 1836. The Scotts Mill was built on land acquired by Lyman Earl in 1844 and included a sawmill and flour mill. Later, the White family operated the mill for several generations, although the sawmill burned in 1896. The area became a county park in 1976.
Samuel Scotts, a fur trader, purchased eighty acres of land east of Scotts Mill in 1849, and the community became known as Scotts Crossing, which was shortened to Scotts when a post office was established on February 19, 1872, with Servetus Bathrick as postmaster. Mr. Bathrick platted the townsite in 1874, although it was never incorporated as a village.
The Grand Truck Railroad came through in the mid-1870s. Around 1880, there were twenty-four businesses in Scotts, including two blacksmith shops, a livery stable, a milliner, a masonry shop, a cider manufacturer, a creamery, a flour mill, a sawmill, a pickle manufacturer, and a factory that produced artificial limbs, as well as a railroad depot, two hotels, three saloons, and a dance hall.
A couple of fires in the early 1900s destroyed much of the town, and it never recovered completely.
Until 1946, Scotts had its own school district, which operated the Scotts School. The district was consolidated with the district in Climax, forming Climax-Scotts Community Schools, which operates an elementary school in Scotts and a junior-senior high school in Climax.
Still in operation, the Scotts post office serves large parts of Climax and Pavilion townships, northeast Wakeshma Township, and westward to Indian Lake and Long Lake, in Portage.
This portion of our guide focuses on the community known as Scotts, Michigan. Online resources for local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities within the area are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
CSI is a privately-held company in Scotts, Michigan. The company provides chip processing and cutting fluid management solutions for scrap metal recycling of aluminum, steel, and other metals, including chip shredding, washing, drying, and briquetting, as well as conveyors, centrifuges, and furnace chargers. Its products, parts, and services are featured, including available used equipment. The company address is given, and its location is shown on a map.
https://www.chipsystemsintl.com/
Climax-Scotts Elementary School
Situated on East QR Avenue in Scotts, Michigan, the PK-5th-grade school campus is part of Climax-Scotts Community Schools. The campus offers a traditional PK-5th-grade curriculum, along with preschool, kindergarten, 1-5th grades, and daycare services before and after school. Its location, contacts, and registration information are set forth, along with enrollment forms, daily schedules, a lunch menu, and a staff directory. Curricula and demographics are included.
https://www.csschools.net/elementary-school/
Country Christian Evangelical Free Church
Associated with the Evangelical Free Church movement, the congregation meets at its facilities on South 36th Street in Scotts, Michigan. Its purpose, a statement of beliefs, and an overview of its ministries are set forth, including a list of supported missionaries, email for church leadership members, office hours, and contacts. Its address, a calendar of programs and events, a sermon archive, and a church bulletin are set forth. Contributions to the church may be made online.
https://country-christian.org/
The Scotts, Michigan congregation uses the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. A statement of beliefs, a statement on salvation, and staff introductions are included, along with an overview of its adult Sunday School, teen ministries, children's ministries, and a link to the website for Prairie Baptist School, a K4-12th-grade Christian school. Also included are a calendar of events, highlights of upcoming events, and an online contact form. Contributions to the church may be made online.
https://www.visitpbc.com/
A ministry of the Prairie Baptist Church, the Christian school offers a K4-12th-grade curriculum. Located on East PQ Avenue in Scotts, Michigan, the school has been in operation since 1977. An overview of its mission, biblical education programs, academics, and parent testimonials are offered on the site. Its administrative and teaching staff are introduced, and a calendar of events, a telephone number, email address, and an online contact form are provided on the site.
https://www.prairiebaptistschool.com/
Pride of Scotts Community Center
Located in Scotts, Michigan, the Community Center serves as a venue for a variety of functions, such as weddings, wedding receptions, showers, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, and so on, with a front meeting room, licensed kitchen, and large auditorium available for rental. The history of the organization and Center is set forth, membership information is provided, the board of directors is introduced, and a calendar of events is displayed, along with a gallery of photographs.
https://www.prideofscotts.org/
Acquired by Kalamazoo County in 1973, and opened to the public in 1976, the park offers visitors the opportunity to experience a slice of agricultural and natural history. Situated on 110 acres, including the historic Scotts Milling Company buildings, an 1870s water-wheel-powered mill, a picnic shelter, playground, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. The facilities may also serve as an outdoor wedding spot, as well as a venue for company picnics, school outings, and family gatherings.
https://www.kalcounty.com/parks/scottsmill/
Based in Scotts, Michigan, Tillers' primary mission is to collaborate with small-scale farmers in developing countries to improve security concerns in their communities, as well as with manufacturers of farming equipment for the Amish community, offering classes on farming with draft horses, woodworking, blacksmithing, coopering, tinsmithing, timber framing, toolmaking, and other traditional skills. Its classes, sponsorships, suppliers, and documentation are provided.
http://www.tillersinternational.org/
