The cattle industry of surrounding regions affected the area from the 1850s. From 1855 until the reservation era the southwestern portion of the Choctaws' domain, including Kiowa County, became the Leased District, a place where cattlemen grazed large herds. From 1876 until 1888 the Western Trail crossed western Kiowa County. Approximately 300,000 head of cattle were moved up the trail yearly from Texas to Kansas.

In 1892 the Jerome Commission began enrolling the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache in preparation for opening their reservation to white settlement. After several Oklahoma Territory land runs, Dennis Flynn, the Republican territorial representative in Congress, proposed a lottery as a more orderly and less dangerous way to open the reservation. Individuals registered for the lottery at either Lawton or El Reno. One hundred sixty-five thousand individuals registered for thirteen thousand available claims, each comprising 160 acres. The drawing began on August 6, 1901. Each townsite consisted of 320 acres. