{"id":628,"date":"2014-09-05T17:44:08","date_gmt":"2014-09-05T17:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/?page_id=628"},"modified":"2021-05-04T21:23:30","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T21:23:30","slug":"osceola-county-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/?page_id=628","title":{"rendered":"Osceola County"},"content":{"rendered":"

OSCEOLA<\/p>\n

County Offices
\n<\/strong>301 West Upton Avenue
\nReed City 231-832-3261
\nhttps:\/\/www.osceola-county.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Chamber of Commerce
\n<\/strong>200 North Chestnut
\nReed City 231-832-5431
\nhttps:\/\/reedcity.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Osceola County combines a strong economy with the natural beauty of a rural character to offer welcoming small towns, picturesque open space, and recreational tourism. Residents and visitors enjoy miles of rivers, streams, trails, and wooded areas. The county seat of Reed City is distinguished as a “Crossroads Community” for the convergence of the White Pine and Pere Marquette trails in the center of the downtown district, but also for its crossroads location between US Highways 10 and 31.<\/p>\n

Services
\n<\/strong>Students of all ages in Osceola County can look forward to easy access to first-rate educational resources on every academic level. Public and private schools are known for their high academic standards, smaller classes, and abundance of extracurricular activities. Community and parental support for public schools is evident in the level of involvement of local business people, parents, and volunteers. The main campus for Ferris State University is located less than 20 miles from home in Big Rapids. FSU offers the resources of a large, public university in the relaxed, small-town setting in the heart of west-central Michigan. Students can choose from more than 170 degrees in the colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Services, Optometry, Pharmacy, Professional and Technological Studies, and Engineering Technology. Smaller classes allow individualized attention at FSU, where after-graduation placement success is an impressive 98 percent. Rural Osceola County is also home to one of the Michigan State University Extension centers, applying university-level research to resolving issues and enriching the lives of individuals and families with access to relevant educational programs. Other institutions of higher education with a 70-mile radius include Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Northwestern Michigan University in Traverse City, and the public and private colleges in the Grand Rapids area.<\/p>\n

State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are available close to home at the Reed City Hospital, a 25-bed acute-care facility in Reed City that has adopted the Planetree approach to caregiving. Delivering patient-centered care in a healing environment is the essence of this model, designed to improve patient care while it empowers patients and families through encouragement and education. The hospital features a newly renovated emergency department with private treatment rooms, an expanded medical imaging department, a regional cancer treatment center, and an Eden Care award-winning 54-bed skilled nursing facility. Reed City Hospital has been recognized for quality care by the Michigan Quality Improvement Organization and consistently earns the Governor\u2019s Award of Excellence. Other options for advanced care in larger urban hospitals close to home include Mecosta County General Hospital in Big Rapids and Mercy Hospital-Cadillac in Cadillac.<\/p>\n

Lifestyle
\n<\/strong>Newcomers to Osceola County will discover wonderful small towns like Reed City along with tiny villages like Marion and Tustin or rolling townships\u2014all framed by picturesque, open countryside. This region is one where communities are strong, combining a close-knit spirit and friendliness with a long tradition of Midwestern family values. Warm and generous people are known for the time and energy they contribute to organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, and the Osceola Foundation. The county seat of Reed City is home to the region\u2019s first-rate hospital and serves as the downtown hub of shops and services. The diverse business community is growing, adding more attractions and conveniences within the context of small-town America. Reed City prides itself in being the \u201ccrossroads community,\u201d where two major trailheads and to major US highways come together in a convergence of outdoor recreation and natural beauty with residential and business transportation efficiencies. As you might expect, this area hosts a wide variety of celebrations, festivals, and seasonal traditions that bring friends and neighbors together like Music and Art in the Park concerts and art workshops, the Great American Crossroads Festival for families each August, and the ever-popular Evergreen Festival at Thanksgiving. This area is well-known as the home of the Old Rugged Cross Museum with displays of historical artifacts crowned by the Rev. George Bennard collection, the author who penned the old-age famous hymn, \u201cOld Rugged Cross.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reed City has recently completed the ambitious rebuilding of the old railroad depot to create a charming and dynamic hub point for the crossroads region where rails-to-trails go in all directions. The multi-million-dollar complex features a trailhead center for recreational activities such as bicycling, rollerblading, and snowmobiling. The rails-to-trails connection is linked to Osceola County\u2019s beautiful park system for mile after mile of multi-purpose recreation and outdoor enjoyment. Fishing, hunting, camping, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, water sports, and outstanding winter sports are all common pastimes in Osceola County. Within beautifully landscaped Rambadt Park, residents and visitors enjoy a lush campground interconnected to the scenic park system. A linear trail from the park meanders beside the Hersey River eastward past landscapes of flowers, bushes, and trees on the way to Westerburg Park. With its wide array of sports and entertainment facilities, the park hosts major events like the Crossroads festival in August and Halloween in the Park. From its attractive neighborhoods lined with well-kept older properties to revitalized areas like Reed City, Osceola County is a wonderful place to call home.<\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>Evart
\n<\/strong>City Offices
\n<\/strong>231-734-2181
\nhttps:\/\/www.evart.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Chamber of Commerce
\n<\/strong>231-734-9799
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/evartchamber<\/a><\/p>\n

