Allegan, Michigan

49010

Allegan is located in central Allegan County, at the junctions of M-40, M-89 and M-222. It functions as the county seat and is the largest city in the county. Situated on scenic Lake Allegan, (created by a dam on the Kalamazoo River), this town hosts a diversity of small business and manufacturing companies, ranging from heating equipment to pharmaceutical products. Allegan’s historic downtown includes a variety of small shops, stores and restaurants contained in an elegant Victorian setting. The waterfront features a winding boardwalk and park, with a great view of the old iron girder bridge.
 

Allegan was named after the Alleghen Indian tribe in 1837 by Michigan statesman and historian, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. It was formed around 1833 by George Ketchum, Steven Vickery and Anthony Cooley, investors from the Kalamazoo and Marshall areas, who together purchased the land (which is now the downtown area) from the government. It was organized officially as a village in 1838 and incorporated as a city in 1907.