Fort Cobb, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
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Town
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Location of Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Caddo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.72 sq mi (1.87 km2) |
| • Land | 0.71 sq mi (1.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,345 ft (410 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 518 |
| • Density | 727.53/sq mi (280.80/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73038
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| Area code | 405/572 |
| FIPS code | 40-27100 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412638 |
| Website | https://fortcobb.org/ |
Fort Cobb is a small town in Caddo County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 518 people lived there.
Contents
Exploring Fort Cobb's Past
Early Days as a Military Post
Fort Cobb started as a U.S. Army base on October 1, 1859. It was located in what was then called Indian Territory. The fort was named after Howell Cobb, who was the Secretary of the Treasury. He was a friend of the officer who founded the fort, Major William Emory.
During the American Civil War, both Southern and Northern armies used the fort. The Union Army took control of it in 1862.
A Famous Commander and a New Fort
Later, a famous military leader, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, stayed at Fort Cobb. His troops were there from December 18, 1868, to January 6, 1869.
Not long after, on March 12, 1869, the fort was closed. The army decided to move the base about 30 miles (48 km) south. This new location became Fort Sill, which is still an important military base today.
The Town's Beginning and Growth
The town of Fort Cobb was founded in 1899. It was first called "Cobb." In 1902, its name was changed to Fort Cobb to honor the old military post.
When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the town had 467 residents. The number of people living in Fort Cobb changed over the years. It grew to 827 in 1930, which was its largest population. However, during the Great Depression and World War II, the population went down. It has changed a bit since then, with 518 people living there in 2020.
Geography and Location
Fort Cobb is located in the western part of Caddo County. It sits in the valley of the Washita River. Oklahoma State Highway 9 goes right through the town. This highway connects Fort Cobb to Anadarko, the county seat, about 15 miles (24 km) to the east. It also leads to Carnegie, about 11 miles (18 km) to the west.
The town covers a total area of about 0.72 square miles (1.87 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 382 | — | |
| 1920 | 546 | 42.9% | |
| 1930 | 827 | 51.5% | |
| 1940 | 699 | −15.5% | |
| 1950 | 665 | −4.9% | |
| 1960 | 687 | 3.3% | |
| 1970 | 722 | 5.1% | |
| 1980 | 760 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 663 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 667 | 0.6% | |
| 2010 | 634 | −4.9% | |
| 2020 | 518 | −18.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 667 people living in Fort Cobb. There were 270 households, which are groups of people living together. Many families lived in the town.
Most of the people in Fort Cobb were White (77.96%). There were also Native American (16.04%) and African American (1.20%) residents. Some people were from other backgrounds or had mixed heritage. About 5.25% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 35.2% of households had children under 18. Many households (55.9%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.47 people. The average family had about 3.05 people.
The median age in the town was 37 years old. This means half the people were younger than 37, and half were older. About 28.9% of the population was under 18. About 17.2% were 65 or older.
The median income for a household was $25,625. This is the middle income for all households. About 17.6% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 20.6% of children under 18.
Local Economy
In the early 1900s, Fort Cobb's economy was mostly based on farming. The town had places to store grain and process cotton. It also had a railroad line that helped transport goods.
Later, the building of the Fort Cobb Dam and a nearby park changed things. This brought more visitors and tourism to the area. Tourism became an important part of the town's economy.
Education Opportunities
Students in the area can attend the Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center. This center offers special training and education programs.
Local News and Media
The Fort Cobb News newspaper has been serving the town since 1958. Before that, other newspapers like the Caddo County Record and the Fort Cobb Express were published.
Famous People from Fort Cobb
- Gary Gray - A former professional basketball player for the NBA's Cincinnati Royals.
- Reggie Willits - A former professional baseball player for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels.
- Wendi Willits - Reggie's older sister, who played professional basketball for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Cobb (Oklahoma) para niños
