The name is derived from the parchment company that used to manufacture paper on the East bank of the Kalamazoo River.

The founder, Jacob "Uncle Jake" Kindleberger, set up shop along the Kalamazoo River.

In 2000 paper making in Parchment ended, and thereafter the city has struggled to sustain itself.

The mill site came under scrutiny again in July 2018, when the city discovered fluorosurfactant (PFAS) contamination in the drinking water.

[4] Residents were advised to stop using the water for drinking/cooking immediately, while the city worked to discover the source of the contamination.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder declared a State of Emergency on July 29.

Because of the unknown source of the PFAS, and the associated costs for new wells and testing, Mayor Robert Britigan III predicted that Parchment will have to permanently use Kalamazoo's drinking water.

In the November 2010 gubernatorial election, 588 ballots were cast in the city of Parchment.

Parchment High School was built in 1959 to accommodate the city's growing population.

Prior to 1959, Parchment students went through 8th grade and then went to Kalamazoo Central High School.

32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.