While Coldwater’s population had begun a decline in the early 2000s, the arrival of Clemens Food Group and their 650,000-square-foot processing plant on the city’s northeast end brought nearly 1,800 jobs to the region. Today, the population of this southern Michigan city has rebounded to almost 14,000 residents. With a public-use airport, a regional hospital and many ongoing developments, Coldwater is on the rise as one of the fastest-growing communities in the state. “That industrial growth has led to our residential growth,” city manager Keith Baker says. “We’re definitely an anomaly within the state of Michigan.”
Clemen's Food Group employs nearly 2000 residents of Coldwater at their plant.
Public-use Branch County Memorial Airport west of Coldwater is home to a local flight school.
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Limited housing with a growing apartment presence
With less than two months’ supply at any time, Coldwater has limited properties available, with lakefront houses and vacant land largely dominating the market. There are also manufactured housing communities in Trail Tree Village and Fairview Estates, with most homes selling at a median price of $240,000. Additionally, the city is constructing over 400 new apartments through several ongoing developments, including the recently completed Summit Apartments. “We tend to be a summer destination for people in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois – a lot of vacation homes, Vrbos and cottages on the adjoining lake chains,” Keith says.
Coldwater's housing market is largely dominated by lake houses and vacation homes.
The recently completed Summit Apartments brings an affordable housing option to Coldwater.
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Public transportation and steam trains
Two major thoroughfares provide access to the community of Coldwater – Interstate 69, which runs from Indiana through the Canadian border, and U.S. Highway 12, which runs east to west. The Branch Area Transit Authority has offered public transportation throughout the county for more than 30 years, and scenic train rides through Hillsdale have been in service on the Little River Railroad since 1975. Emergency care should be sought out at the ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, while the closest commercial airport is 50 miles away at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.
Campgrounds and lake life
With 12 parks, two lakes and a river, Coldwater is an active outdoor community with activities ranging from hiking to four-wheeling. “There’s lots of recreation around the area,” says John Rakocy, an associate broker with Hauska Home and Farm. “Boating, kayaking, fishing – anything you can think of with water.” There are over 400 campsites to pull the RV into at the 1,074-acre Waffle Farm Campgrounds, and in the chilly winter months, the pond next to Sauk River freezes into a skating pond that families can use for free.
Waffle Farm Campground has over 400 lakeside campsites for Coldwater locals to rent.
Summer in Coldwater brings a laid-back lake life with ice skating and ice fishing in winter.
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Branches of education
The closest school district is the Coldwater Community Schools system, which earned a B-minus on Niche.com and has a student-teacher ratio of 21-to-1 across its five campuses. Branch Intermediate School District offers early and special education services, while the Branch Area Careers Center provides a technical education curriculum. Outside of kindergarten through 12th-grade education, locals have the Kellogg Community College’s Grahl Center, which offers nearly two dozen college courses through the center’s 13 classrooms.
Coldwater High School in Branch Intermediate School District boasts a B- Niche.com rating.
Branch Area Careers Center features a range of technical programs for students of all ages.
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Historic theaters and opera houses
Built in 1882, the Tibbits Opera House is one of the oldest establishments in the city and the second-oldest surviving theater in the state. Restored to its original condition in 2013, this 500-seat venue is a popular destination for community events, concerts and live theatrical performances featuring local talent. There’s also the Capri Drive-In Theater, which recently celebrated 60 years of playing movies on its two big screens. Festivals throughout the year, including Strawberry and Apple Fests highlighting the agricultural influence on the city, bring the community together.
Shakespeare's bust has overlooked Coldwater showgoers at Tibbits Opera House since 1882.
For over 60 year Capri Drive-In Theater has entertained Coldwater movie lovers.
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Social life in the downtown district
Nearly 100 shops, salons and restaurants are located within Downtown Coldwater, a lively commercial hub with brick buildings dating back between the 1860s and 1920s. Dining options include local bars, grilles and a brewery, and locals have many grocery store options on hand, including Walmart, Meijer and Aldi.
A Walmart east of downtown gives Coldwater shoppers easy access to big box variety.
A convenient Aldi gives residents of Coldwater affordable access to premium quality foods.
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Weather and crime
With warm summers and freezing winters, Coldwater earns its namesake with an average of 42 inches of snowfall every year. According to Coldwater Police Department records, the crime rate decreased by 8% over the past two years and is below the national average. It’s also worth noting that around 1,400 inmates live at the Lakeland Correctional Facility, which is at the city's northernmost point.
Written By
David Dunn
Photography Contributed By
James Gordon
Video By
Maurice Boone
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Natasha Anderson,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Coldwater, MI sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Coldwater, MI over the last 12 months is $239,950, up 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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