Page Contents for Lawton, Oklahoma

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Oklahoma state capital is Oklahoma City.
The population of Lawton is approximately 92,757 (2000), 96867 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 34,622 (1990), 34901 (2010).
The amount of land area in Lawton is 132.456 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Lawton to Washington DC is 1283 miles.
The distance to the Oklahoma state capital is 79 miles. (as the crow flies)
Lawton is positioned 34.60 degrees north of the equator and 98.42 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Lawton average annual rainfall is 28 inches per year
Lawton average annual precipitation is 36.0 inches peryear.
Lawton average annual snowfall is 8 inches per year.
The average winter temperature is 44 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 81.1 degrees F.

Location

in southwestern Oklahoma. It is 98 miles to Oklahoma City, 99 miles to Ardmore and 57 miles to Altus.

Here is a map page for Lawton
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Weather

seasonal. Here is a current weather page for Lawton.
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History & History Related Items

Lawton Public Library history page for Lawton and Comanche County.

Here is a history page for Lawton.

Lawton was founded on the last of the Indian lands in the Oklahoma Territory. The Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation was opened for settlement in 1901. A lottery rather than a "land run" was used to distribute the 160 acre plots of land. A potential landowner would register for the lottery. Registration first opened on 10 July 1901 at fort Sill and El Reno. Around 29,000 hopefuls registered in person at Fort Sill. At least another 135,000 also registered at El Reno. The numbers far exceeded the expectations of the planners of the lottery. The drawing was on 29 July 1901 with only 6,500 lucky "winners." The town of Lawton was founded on 6 August 1901. The name of Lawton came from a Spanish-American war hero, General Henry W. Lawton. He was also one of those who pursued and captured Geronimo in 1886.

At first there was no town government, but since Lawton was initially named the county seat, it was ruled by the county. In October 1901, there was an election and the city government was formed. Various types of city government were implemented during the ensuing years. In 1972, the current system was voted into place, that of a charter and the council-manager form of government.
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Attractions

Lawton is the County Seat for Comanche County.
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Lawton City Government

City of Lawton City of Lawton
City Hall
103 SW 4th St
Lawton, Oklahoma 73501
Phone: 580.581.3338

Lawton City Clerk
103 SW 4th St.
Lawton, OK 73501-4033
Phone: 405-581-3305

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COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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Comanche County Website

Comanche County Courthouse
315 SW 5th Street
Lawton, Oklahoma 73507

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Comanche County Clerk
305 SW 5th St.
Lawton, OK 73501-4328
Phone: 405-355-5214

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Comanche County Memorial Hospital
3401 W Gore Blvd
Lawton, OK 73505-6332
Phone: 580-355-8620

Lawton Historical Events

1999 Doe Doe Park facility leveled!
This was once an important landmark in Lawton, Oklahoma. When I was a young boy living in Lawton, I spent many hours enjoying the facilities of this park. It was located on Sheridan Rd. just outside of Fort Sill. The main feature was a huge swimming pool. My mother used to drop me off there and after paying my fee ( I think it was about .35 cents ) I would rent a basket to store my clothes and wear the safety pin with my basket number on my trunks. It was a rule that you had to shower before entering the pool and no cut-off jeans were allowed. The management ran a very tight ship and enforced all safety rules. There was a wading pool for the very young and then the main pool began at 3 feet deep and there was a row of swings suspended over the water. There were slides and at the halfway point there was a waling plank that went across the middle of the pool. This was the area limited to non swimmers. To go across the walkway into the deep water (I believe it went to 12 feet at the far end) you had to be able to swim across the pool and back under the eye of a lifeguard. I know this well because I had to prove myself over and over because I was so little at the time. My step-uncle, L.E. Smith Jr. was a lifeguard there at the time. When he was not on duty, I had to prove that I could do the swim test to the other life guards. On the deep end there was a tower in the middle with stationary diving boards. On the far end was a high-dive with succeeding diving boards on both sides. This area was in view of the cafe which had a large picture window. People eating in there could watch people diving from the high dives and see the window get splashed for entertainment. The chlorine was very strong in that water, and my eyes would be red after a day of swimming in the hot Oklahoma sun! At night, the chlorine in my eyes would create halos around the steet lights. The pool was only a part of the attraction of the park. There was a small zoo, a skating rink, a miniature golf course, a miniature train and a few kiddie rides, as well a a picnic area. This was surely a great place for the people of Lawton/Fort Sill to enjoy themselves. We moved from Lawton in 1965. I re-visited Lawton a few years ago to find the park still intact but out of business due to the high cost of liability insurance. At least it was still there as a reminder of my past. In October of 1999, I visited once more with my father. He was stationed at Fort Sill in the Army when we lived there. When I approached the site of Doe Doe Park, I was devastated to see that nearly the entire park had been leveled to the ground. I was told that a building supply company had bought the property but after experiencing a problem with building requirements by the city, the company had decided not to build at all. What a shame! Nothing remains there now but part of the area where the zoo was located and the picnic tables and bridges over the old canals. Oh yea, the old covered bridge where the little train was stored was still there! Fortunately, I was able to get a few pictures of the park on the prior visit to help remind me of the days gone by of old Doe Doe Park. I would like to say thank you to the owners of the old park for all of the fun times I had there!
Submitted by Timothy E. Bradshaw

Lawton Chamber

Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce & Industry
629 SW "C" Avenue
Lawton, OK 73501
Phone (580)355-3541
Fax (580) 355-3642

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Chamber of Commerce
607 NW 14th St.
Lawton, OK 73507-6534
Phone:405-355-9547

Lawton Organizations

Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce & Industry
629 SW "C" Avenue
Lawton, OK 73501
Phone (580)355-3541
Fax (580) 355-3642

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Chamber of Commerce
607 NW 14th St.
Lawton, OK 73507-6534
Phone:405-355-9547

Lawton Libraries

Lawton Branch Library
Lawton, OK 73501
Phone: 405-581-3457

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Lawton Public Library
Lawton, OK 73505
Phone: 405-353-3122

Lawton Schools

Lawton High School
601 NW Fort Sill Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73507-6601
Phone: 405-355-5170 Lawton

Miscellany

The population of Lawton was:
1950 - 35,000
1990 - 80,561
2000 - 92,757