Caddo County’s small, but growing town of Hinton
Cattle farms and flat wheat fields surround the growing town of Hinton, where an active Chamber of Commerce keeps the rural community close-knit. “It’s a great place. It’s clean, and there’s a lot of activity. We do all kinds of things for kids and adults, like an annual Christmas parade the first week in December, an annual car show in October, and a big Fourth of July celebration,” says Hinton’s Utility Clerk Lisa Peck, a longtime local. Hinton’s population grew by more than 1,000 between 2010 and 2020. New residents are drawn here for the welcoming, small-town atmosphere and proximity to employers like Pur American Processing, Seaboard Foods, and the Sugar Creek and Oklahoma casinos.
Hinton homes sell for below the national median
Cottages, Craftsman bungalows and New Traditionals, along with manufactured and ranch-style homes, line Hinton’s gridded streets. Oaks, maples and American elms favor the reddish-brown, loamy soil, and lot sizes are typically larger on the outskirts, where hobby farms and homesteads are common. Prices range from under $100,000 to about $300,000, well below the national median. Working ranches with more than 10 acres of land can sell for more than $340,000. Summers here are hot, while winters are chilly with some snowfall. Caddo County is vulnerable to tornadoes.
Above average Hinton Public Schools
Hinton Public Schools earns a B-plus from Niche, and serves just over 700 students across three schools: Hinton Elementary, Hinton Middle and Hinton High. The elementary school gets an A-minus from Niche, while the middle and high schools get B grades. Hinton High offers vo-tech and dual enrollment classes at the Caddo Kiowa Technology Center and Redlands Community College. Hinton Public Schools allows controlled open enrollment.
History museum and outdoor recreation at Red Rock Canyon, Hinton Park
The Hinton Historical Museum displays local and regional historical artifacts, including antique phones, Native American and early pioneer items. It’s also home to Oklahoma’s largest horse carriage collection. Next to the main museum building, the Parker House is a two-story, pink Victorian farmhouse open for tours. Red Rock Canyon Campground & Adventure Park, nearby, has over 12 miles of hiking trails and an outdoor pool, along with cabin and RV campsites. It’s also a popular destination for guided hikes, rappelling, rock climbing and fishing. Youth baseball, softball and other athletics teams play at the Kiwanis Sports Complex on the north side of town, near the Hinton Walking Trail & Park, which has a wooded trail around a lake, a splash pad and a playground.
Shopping and dining on Main Street, annual Hinton Fair
The low-slung vintage storefronts on Main Street feature offices and small businesses, including In Bloom Flowers & Gifts and Ryker Feed & Seed. Pecina’s, a popular Mexican café, is close to Cart’s Farm & Home Supply and several municipal offices. Market Square, a small regional chain supermarket, is a few blocks away. The annual Hinton Fair is held on the Hinton Fairgrounds nearby. “It’s a three-day, free fair with rides and food. It’s all very family-friendly and all run by locals, so you don’t have to worry about strangers running the booths or the games,” Peck says. The late summer fair also has live music, livestock and horse shows.
Interstate 40 connects to Oklahoma City
U.S. Route 281 runs north to Interstate 40, which connects east into Oklahoma City. Downtown OKC and Will Rogers International Airport, on the southwest side of the capital city, are just over 50 miles away. Top local employers, including casinos, food processing plants and manufacturing facilities, fill the industrial parks on Route 281 just south of the interstate. Medial facilities, including SSM Health St. Anthony Healthplex El Reno and Weatherford Regional Hospital, are within about 30 miles of Hinton.
