The municipality of Kosov lies beneath one of the ridges of the Zábřeh Highlands at an elevation of 404 meters above sea level. The village is crossed by the road connecting Zábřeh and Hoštejn. The name Kosov most likely derives either from the personal name Kos or from the Czech name for the blackbird, a songbird.
The first recorded mention of the village appears in the Land Registers of 1360, when it formed part of the estates of Hoštejn Castle. At that time, the castle was owned by the sons of Jaroslav of Šternberk, the brothers Zdeněk and Smil. In 1417, the village was assigned by judicial execution to a new owner, Vok of Hoštejn, who had successfully claimed it in court from his relative Hynek of Hoštejn. In 1464, Kosov became part of the Zábřeh estate when its owner, Matouš of Šternberk, sold the entire Hoštejn domain to Jan and Jiří Tunkl of Zábřeh and Brníčko. Interestingly, records from 1466 mention two sisters, Eliška and Alena, who identified themselves as being “of Kosov.”
During the 1460s and 1470s, Kosov was probably affected by the hardships of the Bohemian–Hungarian wars, but it prospered during the relatively peaceful 16th century. According to the Zábřeh urbarium, in 1585 Kosov had 17 settlers: one hereditary reeve (fojt), ten farmers, one gardener, and five cottagers. With only a few exceptions, the names recorded in the register were Czech. By 1777, the population had grown to 333 inhabitants. In 1793, Kosov consisted of 55 houses, 360 inhabitants, and 280 jitro (approximately 160 hectares) of less fertile land.
The village belonged to the parish of Zábřeh. Between 1860 and 1871, local residents built a chapel, which was later dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk. A school had already existed in the village since 1853. After 1848, Kosov fell under the political and judicial administration of the district of Zábřeh. Road construction took place between 1880 and 1888.
The poor-quality soil was insufficient to support the population, so many inhabitants supplemented their income through spinning and weaving textiles, making wooden tools, and working in the forests. Others found employment in factories in Zábřeh.
In 1900, a volunteer fire brigade was established and remains an important social organization in the village today. A cooperative dairy was founded in 1902 but ceased operations during the Second World War. A local cemetery was established in 1910, and electrification of the village began in 1926. A municipal chronicle was initiated in 1936. Long-serving chroniclers included Jan Vaňourek, Emil Jarmar, Miroslav Zajíček, Jaroslav Hampl, J. Morávek, Emil Steidl Jr., and František Hýbl. Today, the chronicle is maintained by Eva Pěničková.
In 1936, a memorial to the citizens of Kosov who died during the First World War was also erected. Originally located near the cemetery, it was moved to the chapel in 1967. Behind the former manor house (rychta), in a place known as “Na Křížkově,” stood a wooden cross, later replaced by a stone one. This was the place where villagers bid farewell to their deceased before they were taken to the cemetery in Zábřeh (until 1910). The cross now stands near the local cemetery.
During the First Czechoslovak Republic, the Agrarian Party and the People’s Party held the strongest political influence in the village.
After 1948, a cinema was established in the inn “U Sojáků,” showing films twice a week until 1973. In 1949, a municipal laundry was opened in the building that now houses the municipal office, and a public address system was introduced, making the traditional village drummer obsolete. In 1951, Kosov was connected to the Zábřeh–Křižanov bus route. The agricultural cooperative (JZD) was founded on September 24, 1957, and later merged with cooperatives in Hoštejn and Hněvkov. In 1972, this larger cooperative became part of the Zábřeh Agricultural Cooperative (today Agrodružstvo Zábřeh). A poultry farm was built between 1958 and 1959, and an agricultural complex was constructed between 1962 and 1968.
A school had existed in Kosov since 1853, but teaching was discontinued in 1976. After a several-year interruption, classes resumed in 1992, only to be permanently terminated in 2001.
During the 1960s, a kindergarten and a self-service grocery store were established in the village. Several abandoned houses were demolished, and in 1975 the Soják family inn was torn down. Construction of the municipal water supply system was also underway. In the same year, work began on a cultural center, but in 1977 the unfinished building was sold to Uničov Engineering Works. The site is currently privately owned.
Historically, the population of Kosov was predominantly Czech. In 1854, the village had 542 inhabitants; in 1910, 532; in 1950, 374; and today it has approximately 300 residents.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, several associations were active in the village, including the Civic Association (Občanská beseda, founded in 1887), the School Foundation (Matice školská, 1892), the Fire Brigade (1900), the National Unity Association, the Beekeepers’ Association (1909), Domovina, Omladina (from 1923), Otčina, the Sokol Gymnastic Association (1924), and the Savings Cooperative (Záložna, 1900).
The founding of the Civic Association in 1887 was a major event not only for the people of Kosov but also for residents of the surrounding area. The village was festively decorated with Slavic and Austrian flags, branches, and wreaths. A ceremonial arch was erected near the manor house, through which guests from Zábřeh passed. A delegation from the Zábřeh Civic Association was welcomed with mortar salutes. Music was played in the village square, and ceremonial choral songs were sung. The guests then gathered at the inn of Mr. Hynek Kubíček. A sign bearing the inscription “Občanská beseda” was displayed on the building, and the inn became the association’s meeting place. The association arranged subscriptions to and lending of newspapers and magazines such as Našinec, Selské listy, Hospodářský list, and Pozor. It also organized excursions, dances, lectures, and theatrical performances. Another important mission was the promotion of Czech literature, which led to the establishment of a municipal library.
The village contains three protected heritage sites: a timber-framed house with a shingle roof dating from the first half of the 19th century (No. 80), the former manor house (rychta, No. 1) built in 1834 with its original farmhouse layout preserved, and, since 2016, a small religious structure—a chapel dating from the first half of the 19th century—which has also been listed as a cultural monument.
In June 1894, the Czech writer Růžena Svobodová stayed at the manor house. Inspired by her time in Kosov, she wrote the book V odlehlé dědině (In a Remote Village). On June 21, 2014, a commemorative plaque in her honor was unveiled at the manor house.