The city of Lawton began in 1901 as an outpost of little more than tents in the last of the Indian lands along the Oklahoma frontier. It grew over the next century, with great help from the Fort Sill military base to the north. Today, the city of around 90,000 is the largest community in Southwest Oklahoma and the seat of Comanche County.
Given its history, it makes sense that Lawton has a strong military connection. Fort Sill, founded before the city, is Lawton’s largest employer and the home of the United States Army Field Artillery School. Other major employers include Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company manufacturing plant.
The city offers a more rural way of life, with ample parks and wildlife refuges nearby. Housing prices are significantly lower than the national average, and well-connected transportation routes link to major metro hubs like Oklahoma City and Wichita Falls. The city is often a landing spot for military families but offers much more than just that. “The thing about Lawton is that the military brings in a lot of people through Fort Sill,” says Jim Ard, a military relocation specialist at Park Jones Realty. “This is the untapped backyard of the United States. We’ve got lots of land and lots of space and very few people. We’re attracted to the country lifestyle style. We’re spread out so far and wide because we can.”
Lawton, founded in 1901, was a tent outpost in the last of the Indian lands on the frontier.
Locals can enjoy rock climbing in the Wichita Mountains, just a short drive from Lawton.
The U.S. Army Field Artillery School is located at Fort Sill, Lawton’s largest employer.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber, a key employer, is just 3 miles from Lee West Estates.
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Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is popular
Lawton residents have easy access to recreation, with numerous pocket parks scattered throughout the city. These walkable green spaces often feature a playground or baseball backstop. Most of these parks are set to receive updated amenities thanks to a new city grant. Elmer Thomas Park is the hub for outdoor fun, featuring a playground, a miracle league baseball field and a catch-and-release lake. There are also numerous cultural sights here, including the Museum of the Great Plains, a hands-on institution that provides a glimpse into the area’s history with life-size models of life during the 1830s.
The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center is close by and has numerous displays of Comanche history and art. The city is looking to repair and redevelop many recreational facilities through the Proper 2040 plan, which was approved in August 2024. Golfers flock to the Lawton Country Club, a privately owned, member-only club featuring classic amenities and a championship-level golf course.
While Wichita Mountain’s ancient granite peaks are often visible from parts of the city, they provide more than just a scenic view. The National Wildlife Refuge is 20 miles north and serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Miles of hiking trails wind through hills, valleys and wooded prairies. The 59,000 acres of natural land are home to Texas longhorn cattle, elk and free-range buffalo, so run-ins with wildlife are common. Lake Lawtonka is close by and offers fishing and boating opportunities. “The outdoor recreation is at a premium with the temperate climate,” Ard says. “There are wide open spaces. We still have ponds where you can go fishing and fields where you can go hunting. We’re not stacked on top of one another like bigger cities.”
For families, Elmer Thomas Park is the perfect spot to gather and enjoy life.
The Museum of the Great Plains offers an engaging, interactive dive into U.S. history.
Just across the street from Country Club Estates is the Lawton Country Club.
The Wichita Mountains offer bison and longhorn watching, a cool activity for Lawton.
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Brick homes with competitive prices
Much of Lawton’s housing was built during the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate an influx of population from military members stationed at Fort Sill. These ranch-style homes feature brick exteriors and run for between $60,000 and $130,000. New housing developments to the east and west offer larger homes on expansive, grassy lots. Eastlake and Pecan Valley are new developments featuring stately, Tudor-inspired brick homes with multi-car garages and expansive views. They have some of the highest home values in the city, ranging between $300,000 and $350,000. Lawton’s average sales price for homes over the past 12 months is around $180,000, which is up 9% from the previous year. This is well below the national average of $554,000. “Lawton is extremely affordable,” Ard says. “A house here that is $150,000 would cost $550,000 in Seattle or Dallas.”
Homes in Terrace Hills feature brick exteriors and are both well-maintained and affordable.
Ranches are a common home style in Eisenhower Village, from modern custom to classic brick.
Pecan Valley offers new homes with stately, large, and modern styles.
Eastlake homes offer Tudor-inspired brick exteriors, multi-car garages, and expansive views.
