Welcome to Osceola County, Michigan

Osceola County contains the highest location in Michigan’s lower peninsula. During the fur trading and lumbering days, the five rivers that run through the area made it an important trade route.

The county was home for two famous people, Chief Osceola who’s name gained respect during the mid-1800’s and the Rev. George Bennard, author of the famous hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross."

Today, two major highways intersect in Reed City, Highway US 10 runs through Reed City and Evart and is a major route between the industrial Tri-Cities of Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City on the Lake Huron side of Michigan and Ludington, on the Lake Michigan side of the state. US 131 runs north to Cadillac, Traverse City and the Mackinaw Bridge and south to Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

The county supports a diverse economy including industry, mining, agriculture and tourism. The five rivers that run through the county are the Muskegon, Hersey, Pine, Middle Branch and Chippewa making Osceola County well known for trout fishing.

Reed City is also named "Crossroads City" because of the US-10 and US-131, intersection. A Crossroads Celebration was held every August.

It is also "crossroads" to the Pere Marquette Trail and White Pine Trail State Parks, part of Michigan's Rails to Trails. The two trails access three 3 parks in Reed City. The Hersey River also flows through town, and can be viewed from many points within the city's 5 parks.

Evart is located in eastern Osceola County on US-10. Situated on the Muskegon River, this picturesque community has maintained a balance of past and present. While the community enjoys a solid economic base it retains a tradition that includes the annual Dulcimer Festival in July, County Fair in August, and Draft Horse Show on Labor Day Weekend. Evart is also located on the Pere Marquette Rails-To-Trails State Park, with over two miles paved within city limits.

NOTE: I worked for the Osceola County Herald newspaper for about a year in the 1970's as a college work experience from Ferris State College. During that experience I had the opportunity to play guitar at the Evart High School talent show and was Humpty Dumpty in the Reed City Centennial Parade. The Osceola Herald produced a wonderful newspaper supplement recording the community's history.

Lewis Geer