Osceola is a city in, and a dual county seat of, Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. Located along the Mississippi River within the Arkansas Delta, the settlement was founded in 1837 and incorporated in 1853. Occupying an important location on the river, the city's economy grew as steamboat traffic increased. Timber and cotton harvesting would develop, and the city experienced rapid growth and development throughout the early 20th century. The city's economy has since diversified to include a robust industrial sector. The population was 6,976 at the 2020 census, down from 7,757 in 2010.
The Great Earthquake at New Madrid, a 19th-century woodcut from Devens' Our First Century (1877)
Naval battle at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, May 10, 1862. Confederate ships are seen at right and Federal ironclads are seen in the center and left.
Historic markers in downtown Osceola detailing performances by notable musicians
Flat fields in cultivation, such as this one in western Osceola, are typical across the Arkansas Delta.
Mississippi County, Arkansas
Mississippi County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,685. There are two county seats, Blytheville and Osceola. The county is named for the Mississippi River which borders the county to the east. Mississippi County is part of the First Congressional District in Arkansas.
Mississippi County Courthouse, Osceola
Control Tower for the Arkansas Aeroplex, formerly Blytheville Air Force Base. The Aeroplex contains the longest runway in the state.
A steel plant rises behind a soybean field in Mississippi County