Hobart, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hobart, Indiana
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Main Street in downtown Hobart
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Location of Hobart in Lake County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Lake |
| Township | Hobart, Ross |
| Incorporated (town) | 1889 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1921 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 26.57 sq mi (68.81 km2) |
| • Land | 26.19 sq mi (67.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0.38 sq mi (0.97 km2) |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 29,752 |
| • Density | 1,135.96/sq mi (438.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
46342
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| Area code(s) | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-34114 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394393 |
Hobart (say "HOH-bart") is a city in Lake County, Indiana, in the United States. In 2020, about 29,752 people lived there. Hobart is mostly a place where people live. However, it has recently grown to include more shops and businesses.
Contents
Discovering Hobart's History
Hobart was officially planned out in 1849. An English immigrant named George Earle bought land from the Potawatomi Native American tribe. He built a dam on Deep River, which created Lake George. Earle named the new settlement after his brother, Frederick Hobart Earle, who lived in England. The first school in the city was built in 1878.
Historic Buildings and Sites
Several important places in Hobart are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the First Unitarian Church of Hobart, the Hobart Carnegie Library, the Hobart Commercial District, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Station. The Lake George Commercial Historic District is also important locally. Hobart is also home to several projects built by the WPA, like a post office.
Exploring Hobart's Geography
Hobart is located in Lake County, Indiana. It covers an area of about 26.7 square miles (69.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Hobart is about 31 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Chicago. This makes it fairly close to a very large city.
Understanding Hobart's Population
The city's population has grown quite a bit over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 600 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,010 | 68.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,390 | 37.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,753 | 26.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,450 | 96.8% | |
| 1930 | 5,787 | 67.7% | |
| 1940 | 7,166 | 23.8% | |
| 1950 | 10,244 | 43.0% | |
| 1960 | 18,680 | 82.4% | |
| 1970 | 21,485 | 15.0% | |
| 1980 | 22,987 | 7.0% | |
| 1990 | 21,822 | −5.1% | |
| 2000 | 25,363 | 16.2% | |
| 2010 | 29,059 | 14.6% | |
| 2020 | 29,752 | 2.4% | |
| Source: US Census Bureau | |||
Population Details from 2010
In 2010, there were 29,059 people living in Hobart. There were 11,650 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 1,104 people per square mile (426 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Hobart were White (85.3%). Other groups included African American (7.0%), Native American (0.4%), and Asian (1.0%). About 13.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 38 years old. About 23.1% of residents were under 18 years old.
Hobart's Economy and Businesses
Hobart has many businesses, especially in its downtown area. This includes the historic Art Theatre.
Shopping and Retail
The large Southlake Mall is near Hobart. It is located close to U.S. Route 30 and Interstate 65. Many other shops and restaurants are also in this area. Even though some businesses here have a Merrillville address, this area became part of Hobart in 1993.
Transportation and Industry
Hobart is served by three major railroads: the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad, and the Canadian National Railway.
For air travel, the nearest large airports are Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary and Chicago Midway International Airport and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Hobart also has its own small airport, the Hobart Sky Ranch Airport (3HO), located just 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of downtown.
Hobart is home to the Indiana Botanic Gardens. This company is the largest and oldest seller of herbs in the nation. Another company, Midwest Products, has been in Hobart since 1952. They make hobby materials and radio-controlled model aircraft.
Parks and Recreation in Hobart
Lake George is a popular spot in Hobart. People enjoy walking along the waterfront. During warmer months, you can find musical entertainment near the clock tower in Lakefront Park and at the Revelli Bandshell. Fishing and boating are also popular activities on Lake George. At Festival Park, visitors can feed the ducks.
The city has 14 parks and many sports fields. You can find places for basketball, football, baseball, soccer, rugby, and other sports. The city also recently bought an outdoor swimming pool. The Hobart Nature District is also located here.
Trails and Nature Preserves
The Oak Savannah rails-to-trails route goes through Hobart. It's a great place for biking and hiking. This trail passes by the 90-acre (36-hectare) Hobart Prairie Grove Unit of Indiana Dunes National Park.
The Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Inc. also owns nature preserves in Hobart. These include a tallgrass prairie. The Cressmoor Prairie is a special state nature preserve. It is the largest protected "black soil" or silt-loam prairie in Indiana.
Education in Hobart
Most of Hobart is served by the School City of Hobart. However, some parts of the city are in the River Forest Community School Corporation or the Merrillville Community School District.
Hobart High School
Students at Hobart High School are called the "Brickies." This name comes from the brickyards that used to be on the north side of the city. The school's mascot is named Yohan.
Hobart High School was once known for its music education. In the early 1900s, its band won national competitions. This was under the direction of William Revelli, who later led the University of Michigan band. Hobart also has Trinity Lutheran School, which teaches students from preschool to 8th grade. There is also the Montessori Academy in the Oaks.
The Lake County Public Library has a branch in Hobart.
Notable People from Hobart
- Omar Apollo - a singer-songwriter
- Larry Bigbie - a professional baseball player
- Brent Dickson - a former Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court
- Darren Elkins - a professional MMA fighter
- Brian Gallagher - the president and CEO of United Way Worldwide
- Tim Gill - a computer scientist and activist
- Bob Kuechenberg - a professional football player
- Rudy Kuechenberg - a professional football player
- Dale Messick - a graphic artist who created the comic strip Brenda Starr
- Craig Osika - a professional football player and high school football coach
- Gary Primich - a blues musician
- William Revelli - a famous band director
- Everett Robinson - a minor league baseball player and manager
See also
In Spanish: Hobart (Indiana) para niños
