Osceola, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Transportation
4 Extra Tidbits
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Osceola water tower

Main Street in Osceola

Amtrak Station in Osceola

Osceola is located at 41°2′3″N, 93°46′6″W (41.034179, -93.768354)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 km² (6.0 mi²). 15.1 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.31%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 4,659 people, 1,945 households, and 1,229 families residing in the city. The population density was 308.0/km² (798.2/mi²). There were 2,118 housing units at an average density of 140.0/km² (362.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.73% White, 0.11% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.75% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.25% of the population.

There were 1,945 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,701, and the median income for a family was $45,263. Males had a median income of $31,674 versus $21,684 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,244. About 5.2% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Osceola, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago, Illinois, and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco. A bus connection is available from Osceola to Des Moines.

[edit] Extra Tidbits

Osceola, IA was named after a Seminole Indian leader of the same name. Osceola is an anglicised form of Asiyahola; assi, from a ceremonial yaupon holly tea or "black drink" and yaholi, the name of a Creek god intoned when the drink was served.

Clarke County, for which Osceola is the county seat, was named for Iowa Governor James Clarke, & was established in 1846.

The first white people known to have been in Clarke County were Mormans enroute from Nauvoo, IL to Salt Lake City in 1846 and 1847.

Osceola is located in Southwest Iowa at the intersection of I-35 and U.S. Highway 34. Osceola is located 35 miles north of the Missouri border.

Nearly seven years ago the citizens of Osceola voted 'Yes' on a referendum that allowed a Casino boat to be established on their West Lake. The boat has since been taken over by Terrible's Herbst, and is now called Terrible's Lakeside Casino & Resort. A garish 132 ft., $1 million, cowboy was erected on the sight to make their presence known.