Osceola has an interesting musical claim to fame in the development of blues music. Many, if not most, of the famous blues musicians either were born in Osceola or performed here. You have Albert King and Harvey Scales, for beginners.
The beautiful city of Osceola is small, with just under 8,000 people, but it's big on Southern charm. The people are as warm and friendly as the weather, and you are sure to find not only a home but an extended family when you move here. There is a lot to see and do in this town and the surrounding community; from golf and fishing to gardening and the theater, there is sure to be something to spark your interest!
Moving Here
A small town coupled with Southern hospitality makes this a great place to move into and a hard place to leave. Renting an apartment or a house is a breeze as the application process is quick, and even in apartment complexes there is only a soft credit check. The people may be friendly and welcoming but you still have to pony up the first and last month's rent; you'll also need a security and a pet deposit, if applicable. Deposits for utilities tend to run lower than the national average, so you should have enough money to get your electric service started. If not, just remember all you learned in Boy Scouts, and go searching for some sticks to rub together. If you had electricity in your name at the place you're moving from, you can have it transferred and avoid the deposit in most cases. You will need to take your rental agreement or lease with you to the water department to have service started. While no one really likes the cable and internet service providers, there aren't a lot of grumbles about them either.
Neighborhoods
Check out the below neighborhoods of Osceola before deciding where to put down roots.
Cottonwood Corner: This is a great place to start looking if you are interested in living in a small apartment complex or 2-3 bedroom house. The market for rentals can be tough here at times, but if you keep looking you will find the perfect place. There is a lot to choose from in the area, so be sure and look around.
City Center: If time is short and you need to rent an apartment in Osceola, AR, immediately, you'll want to start looking in this area first. Historically, there is a more open market for apartments to rent in this area, and there are more apartment complexes to choose from. If you would prefer a medium sized home with between 3-4 bedrooms, this is where you will find plenty of them.
Living in Osceola
One of the first things you are going to notice about Osceola is the humidity. This is a subtropical climate and it will hit you hard while you are moving into your new home. You will quickly get used to it and probably come to enjoy the fact that you will never need a winter parka here! The average January temperature is 45 degrees and that is the coldest month. Spring starts in February, and autumn begins in December, no matter what the calendar says! July is the hottest month and it averages in the low 90s. This makes for nice weather a great deal of the year.
You will quickly notice the gardens. There are a lot of them and they are beautiful. The humidity is especially good for ferns and azaleas, the two most popular plants in this area. The garden club is a popular place to meet new people and exchange tips if you are a fan of the hobby.
There are several historic sites in the area with the most prominent one being the Hampton Archaeological Museum State Park. Guided tours are available through this five-acre park where you can learn about the Nodena Site. Nodena was a Native American village on the Mississippi River between 1400 and 1650. There are an impressive number of artifacts on display as well as a playground and picnic area. Of particular interest is the finding in 1900 of a mastodon skeleton on Island number 35, close to the Hampton Archaeological Museum State Park. Mastodons were related to elephants and went extinct around 10,000 years ago. The site where the fossils were found was destroyed in 1957.
If you are a fan of fishing then you have just landed in a great town for it! Glenn Springs Lake is a popular fishing spot. With more than two dozen fishing spots within a 15-mile radius, you have plenty of other options as well. Virtually every local fisherman has one favorite spot and listening to fish stories about the one that got away is a popular pastime in local bars and diners.
Speaking of diners, there is some pretty good food in these parts. The Sandbar Grille gets rave reviews online and it's always filled with locals. The outside may not be all that impressive but the interior is great. More importantly, the food is excellent with burgers taking the top honors for lunch and steaks for dinner. The jambalaya is also outstanding. They are also open for breakfast, and grits are a prominent feature on the menu.
If you are looking for Mexican or Chinese food you will find both well represented in the area. Mi Pueblo is the local favorite for Mexican food with props going to their enchiladas. For Chinese the local favorite is Evergreen. You can also find great Soul food at King's Soul Food and Grill. Bowles Bar-B-Que is the first choice for barbecue.
If you are looking for a great bar, consider where you are! This is the area of the nation that invented NASCAR back in the old days of running moonshine! There are plenty of places that serve both food and drink but when it comes to bars, the Hole in the Wall Bar is the most popular in the town. For clubbing you might want to try the Plum Point Club for drinks and dancing. If you are looking for a crowd that is drinking beer and swapping fish stories the aptly named Fisherman's Inn is the place to be. The beer is cold, the night is hot and the tales are tall!