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	OSCEOLA COUNTY Osceola county has 1,773 square miles of land surface. Its population in 1890 was 3,133, in 1900 it was 3,444 and in 1910 it was 5,507. This county, named in honor of the great Seminole warrior, was created from portions of Orange and Brevard counties in 1887. Its surface is level, relieved here and there by ponds, lakes of considerable size, and by sparkling streams of water. It is bordered on the west by the Kissimmee river and by the lake of the same name. It contains the eastern portion of the Kissimmee Valley, one of the richest and most fertile sections in Florida. It has large acreas of pine land which have fostered the development of the turpentine industry. It has also many small and rich hammocks of oak and hickory. Much of the land is open prairie and affords the best of native pasturage for cattle. In this county the cattle industry has been for many years most profitable. As in other counties of lower and middle Florida, the revolution of the cattle industry by the breaking up of great ranges is changing these conditions rapidly. This county has large areas in farms and gardens on which citrus fruits, peaches, melons, squash, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, egg plant, and potatoes are raised in large quantities for the early markets. The county seat is the beautiful city of Kissimmee, which is located at the head of navigation on the river of that name. Its population in 1910 was above 2,100. It has a large reputation as a winter resort and an easy access is had by the Kissimmee river into Lake Okeechobee. Within recent years large areas of rich lands have been developed, and the settlement of the county by energetic farmers from northern and western states is going forward rapidly. Chapin, George M., Florida, 1513 - 1913, Past, Present and Future, Four Hundred Years of War and Peace and Industrial Development, (c) 1914, Volume 1, p. 620-621 Books "Kissimmee, Gateway to the Kissimmee River Valley," by Jim Robison ©2003. Generously donated by the author to the Genealogy Club of Osceola County for posting on it's website.  The complete text of 139 pages is provided here as a PDF file! "This book strives to provide readers with insights into Kissimmee's early families."  - see file at bottom of page and either view it or download. County Items A short county history Naming of Osceola County Florida County Outline Map - Osceola county highlighted Historic Places and Markers of Osceola County Post Offices of Osceola County Postmasters and Offices of Osceola County Prosper Colony Public Schools 1916 Voters Registration List with Death list for both 1916 and 1920 Campbell Items 1887 Directory of Orange county - Campbell 1920-21 Shippers on the Atlantic Coast RR Kenansville Items 1920 description of Kenansville Kissimmee Items Mike Bast's Postcards of Kissimmee 1887 Directory of Orange County - Kissimmee 1912 description of Kissimmee 1920 description of Kissimmee 1920-21 Shippers on the Atlantic Coast RR 1921-22 City Directory - (city description only) 1924 description of Kissimmee 1925 Phone Directory, Kissimmee 1930 description of Kissimmee History of Kissimmee: A Time Remembered (on Kissimmee.gov) Narcoossee Items  1887 Directory of Orange County - Narcoossee 1888 Voters Registration - Narcoosee 1920-21 Shippers on the Atlantic Coast RR Narcoossee Sanitorium Saint Cloud Items   Mike Bast's Postcards of Saint Cloud 1920-21 Shippers on the Atlantic Coast RR 1921-22 City Directory - (city description only) 1923 Saint Cloud Voters Listing Veterans Memorial Library, St. Cloud Old Soldiers Colony Early St. Cloud History Sugar Plantation, 1909 newspaper article Sugar Plantation, 2005 newspaper articles by Jim Robison