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Osceola County, Michigan

Coordinates: 43°59′N 85°20′W / 43.98°N 85.33°W / 43.98; -85.33
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Not to be confused with Oscoda County, Michigan.
Osceola County
County
Osceola County Courthouse
Osceola County Courthouse
Official seal of Osceola County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Osceola County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 85°20′W / 43.98°N 85.33°W / 43.98; -85.33
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedApril 1, 1840 (created)
1869 (organized)[1]
Named forOsceola
SeatReed City
Largest cityReed City
Area
 • Total
573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land566.39 sq mi (1,466.9 km2)
 • Water6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
22,891
 • Density41.4/sq mi (16.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.osceola-county.org

Osceola County (/ˌɒsiˈoʊlə/ OSS-ee-OH-lə) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 22,891.[2] The county seat is Reed City.[3]

History

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A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Osceola County as Unwattin, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4]

When established by the Michigan Legislature on April 1, 1840, it was named Unwattin County,[4][5] after Chief Unwattin of the local Ottawa people.[6] As a representative of the Ottawa nation, he participated in negotiations for the Treaty of Washington (1836) that granted a vast expanse of Michigan to the US Federal Government.[4] The name was changed March 8, 1843, to Osceola, after the Seminole chief who achieved renown in Florida.[1]

The county was initially attached for administrative purposes to Ottawa County. In 1855, it was attached to Mason County; in 1857, to Newaygo County; and in 1859, to Mecosta County.[4]

As the population increased, separate county government was organized in 1869, with Hersey designated as the county seat. Reed City became the official county seat in 1927.[1] The county was developed initially for harvesting and processing lumber, and many European Americans came to work in lumbering and the mills.

Geography

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The low rolling hills[7] of Osceola County were completely wooded prior to settlement; at present about half of the area has been cleared and converted to agricultural or urban use. There are numerous small lakes and ponds scattered across the county; the largest is Rose Lake, northeast of LeRoy.[8] The highest point on the terrain (1,722 feet/525 meters ASL) is Grove Hill, in Sherman Township.[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 566 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (6.7%) is water.[10] The county is drained by the Muskegon River and branches of the Manistee River. Osceola County is part of Northern Michigan.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186027—
18702,0937,651.9%
188010,777414.9%
189014,63035.8%
190017,85922.1%
191017,8890.2%
192015,221−14.9%
193012,806−15.9%
194013,3093.9%
195013,7973.7%
196013,595−1.5%
197014,8389.1%
198018,92827.6%
199020,1466.4%
200023,19715.1%
201023,5281.4%
202022,891−2.7%
2023 (est.)23,330[11]1.9%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2018[2]

2000 census

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At the 2000 United States Census,[16] there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households and 6,415 families in the county. The population density was 41 per square mile (16/km2). There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.51% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.0% were of German, 11.9% English, 11.0% American, 8.8% Irish, 6.5% Dutch and 5.2% Polish ancestry. 96.8% spoke English, 1.1% German and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 8,861 households, of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

27.10% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median household income was $34,102 and the median family income was $39,205. Males had a median income of $29,837 compared with $22,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,632. About 9.50% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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United States presidential election results for Osceola County, Michigan[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 9,639 73.11% 3,326 25.23% 219 1.66%
2020 8,928 72.35% 3,214 26.05% 198 1.60%
2016 7,336 69.15% 2,705 25.50% 568 5.35%
2012 6,141 59.75% 3,981 38.73% 156 1.52%
2008 5,973 54.17% 4,855 44.03% 198 1.80%
2004 6,599 58.98% 4,467 39.93% 122 1.09%
2000 5,680 57.20% 4,006 40.34% 244 2.46%
1996 3,855 42.41% 4,085 44.94% 1,150 12.65%
1992 3,606 38.46% 3,529 37.64% 2,241 23.90%
1988 5,218 64.25% 2,860 35.22% 43 0.53%
1984 5,923 73.21% 2,127 26.29% 40 0.49%
1980 4,902 60.04% 2,650 32.46% 612 7.50%
1976 4,467 62.23% 2,603 36.26% 108 1.50%
1972 4,441 69.95% 1,706 26.87% 202 3.18%
1968 3,705 63.77% 1,509 25.97% 596 10.26%
1964 2,779 48.84% 2,891 50.81% 20 0.35%
1960 4,477 76.33% 1,378 23.50% 10 0.17%
1956 4,549 78.28% 1,236 21.27% 26 0.45%
1952 4,607 78.86% 1,160 19.86% 75 1.28%
1948 3,122 68.54% 1,276 28.01% 157 3.45%
1944 3,787 73.14% 1,338 25.84% 53 1.02%
1940 4,217 72.85% 1,555 26.86% 17 0.29%
1936 3,107 56.29% 1,992 36.09% 421 7.63%
1932 2,969 55.18% 2,321 43.13% 91 1.69%
1928 3,923 86.66% 582 12.86% 22 0.49%
1924 3,050 77.79% 566 14.44% 305 7.78%
1920 3,603 80.84% 769 17.25% 85 1.91%
1916 2,193 61.90% 1,285 36.27% 65 1.83%
1912 1,306 37.03% 609 17.27% 1,612 45.70%
1908 2,718 74.38% 767 20.99% 169 4.63%
1904 2,936 80.24% 562 15.36% 161 4.40%
1900 2,635 71.08% 880 23.74% 192 5.18%
1896 2,268 62.90% 1,177 32.64% 161 4.46%
1892 1,601 51.13% 1,092 34.88% 438 13.99%
1888 1,882 57.01% 1,090 33.02% 329 9.97%
1884 1,497 58.43% 792 30.91% 273 10.66%

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Communities

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Swedish Evangical Lutheran Church in Tustin

Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Education

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Intermediate School District

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The Mecosta–Osceola Intermediate School District, based in Big Rapids, services the majority of the students in the county (Evart and Reed City), while Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District covering services for the others (Marion and Pine River). The ISD offers regional special education services, a residential at-risk youth center, and technical career programs for students of its districts.[18][19]

Public School Districts[20]

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Osceola County is served by the following regular public school districts:

Private Schools[21]

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Osceola County has the following private schools:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bibliography on Osceola County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  6. ^ "Michigan Historical Collections". The Commission. October 6, 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Osceola. I. A N. W. central county of the S. peninsula of Michigan" . The American Cyclopædia.
  8. ^ Osceola County MI (Google Maps, accessed 7 October 2020)
  9. ^ "Grove Hill, Highest Point in Osceola County MI". Waymarking.com. July 20, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  16. ^ "US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  18. ^ "Welcome to MOISD". Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  19. ^ "Welcome". Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  20. ^ "Search for Public School Data - Osceola County, MI". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Educational Sciences. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  21. ^ "Search for Private Schools - Osceola County, MI". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Educational Sciences. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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43°59′N 85°20′W / 43.98°N 85.33°W / 43.98; -85.33

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