Hobart’s growth from Ragtown to Kiowa County’s seat
Once a ramshackle collection of tents on the southwestern Oklahoma prairie nicknamed “Ragtown,” Hobart is now the seat of Kiowa County, with a lively downtown district, robust recreation options and sought-after schools. “It’s mainly a farming community, but the new Elk Creek Kiowa Casino is big now, too,” says Re/Max Realtor Caressa Rester, who’s sold several homes in the area. “Hobart is pretty hip and up to date for a small town. They even have plugins for electric cars downtown.”
Tree-lined streets and farmland frame Hobart’s housing landscape
Bungalows, Craftsman cottages and contemporary ranch-style homes with low-pitched roofs and expansive windows are common, as are split-levels, farmhouses and New Traditionals. The oak, hackberry and tulip trees that shade front lawns on the streets close to downtown give way to acres of alfalfa, wheat and cattle grazing fields on the outskirts. Home prices typically range from under $100,000 to about $240,000. Sprawling ranch-style homes on corner lots and homesteads with nearly 100 acres of land can sell for between $350,000 and $690,000. Elk Creek and Little Elk Creek are prone to flooding, and Kiowa County is vulnerable to tornadoes. Summers here are hot, while winters are chilly with minimal snowfall.
Above average Hobart Public Schools
Hobart Public Schools serves just over 700 students across three schools and earns a B from Niche. The schools are B-minus-rated Hobart Elementary, A-minus-rated Kenneth O’Neal Middle and B-minus-rated Hobart High. Controlled interdistrict open enrollment is available. The high school offers concurrent enrollment classes at Western Technology Center. The vocational school’s Burns Flat, Elk City, Sayre and Weatherford campuses also offer full-time continuing education programs in construction technology, dental hygiene, engineering and more.
Hobart's indoor/outdoor recreation options and annual events
The 18-hole Hobart Municipal Golf Course is on the south side of town. Other parks on the periphery include Biggers Park with its playground and athletic fields and Hunter Park, which also has a playground. Youth baseball teams play on the field across from the Exploration Station Park in central Hobart, where there’s another playground and covered picnic areas.
Hobart City Pool and the Hobart Public Library, which does kids’ summer reading programs and story times, are also close to downtown. The Kiowa County Courthouse lawn hosts the annual Hometown Harvest Day, a fall festival with a parade, live music, food trucks, yard games and more. The annual Kiowa County Free Fair is held on the fairgrounds a few blocks away. The summer agricultural fest features livestock shows, crop displays and booths with crafts, antiques and homemade food.
Shopping, dining and entertainment in downtown Hobart
Hobart’s central business district is home to boutiques like Now & Then Antiques & Gifts and The Flower Shoppe on Main, as well as municipal offices, banks and other small businesses. Bearcat Alley & The Courtyard is a popular indoor-outdoor event venue with arcade games and pool tables. For a bite to eat, Rester recommends Home Town Pizza and Big-A Burger Drive Inn, two longstanding, locally owned restaurants. Other downtown attractions include the Kiowa County Historical Museum and the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute & Museum, a military history museum that also offers leadership workshops and other educational programs. “There’s actually a lot here. They have two full-size grocery stores,” Rester says, referring to United Supermarket and Clink’s Supermarket, both on Broadway Avenue. State Road 9 has more shopping options, including Walmart, Hobart Farm & Garden Center and Western Equipment.
U.S. Route 183, Interstate 40 connect to Oklahoma City
Healthcare facilities, including the Kiowa Health Department and Elkview General Hospital, are on Hobart’s north side within a few miles of most homes. U.S. Route 183 connects south to Hobart Regional Airport, about 5 miles away. Route 183 also runs north to Interstate 40, which runs east into Oklahoma City. Downtown OKC and Will Rogers International Airport, on the capital city’s southwest side, are more than 100 miles away. The Red River Public Transportation Service provides dial-a-ride service in Kiowa County.
