Osceola is located off of US Hwy 81 in
Polk County (of which it is the county seat), northeast of
Grand Island, between
Stromsburg and
David City near the Big Blue River.
The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 882, an increase of 3 since 1990.
Osceola was founded in October 1871 by William Francis Kimmell and John Hopwood Mickey. Osceola received its name from Vinson Perry Davis, an early settler on the Davis Creek which runs through Osceola. Davis felt it would be unique to say, "I moved from Osceola, Iowa, to Osceola, Nebraska."
Polk County Historical Society in Osceola has many local attractions including: a museum, sod house, log cabin, country church, restored country school, a Union Pacific caboose, and the Governor's Arboretum.
