Osceola, Iowa
9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1951 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Osceola City. It lies in ZIP code area 50213. The Survey maps it on the Osceola quadrangle. 5,415 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,142 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Osceola
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 7 records
J. V. Banta Houselisted 1983
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Depotlisted 2009
Cowles, George H and Alice Spaulding, Houselisted 2006
Osceola Commercial Historic Districtlisted 2018
Temple, Marcellus Luther and Julia Protzman, Houselisted 1996
Dickinson Webster Houselisted 1977- Osceola Masonic Blocklisted 2010
Population over time
3 figuresOsceola grew from 4,659 to 5,415 between 2000 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4,659 | |
| 2010 | 4,929 | +270 (+6%) |
| 2020 | 5,415 | +486 (+10%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
7 surveys from 9 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1951 USGS Osceola quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1954 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1956 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1957 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1983 USGS Osceola quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Indianola quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
1 since 2013Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 1 fire within 5 miles of Osceola in 2013, burning about 10 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 April 2013 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
4 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Osceola: 2 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Zinc, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Hole | Zinc | Past Producer | Sphalerite | |
| Siegel Brick and Tile Yard | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Osceola Central Shop | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Osceola Quarry and Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 103 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Osceola in 103 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 34 thunderstorm wind, 29 hail, 28 heavy rain, 6 flash flood. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | 1 hurt, $30,000 | Driver of semi-tractortrailer rig received minor injuries as rig was blown off the highway. |
| April 2024 | Tornado (EF2) | Osceola | $400,000 | The emergency manager provided several reports of damage along the path of this tornado. The tornado began just southeast of the Osceola Rest Area along Interstate 35 and travelled northeast through the town of Osceola. EF2 damage was done just southwest of town where a roof was removed from a house along 225th Avenue. There was mainly EF0 to EF1 damage through Osceola from tree damage and limited roof damage to homes in town. The tornado emerged from the northeast side of Osceola and continued northeast through rural Clarke County. The tornado dissipated near Lilac Street after impacting one last farmstead. |
| May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $250,000 | Around 82 train cars were blown over. Several very large trees were uprooted in a narrow corridor. Many branches were snapped and several farm buildings lost roofs. |
| September 2014 | Flash Flood | Osceola | $150,000 | Highway 69 south of town closed due to water from a creek over the road. Several other roads in town flooded. |
| May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $50,000 | A wooden barn was completely destroyed along 180th Ave. |
| March 2014 | Tornado (EF0) | Osceola | $50,000 | Spotter about 1.5 miles north of the tornado saw small rope funnel which lasted only a couple of minutes. Initially encountered a house and tore a small section of roofing away. Also tipped over a parked semi-trailer scattering debris into the field across the road. Tornado proceeded northeast and tore the roof off an old farm machinery building on the west side of Highway 69 and then snapped one power pole in a farm field before dissipating. |
| July 2001 | Hail | Osceola | $50,000 | no account filed |
| October 2001 | Hail | Osceola | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flood | Osceola | $50,000 | no account filed |
| October 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $35,000 | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $30,000 | no account filed |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $25,000 | Emergency manager reported trees down on power lines in Osceola. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2014 | Flash Flood | Osceola | $25,000 | Highway 69 south of Osceola was closed with water over the road from White Breast Creek. |
| July 2008 | Flash Flood | Osceola | $25,000 | White breast and South Creeks were out of their banks. Water was over 255th St along White breast Creek. A culvert was washed out. Pine street was closed due to high water. Several basements were flooded. |
| May 2011 | Lightning | Osceola | $25,000 | no account filed |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $20,000 | A spotter estimated wind gusts of 68 MPH. |
| June 2011 | Flash Flood | Osceola | $20,000 | Several closures along U.S. Highway 69 south of Osceola due to water over the road. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $15,000 | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $15,000 | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $10,000 | High winds damaged trees and tore shingles off of a house. |
| September 2008 | Flash Flood | Osceola | $10,000 | Water was partially covering Highway 69. |
| July 2008 | Flood | Osceola | $10,000 | Highway 169 was closed one half mile south of Osceola with water over the road. |
| July 2008 | Flash Flood | Osceola | $10,000 | White breast Creek was out of its banks with shallow water over Highway 69. |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Hail | Osceola | $10,000 | no account filed |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $5,000 | Shed blown over, time estimated by radar. |
| April 2015 | Hail | Osceola | $5,000 | A large amount of hail was reported. It was mostly small hail with a few of the larger stones up to half dollar in size. The hail lasted 5 minutes. |
| April 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $5,000 | Estimated winds of 60 MPH. |
| August 2009 | Hail | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2004 | Hail | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| October 2001 | Hail | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2012 | Hail | Osceola | $3,000 | Dime to quarter size hail along with 1.67 inches of rain in 20 minutes. |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $3,000 | no account filed |
| September 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $3,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $3,000 | no account filed |
| March 1995 | Hail | Osceola | $3,000 | no account filed |
| April 2014 | Lightning | Osceola | $2,000 | A car was struck by lightning on U.S. 34 near Osceola. The trunk caught fire. |
| June 2005 | Hail | Osceola | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Hail | Osceola | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Hail | Osceola | $1,000 | Public submitted a picture of the hail being measured from the night before to KCCI's ulocal page. |
| June 2006 | Hail | Osceola | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | $1,000 | no account filed |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | - | Tree down blocking the roadway. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Osceola | - | Report relayed by broadcast media. Delayed report, time estimated by radar. |
| August 2025 | Heavy Rain | Osceola | - | Event total rainfall of 3.3 inches from personal weather station. |
| September 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | - | Iowa DOT instrument reported a gust of 61 mph. Also received public reports of strong winds in Osceola. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osceola | - | Tower blown down at dispatch office in Clarke county. Numerous trees in Osceola of 14-16 diameter also damaged. Estimated winds of 60 to 70 mph. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Osceola | - | Report via social media. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Osceola | - | Golf ball to slightly larger sized hail. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Osceola | - | Report from mping, time estimated. |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groveland (historical) | 3.8 miles | 7 | |
| Jamison | 6.4 miles | 10 | |
| Leslie | 6.5 miles | 7 | |
| Lacelle | 7.8 miles | 7 | |
| Green Bay (historical) | 8.2 miles | 7 | |
| Woodburn | 8.9 miles | 10 | |
| Ottawa | 9.2 miles | 10 | |
| Liberty | 9.7 miles | 10 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Osceola | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1913383 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 459906. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.






