Plainwell is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan.

[5] This part of Michigan was settled in the 1830s, after the removal of native people.

Allegan County was organized in 1835, and the Plainwell area was settled soon after.

After the advent of the automobile, U.S. Route 131 was created and run through the town.

In the 1960s, an improved 4-lane US-131 was built west of town to connect Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, with an interchange on M-89 between Plainwell and Otsego.

This allowed the town to become a kind of "bedroom community" for Kalamazoo or the southern part of Grand Rapids.

33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Michigan Career and Technical Institute is also located nearby.