Osceola (Iowa)

Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,929 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.GeographyOsceola is located at, at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69. It lies 35mi north of the Missouri border, and about 40 miles south of Des Moines.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.68sqmi, of which, 6.48sqmi is land and 0.20sqmi is water.HistoryOsceola 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.The Masonic Building stands on the public square in Osceola. Built in 1872, this Italianate building was used by Osceola Lodge No. 77 of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and the main floor was a bank and hardware store. This building was placed on the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance’s Most Endangered list due to its poor repair and lack of preservation plan. In 2011 the building was renovated with help from various grants. The second and third floors were converted into upscale apartments. The China Star restaurant was remodeled and now utilizes both halves of the lower level. The exterior received an overdue face lift to restore the building to its original appearance. All of the windows were replaced and the stucco was repaired and painted. Structural improvements included foundation work and a new roof. The front entrances were replaced with a more traditional wood columns and tall glass windows.