As the home of the Osceola County Fairgrounds and the site of the Evart Area Winter Festival, the city of Evart welcomes throngs of visitors to some of its annual events. The community also enjoys a location along the Pere Marquette Trail not far from the intersection with the White Pines Trail, which makes it a popular stop for recreation enthusiasts who are taking advantage of mile after mile of scenic paths. Historic charm, lush parks, a vibrant arts community, and landmarks like the World War I cannon in Gayton Park give the town a unique flavor and appeal. Colorful celebrations dot the annual calendar with events like the Independence Day Parade, the Dulcimer Funfest Early Bird Breakfast, the Wood Carvers Breakfast, a local golf tournament, Christmas in a Small Town, the Evart Summer Musicale, and the Fourth of July activities in Riverside Park. Wonderful neighborhoods, a quiet family oriented setting, and close proximity to urban amenities make this a desirable hometown.<\/p>\n

Hersey
\n<\/strong>Village Hall
\n<\/strong>231-832-4959<\/p>\n

Chamber of Commerce
\n<\/strong>231-832-5431
\nhttps:\/\/reedcity.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The small village of Hersey claims a unique resource in Osceola County, Eagle Village. This wonderful development is dedicated to abused children, offering hope, a new start, and a full continuum of support and care. The village of Hersey is nestled within beautiful Hersey Township and offers a very small commercial center for the convenience of surrounding rural residents. The scenic Rails to Trails bike and winter sports path passes through Hersey and then goes on to Reed City on the western side and Evart to the east. The village and a popular campground called Blodgett Landing are both located at the confluence of the Hersey and Muskegon rivers, two of the finest trout streams in Michigan. The eastern part of the town features a bridge over the Hersey River. With its 20-foot drop into the river, the bridge serves as an unofficial \u201cjumping off\u201d point for local swimmers on hot summer days<\/p>\n

LeRoy
\n<\/strong>Village Hall
\n<\/strong>231-829-3278<\/p>\n

Chamber of commerce
\n<\/strong>231-832-5431
\nhttps:\/\/reedcity.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Drawing newcomers and visitors to a four-season vacationland, the village of LeRoy features rolling hills, picturesque lakes, and acres of pristine forests. Summer pastimes include relaxing on the beach, swimming, or hiking along scenic trails like the White Pine Trail that runs directly through the town. Power boating, water skiing and other water sports, and fishing are also popular leisure activities. Explorers can often be found in three-wheelers or off-road vehicles as they cross over hills, gullies, and mud bogs. Each July the population of this small town triples as the village swells in size, welcoming visitors to 48 hours of non-stop fun at the Razzasque Days celebration. Autumn hunting, winter sports like snowmobiling, spring fishing, and summer water sports ensure that every season is anticipated and enjoyed. The community has retained a small-town atmosphere and serves as hub for the surrounding agricultural community.<\/p>\n

Reed City
\n<\/strong>City Offices
\n<\/strong>231-832-2245
\nhttps:\/\/reedcity.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Chamber of Commerce
\n<\/strong>231-832-5431
\nhttps:\/\/reedcity.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Serving as the seat of county government, the small town of Reed City is located in the county\u2019s southwestern corner about an hour from Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Midland. The city is located where the White Pine and Pere Marquette trails intersect, distinguishing Reed City as one of the premier trailhead communities in Michigan. The community is proud of its \u201ccrossroads\u201d designation, which also refers to the convergence of two major highways, US 131 and 10, that bisect the state. Reed City was historically at the crossroads of two major railroad systems, which has given the community the opportunity to develop a unique new tourist attraction. The historic depot has been recreated as an impressive new building surrounded by lush landscaping that serves as an attractive centerpiece for visitors and enhances the appeal of the trail system for surrounding communities as well. Along with four-season recreation including first-rate snowmobiling, Reed City presents an attractive cityscape and welcoming hometown environment. The city\u2019s pride is reflected each spring along Memory Lane, graced by thousands of petunias planted by volunteers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OSCEOLA County Offices 301 West Upton Avenue Reed City 231-832-3261 https:\/\/www.osceola-county.org\/ Chamber of Commerce 200 North Chestnut Reed City 231-832-5431 https:\/\/reedcity.org\/ Osceola County combines a strong economy with the natural beauty of a rural character to offer welcoming small towns, picturesque open space, and recreational tourism. Residents and visitors enjoy miles of rivers, streams, trails, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/628"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=628"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/628\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":825,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/628\/revisions\/825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/GrandRapidsMI3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}