Osceola County, Michigan

Founding: 1869 (declared in 1840)
Parent counties: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Osceola, Seminole chief
Seat: Hersey (1869–1927); Reed City (1927–)

Land area: 566 square miles

Population (2020): 22,891

Population (historic): 2,093 (1870); 14,630 (1890); 17,889 (1910); 12,806 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1910; 1930–1950; 1960–2010

Subdivisions: Two cities; four villages; 16 townships

National Register listings: 0

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,720 (12.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 59.1%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,032
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,047

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.2 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,310
Average farm size (1920): 63.8 acres
Sources of settlement: Canada, New York, Ohio, Germany, and Sweden

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Hersey (ex-seat)

Namesake: The Hersey River

Founding: 1867 (platting); 1868 (post office); 1875 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 347

Population (historic): 472 (1880); 327 (1900); 279 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880; 1940s; 1960–1980
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 48 (28.4%)

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Reed City

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1870 (founding); 1871 (post office); 1872 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,490

Population (historic): 1,091 (1880); 2,051 (1900); 1,792 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1870–1900; 1910s; 1930–1950; 1960s; 1980–2000
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 345 (28.9%)
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