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Hochatown, Oklahoma
Town in Oklahoma, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hochatown is a town in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States, it is the second town to hold the name after the first was flooded by the damming of the Mountain Fork River to create Broken Bow Lake.[4] The town lies within the Little Dixie region of Oklahoma, an area originally settled largely by Southerners seeking a new start following the Civil War.[5] As of the 2020 census, the town population was 242.[3]
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History
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First Hochatown
The land that would become Hochatown was owned by the Choctaw tribe, with twelve families moving into the area in the 1880s. Like Broken Bow, Hochatown grew around the Choctaw Lumber and Coal Company (later named Dierks), gaining a post office in 1894. By 1900 it had become a bustling town.[4] The lumber company built a railroad spur between Hochatown and the community of Eagletown to facilitate export of logs.[6]
At the time of its founding, Hochatown was located in Bok Tuklo County of the Apukshunnubbee District, one of three administrative super-regions comprising the Choctaw Nation.
During the 1920s and 1930s, prime lumber supply dwindled and the lumber company moved to other local areas. Meanwhile, the community became noted for its moonshine production. The town's heyday soon passed, however. The post office shut down in 1963 and the last family left the site in 1966. The cemetery and town church were moved to higher ground while all other buildings were destroyed. The area is now covered by over 200 feet (60 m) of water.[4]
Second Hochatown
The second incarnation of Hochatown is located approximately one mile west of Broken Bow Lake on U.S. Route 259.[7]
On November 8, 2022, Hochatown residents voted in favor of the ballot question proposing the incorporation of Hochatown, with 129 votes in favor of incorporation and 18 votes against. On , November 28, 2022, the McCurtain County Commissioners gathered to pass articles of incorporation to re-establish Hochatown as an incorporated municipality.[7][8]
On January 10, 2023, the first meeting of the town trustees for newly incorporated Hochatown was held at the Chapel of the Pines Church. During the meeting, the trustees voted unanimously to appoint Dian Jordan as the town's first mayor and accepted a donation from long-time resident Vojai Reed for one year of free office space to house the first official town hall.[9][10]
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Geography
Hochatown is in north-central McCurtain County along U.S. Route 259, 8 miles (13 km) north of Broken Bow and 20 miles (32 km) north of Idabel, the county seat. To the north, US 259 passes the Cedar Mountains and Boktuklo Mountains, leading 30 miles (48 km) to Smithville. State Highway 259A leads east from Broken Bow 4 miles (6 km) to the dam that forms Broken Bow Lake on the Mountain Fork River.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hochatown has a total area of 10.93 square miles (28.31 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2), or 0.20%, are water.[2] The center of town is drained by Yashau Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the Little River, part of the watershed of the Red River.
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Economy
The town economy is based on tourism, largely from Texas. The cabin industry can attract thousands of visitors to the town during peak months.[5] In addition to Broken Bow Lake, the area includes Beavers Bend Resort Park, Hochatown State Park, and Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend.[4]
Demographics
Hochatown first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 census[12] and as a town in the 2023 American Community Survey.[13]
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References
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