Kissimmee in Osceola County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Osceola County
Osceola County was created in May, 1887 from portions of Orange and Brevard Counties. One of its sponsors was Senator J. Milton Bryan, who suggested the new county be named for Osceola, the great Seminole warrior. The new county was Florida's fortieth and had 815 citizens. Kissimmee was named the county seat. In 1889, Osceola citizens voted a $30,000 bond issue to build this Romanesque Revival style courthouse, which has remained in daily use since 1890. It's significance was recognized by its listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Reverse:
Osceola is Florida's sixth largest county. It has a rich history of cattle raising extending back to the days of the Seminole Indians. Other landmarks in county agricultural and economic history include the rise and decline of Hamilton Disston's Land and sugar empire, steamboating, and lumbering. Cattle and agriculture remain Osceola County's economic bulwarks, although it has experienced growth in manufacturing and tourism since the late 1960s.
Erected 1983 by Kissimmee Business and Professional Women's Club in cooperation with Department of State. (Marker Number F-304.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1887.
Location. 28° 17.492′ N, 81° 24.681′ W. Marker is in Kissimmee, Florida, in Osceola County. Marker is on West Emmett Street (U.S. 17) east of South Rose Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker, while viewable from West Emmett Street, is set back from the curb - approximately halfway between the street and the Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee FL 34741, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tree Firemark (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lake Tohopekaliga (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Great Endurance Run (approx. 0.4 miles away); Markinsom-Carson American Legion Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hamilton Disston Revolutionizes Kissimmee (approx. 0.4 miles away); Young and Nora Tindall (approx. 0.4 miles away); Alexander Edwin and Nancy Temperance Partin Whaley (approx. 0.4 miles away); Alfred Washington and Bertha Lee Hall Winn (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kissimmee.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 9, 2015
7. Osceola
This 1838 portrait of Osceola by George Catlin hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
“The Seminole Indians of the Southeast were directly affected by Andrew Jackson's policy of Indian removal, and although a portion of his tribe's leadership gave in to the federal government, Osceola led the resistance. Unlike Black Hawk, who fought the Americans in the West, Osceola did not take on the U.S. military in open battle, but conducted a campaign of guerrilla warfare, harassing federal authorities from the Seminole base in the Everglades. Osceola was captured after the Americans violated a flag of truce. He died in prison shortly thereafter, but the Seminole, famously, never surrendered to the United States.” — National Portrait Gallery
“The Seminole Indians of the Southeast were directly affected by Andrew Jackson's policy of Indian removal, and although a portion of his tribe's leadership gave in to the federal government, Osceola led the resistance. Unlike Black Hawk, who fought the Americans in the West, Osceola did not take on the U.S. military in open battle, but conducted a campaign of guerrilla warfare, harassing federal authorities from the Seminole base in the Everglades. Osceola was captured after the Americans violated a flag of truce. He died in prison shortly thereafter, but the Seminole, famously, never surrendered to the United States.” — National Portrait Gallery
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 847 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 31, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on September 10, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. 4. submitted on March 31, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 5. submitted on September 10, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. 6. submitted on March 31, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 7. submitted on October 29, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.