Osceola County, Michigan

History

When established by the Michigan Legislature on April 1, 1840, it was named Unwattin County, after Chief Unwattin of the local Ottawa people. 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. The name was changed March 8, 1843, to Osceola, after the Seminole chief who achieved renown in Florida.

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.

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. The county was developed initially for harvesting and processing lumber, and many European Americans came to work in lumbering and the mills.

Geography

The low rolling hills 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. The highest point on the terrain (1722 ft ASL) is Grove Hill, in Sherman Township. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 sqmi, of which 566 sqmi is land and 6.7 sqmi (6.7%) is water. The county is drained by the Muskegon River and branches of the Manistee River. Osceola County is part of Northern Michigan.

Adjacent counties

• Wexford County − northwest
• Missaukee County − northeast
• Clare County − east
• Isabella County − southeast
• Mecosta County − south
• Newaygo County − southwest
• Lake County − west

Major highways

• in Reed City

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 22,891. The median age was 43.6 years, 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian,

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 9,152 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.3% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 12,534 housing units, of which 27.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.1% were owner-occupied and 19.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.

2000 census

At the 2000 United States census, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households and 6,415 families in the county. The population density was 41 /mi2. There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 /mi2. 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

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

Cities

• Evart
• Reed City (county seat)

Villages

• Hersey
• LeRoy
• Marion
• Tustin

Unincorporated communities

• Ashton
• Dighton
• Highland
• Ina
• Orono
• Park Lake
• Pisgah Heights
• Sears

Townships

• Burdell Township
• Cedar Township
• Evart Township
• Hartwick Township
• Hersey Township
• Highland Township
• Le Roy Township
• Lincoln Township
• Marion Township
• Middle Branch Township
• Orient Township
• Osceola Township
• Richmond Township
• Rose Lake Township
• Sherman Township
• Sylvan Township

Education

Intermediate School District

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.

Public School Districts

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

• Evart Public Schools
• Marion Public Schools
• Pine River Area Schools
• Reed City Area Public Schools

Private Schools

Osceola County has the following private schools:

• Trinity Lutheran School (Lutheran)

References

References

1. "Bibliography on Osceola County". [[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]].
2. "Osceola County, Michigan".
3. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies".
6. George Dawson. (1840). "Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840".
7. (October 6, 2018). "Michigan Historical Collections". The Commission.
8. {{Cite AmCyc
9. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Osceola+County,+MI/@43.9642744,-85.3244623,11.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x881f3f3de5846b2b:0xfe0960688290677f!8m2!3d43.9257279!4d-85.354965 ''Osceola County MI'' (Google Maps, accessed 7 October 2020)]
10. (July 20, 2010). "Grove Hill, Highest Point in Osceola County MI". Waymarking.com.
11. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
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17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
19. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
20. "US Census website". US Census Bureau.
21. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
22. "Welcome to MOISD".
23. "Welcome".
24. "Search for Public School Data - Osceola County, MI". [[Institute of Education Sciences.
25. "Search for Private Schools - Osceola County, MI". [[Institute of Education Sciences.