Osceola Economic Alliance
Facilitating Community & Economic Development in Osceola County, Michigan
 

Photo of Muskegon River taken at
Riverside Park, Evart, Michigan

Covered bridge just north of Reed City on the
White Pines Tails-to-Trails

Boardwalk over nature area in Reed City

   About Osceola County

Osceola County is located in beautiful West Central Michigan!  Its location gives its residents the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of small community living while at the same time having access to the amenities found in larger urban areas.


Education

Osceola County secondary school students are served by six public school districts and one private school.  Two of these districts, the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District and the Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District,  provide students with a variety of vocational programs.

Evart Public Schools

Marion Public School

Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District

Pine River Area Schools

Reed City Public Schools

Trinity Lutheran

Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District

Many rural communities are happy just to be located near a post-secondary institution; however, in Osceola County residents have access to a number of nearby post-secondary educational institutions.

Baker College is located in Cadillac, approximately 8 miles from Osceola County's northern border.  With 13 campuses Baker College is the largest independent college in the state of Michigan.  The Cadillac campus offers 60 certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs.

Central Michigan University is located in Mt. Pleasant, approximately 38 miles from Osceola County's eastern border.  Central Michigan is nationally recognized for academic excellence in more than 200 programs.

Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, approximately 8 miles from Osceola County's southern border.  Ferris State is a career-oriented public university offering more than 170 degrees.

Mid-Michigan Community College (MMCC) is located in Harrison, approximately 18 miles from Osceola County's eastern border.  MMCC offers both two year degrees and certificate programs.  Additionally, MMCC hosts one of the 18 Michigan Technical Education Centers (MTEC) that are located across the State.

West Shore Community College (WSCC) is located in Scottville, approximately 49 miles from Osceola County's western border.  WSCC offers Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences Degrees, One-Year and Two-Year Certificates, and an array of custom-designed Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences Degree Programs to meet transfer students' needs

 

Recreation

Osceola County attracts thousands of visitors each year.  The county has an extensive park and trail system that links over 3,500 acres of lakes and ponds as well as several rivers and streams to hundreds of acres of state forest. 

The Osceola County area offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as camping, hunting, fishing, golfing, hiking, and bicycling.   Because of the many lakes, rivers, and streams, residents and visitors also enjoy boating, swimming, water skiing, tubing, and canoeing.  Its easy to understand why many individuals come from outside the area to enjoy Osceola County's municipal and county parks each year.

A recreation note that deserves special mention is the Pere Marquette and White Pines Rails-to-Trails.  The trails provide an opportunity for a nice summer walk, jog, or bicycle ride.  The Pere Marquette Trail runs east-west the entire width of the county and the White Pines Trail runs north-south the entire length of the county.  The entire portion of the Pere Marquette Trail through Osceola County is paved while a significant portion of the White Pines Trail is paved.  Not only is there a significant amount of paved trail, but the two trails cross in Reed City.  This is the only location in the state where two trails cross., thus allowing users to travel in any direction.   

Other recreational highlights include:

● Evart fireworks display: Known as one of the best in West Central Michigan.

● Osceola County and Marion Fairs

● Reed City Arts in the Park: Unique in that it mixes music, art, and activities for youth.

● Evart Musicale Series: One of the most culturally diverse in West Central Michigan.

Health Care

Emergency medical service is provided to the entire county by the Osceola County Emergency Medical Service (EMS). 

Unlike many rural communities Osceola County is home to a hospital.  Located in Reed City is the Spectrum Health, Reed City Campus.  The Spectrum Health Network is an integrated system with nationally recognized medical capabilities, diagnostic treatment regimes, experience, and technology.

Housing

Its been said that homeownership leads to strong communities.  Housing in Osceola County is very affordable.  As a result Osceola County has a high homeownership rate.

Source: U.S. Census of Population

Transportation

Reed City, Osceola County's largest city, is known as the "Crossroads Community".  The City gets its nickname from the fact that it is located at what was the intersection of two railroad systems.  The railroads are no longer there; however, the City is now at the crossroads of two major highways.  US-131 runs in a north-south direction the length of the County and US-10 runs east-west the length of the County.  These two highways, along with several other transportation routes, allow County residents to easily travel in any direction.

Osceola Economic Alliance
301 W. Upton ● Reed City, MI 49677
Phone: 231-832-7397 ● Fax: 231-832-3381
Email the OEA

July 01, 2008