Hobart, Oklahoma

History

The present town of Hobart began almost overnight on August 6, 1901, when lots on the former Kiowa-Apache-Comanche Reservation in southern Oklahoma Territory were put up for sale. It quickly became the residence of 2,936 people, mostly living in tents. Initially, the town was nicknamed "Ragtown". Wooden structures replaced tents as fast as possible. By 1903, Hobart had electric lights, an ice plant, and some large wholesale businesses. It also had a wooden courthouse. It developed into a town whose economy was based on the production of cotton. At statehood in November 1907, Hobart had a population of 3,136.

Hobart's population declined to 2,936 in 1920, but resumed growing for several years afterward. In 1930, ies population was 4,982. In 1950, it reached a peak of 5,380. Thereafter, the town population went into a long-term decline that has continued to the present. In 1950, the water supply in the area was improved with a series of reservoirs; the town is connected by aqueduct to Lake Hobart, about 12 mi to the north.

Geography

Hobart is located 120 mi southwest of Oklahoma City and 65 mi northwest of Lawton

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 sqmi, all land.

Economy

The economy of the area around Hobart was first based on farming, with the major crops being wheat and cotton. Cattle ranching became important later. Hobart is still primarily a farm town. By the 21st century, most of the employed townspeople worked in the education, health, and social services industries.

Climate

| Jan record high F = 88 | Feb record high F = 93 | Mar record high F = 96 | Apr record high F = 102 | May record high F = 108 | Jun record high F = 116 | Jul record high F = 117 | Aug record high F = 116 | Sep record high F = 110 | Oct record high F = 102 | Nov record high F = 92 | Dec record high F = 86

|Jan avg record high F = 72.2 |Feb avg record high F = 77.6 |Mar avg record high F = 84.7 |Apr avg record high F = 89.6 |May avg record high F = 97.3 |Jun avg record high F = 102.1 |Jul avg record high F = 106.3 |Aug avg record high F = 104.6 |Sep avg record high F = 99.4 |Oct avg record high F = 91.7 |Nov avg record high F = 80.3 |Dec avg record high F = 71.9 |year avg record high F = 107.3

|Jan avg record low F = 12.4 |Feb avg record low F = 15.5 |Mar avg record low F = 20.5 |Apr avg record low F = 30.1 |May avg record low F = 41.4 |Jun avg record low F = 56.3 |Jul avg record low F = 62.5 |Aug avg record low F = 60.7 |Sep avg record low F = 47.7 |Oct avg record low F = 31.9 |Nov avg record low F = 20.5 |Dec avg record low F = 13.9 |year avg record low F = 7.3

| Jan record low F = -10 | Feb record low F = -9 | Mar record low F = 2 | Apr record low F = 19 | May record low F = 29 | Jun record low F = 43 | Jul record low F = 52 | Aug record low F = 46 | Sep record low F = 31 | Oct record low F = 14 | Nov record low F = 9

| Dec record low F = -9

|access-date = March 29, 2023 |access-date = March 29, 2023 |access-date = March 29, 2023

Demographics

| align-fn = center

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Hobart had a population of 3,413. The median age was 41.2 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.7 males age 18 and over.

0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,431 households in Hobart, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.0% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,903 housing units, of which 24.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.4% were owner-occupied and 39.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.9%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census of 2000, 3,997 people, 1,584 households, and 1,031 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,472.9 PD/sqmi. The 1,979 housing units had an average density of 729.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 80.01% White, 8.18% African American, 4.38% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.83% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.91% of the population.

Of the 1,584 households, 29.3% had children under 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were not families. About 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the age distribution was 25.0% under 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,781, and for a family was $35,313. Males had a median income of $24,821 versus $20,345 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,729. About 16.4% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Historical sites

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Kiowa County, Oklahoma

Five of the eight NRHP-listed sites in Kiowa County are located in Hobart:

• Downtown Hobart Historic District (roughly bounded by Jefferson St., 3rd, Washington, 4th, and the 200 and 500 blocks of S. Main St.)
• Hobart City Hall at Main and 3rd St.
• Kiowa County Courthouse (in Courthouse Square)
• Hobart Public Library (200 S. Main St.)
• Hobart Rock Island Depot (518 S. Main St.)

Media

FM radio

Distant FM radio

Newspaper The Hobart Democrat-Chief is Hobart's oldest business, established August 1, 1901, and was still in operation in 2025. The town has had two other newspapers, the Hobart Daily Chief and the Hobart Republican.

Notable people

• Catharine Crozier, a concert organist, was born in Hobart in 1914.
• Clint Lorance, an Army officer convicted of second-degree murder for battlefield deaths, and subsequently pardoned, was born in Hobart.
• Jeanetta Calhoun Mish, Oklahoma poet laureate, was born in Hobart.
• Alfred P. Slaner, a textile executive, was raised in Hobart.
• James Barnes (composer), a composer and tubist, was born in Hobart in 1949.

Adjacent communities

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2410770
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. "Hobart, Oklahoma". Google Maps.
6. "Hobart (city), Oklahoma". US Census Bureau.
7. Taylor, Ethel Crisp. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HO001 "Hobart,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. Accessed June 16, 2015.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
9. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
10. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. "Log In". The Hobart Democrat-Chief.