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Commercial development on the west end
Downtown Lawton is the main commercial hub with numerous shops and restaurants representing the city’s past and future. Popular eateries include Bricktown Brewery, a frequented joint serving classic bar food and local draft beers. Burgess Grill is a local spot known for its chicken fried steak and cheeseburgers. The Central Plaza is Lawton’s only shopping mall and first opened in 1979.
Although the mall has struggled in recent years, the city purchased it in 2021 to implement redevelopment plans. FISTA Innovation Park is a large part of these plans, as the newly opened space for defense contractors is expected to bring in hundreds of STEM jobs in the coming years. Lawton’s west end is also experiencing commercial growth thanks to the Lawton Marketplace’s name-brand retailers like Academy and Target. The Comanche Nation Casino and Apache Casino Hotel are vibrant entertainment destinations offering table games, poker and live performances.
In Downtown Lawton, Bricktown Brewery is a favorite for classic bar food.
Central Plaza Lawton in Downtown is a popular shopping mall with various stores.
Lawton’s west end grows, fueled by retailers like Academy at the Lawton Marketplace.
Poker, and live performances make Comanche Nation Casino in Lawton a vibrant destination.
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Lawton High School has a history of winning
Lawton Public Schools receives a B rating on Niche and serves more than 14,000 students. The district has three high schools, three middle schools and 15 elementary schools. Lawton High School earned the unofficial moniker ‘The Home of Champions’ after winning state championships in football, baseball, basketball, track and tennis in 1962. That legacy of winning has continued through the present day with multiple championships in speech and poetry during the 2010s. The Lawton Academy of Arts and Sciences is a highly rated private education option on the west end. The city is home to Cameron University, which offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs. Great Plains Technical Center offers numerous adult career programs in fields like nursing services, graphic design and photography.
Lawton High is called ‘The Home of Champions’ for its state football championship wins.
Located on the west end, the Lawton Academy of Arts and Sciences is a top private school.
Cameron University in Lawton offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Plains Technical Center in Lawton offers diverse adult career programs in many fields.
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Lawton likes to celebrate
The city celebrates its military heritage annually during the Lawton-Fort Sill Freedom Festival. The popular event takes place every June and features a weekend of live music, soapbox derby races and colorful firework displays. Arts for All is another yearly celebration, drawing in artists and creatives across southwest Oklahoma. The festival features 90 local and international artists and two stages with live entertainment. The wine garden offers a collection of Oklahoma wines, and all proceeds from the festival go to local art groups. Other popular gatherings include the International Festival and Lawton Rangers Rodeo.
Interstate 44 connects to major metro areas
Lawton is a transportation hub for Southwest Oklahoma. Interstate 44 runs parallel to the city and connects to Oklahoma City, 87 miles to the north, and Wichita Falls, 53 miles to the south. Dallas is around 190 miles away. “Oklahoma City is around an hour and 30 minutes away, from here to Dallas is about three hours,” says Heesun Stanfield, a Local Realtor with REMAX Professionals who has over 20 years of experience selling in Lawton. “It’s very convenient here. I can leave and come back in one day” Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport offers multiple daily flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport via American Eagle. Lawton has multiple bike lanes centered around downtown. Lawton Area Transit services numerous bus stops throughout the city.
Crime and Environment
Lawton lies squarely in tornado alley and experiences a handful of severe weather events every year, mainly in the spring and fall. These storms can bring strong wind, hail and heavy rains. Two major tornados have hit the city since 1875, including the 1979 F3 Tornado, which caused millions of dollars in damage. Lawton experiences four seasons, with hot and dry summers and cool winters. Temperatures in July and August often reach into the upper 90s, while the occasional cold plunge in the winter can bring snow, ice and wind.
Crime can be an issue at times. According to data from the Lawton Police Department and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, crimes against persons increased by 12.25% from 2022 to 2023. Additionally, property crimes increased by 22.05% during the same period. To address this, the University of Oklahoma, in conjunction with the city council, is conducting a comprehensive study on crime and safety to develop effective strategies to increase public safety.
Written By
Beck Connelley
Photography Contributed By
Chon Kit Leong
Video By
Charlie Lingner
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On average, homes in Lawton, OK sell after 65 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Lawton, OK over the last 12 months is $144,000, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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