Babbs, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Babbs, Oklahoma
Babbs Switch
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 Babbs, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
Babbs, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Kiowa |
| Elevation | 1,536 ft (468 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 1 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1100186 |
Babbs, also known as Babbs Switch, is a small community in Kiowa County, Oklahoma, in the United States. It was named after Edith "Babbs" Babcock. Babbs is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) south-southeast of the town of Hobart. It sits at an elevation of 1,535 feet (468 meters) above sea level.
Life in Babbs
Babbs was once a busy place for local farmers. Its biggest feature was a large grain elevator. This elevator was a storage place for small grains like wheat, barley, oats, and milo. Farmers would bring their crops here until the late 1970s. The "Hobart Farmer's CO-OP" owned the elevator. It closed because it was old and needed repairs.
Across Highway 183, there was also a gas station. A general store was located nearby. These businesses served the people living in and around Babbs.
The Babbs Switch Fire
Babbs is best known for a very sad event. This was the Babbs Switch Fire. It happened on December 24, 1924. A school fire broke out, and 36 people died. Many of those who died were children. Some families lost all their members in the fire. This tragic event became known across the country.
Babbs Today
After the fire, the Babbs school house was rebuilt. It was used until the end of World War II. Then, the Babbs school district joined with the Roosevelt and Hobart school districts. This meant the Babbs school closed down.
Today, all the buildings of the Babbs community are gone. There is a small rest area where the original school house once stood. A stone marker is also there to remember the community and the fire.
