Current Richland
The Village of Richland is located in the Township of Richland within Kalamazoo County, about 9 miles northeast of Kalamazoo.
According to the 2022 U.S. Census, the Village of Richland has a population of 979 people, with the Township of Richland reporting 8,934 residents as of July 2023. For more Census information on Richland Township, click here.
Richland is part of the Gull Lake School District, which includes Richland Elementary School, Thomas M. Ryan Intermediate School, Gull Lake Middle School, and Gull Lake High School. For more information on GLCS, click here.
What started as an informational brochure in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial, quickly turned into Richland: From Its Prairie Beginnings, the official book about the history of Richland and the surrounding areas.
Published in 1981, this book was a collaboration that took dozens of people several years to research, write up and publish. Broken up into 4 parts, including Richland Through the Years, The People and Their Lives, The People and Their Community and Richland in the Bicentennial Year, this collection of Richland history has proven to be an imperative resource to the library and the community.
In 2022, thanks in-part to the Library of Michigan's digitization equipment, Richland: From Its Prairie Beginnings was scanned and archived as an effort to make our community history available to all.
Below is a flipbook view of Richland: From Its Prairie Beginnings, as well as a link to view the title in a PDF format, that allows for keyword searching with the text. We hope that by making this book available digitally through our website, current and former residents and researchers can find the information they need anywhere in the world.
If you would like to view a physical copy of the book, you can check one out at the library.
Copyright Notice:
The contents of Richland: From Its Prairie Beginnings, including text, images, and other materials, are provided for personal and educational use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, printed, distributed, or sold without the prior written permission of the Richland Community Library.
Digital access to the information and images within this book is permitted for research and educational purposes. However, unauthorized printing, reproduction, or commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the Village of Richland, Michigan, is located on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabe people, specifically the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi nations. These Indigenous communities have been the stewards of this land for generations and continue to maintain a profound connection to it.
We honor and respect the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous peoples and this land.This acknowledgment serves as a reminder of the historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities and the importance of recognizing their sovereignty, history, and ongoing contributions to our shared community.