Hochatown, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hochatown, Oklahoma
Hocha Tamaha (Choctaw)
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 Hochatown, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
Hochatown, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | McCurtain |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.67 sq mi (12.09 km2) |
| • Land | 4.66 sq mi (12.06 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 715 ft (218 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 242 |
| • Density | 51.98/sq mi (20.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74728
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-35030 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2831204 |
| Website | https://www.hochatown.org |
Hochatown, Oklahoma is a town in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. It's actually the second town with this name! The first Hochatown was flooded when a dam was built to create Broken Bow Lake. The area where Hochatown is located was originally settled by people from the Southern United States after the American Civil War.
Contents
History of Hochatown
The First Hochatown Townsite
The land that became the first Hochatown was owned by the Choctaw tribe. Around the 1880s, about twelve families moved into this area. Like the nearby town of Broken Bow, Hochatown grew because of a company called Choctaw Lumber and Coal Company. This company was later known as Dierks.
The town got its own post office in 1894 and became a busy place by 1900. The lumber company even built a special railroad track between Hochatown and Eagletown, Oklahoma. This helped them move logs out of the area easily.
When it was first founded, Hochatown was part of Bok Tuklo County. This county was one of three large areas that made up the Choctaw Nation.
After the 1920s and 1930s, there wasn't as much good lumber left. So, the lumber company moved to other places. The town's busiest times soon passed. The post office closed in 1963, and the last family left the original townsite in 1966. The town's cemetery and church were moved to higher ground. All the other buildings were taken down. Today, the area where the first Hochatown stood is covered by over 200 feet of water.
The Second Hochatown Townsite
The new Hochatown is located about one mile west of Broken Bow Lake. You can find it on U.S. Route 259, or about 20 miles north of Idabel, Oklahoma.
On November 8, 2022, the people living in Hochatown voted to officially become a town. A large majority, 129 votes, were in favor of this idea, with only 18 votes against it. A few weeks later, on November 28, 2022, officials from McCurtain County met. They approved the papers to make Hochatown an official municipality, which means it's now a self-governing town.
The first meeting for the new town's leaders, called town trustees, happened on January 10, 2023. This meeting took place at the Chapel of the Pines Church. During the meeting, the trustees all agreed to choose Dian Jordan, PhD, as the town's first official Mayor. They also accepted a kind gift from a long-time resident, Vojai Reed. This gift was one year of free office space to use as the first official Town Hall.
Economy and Tourism
Hochatown's economy mostly depends on tourism. Many visitors come from Texas to enjoy the area. The business of renting cabins brings thousands of tourists to the town, especially during busy times of the year.
Besides Broken Bow Lake, the area offers other fun places to visit. These include Beavers Bend Resort Park, Hochatown State Park, and the Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 242 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, the town of Hochatown had a population of 242 people.
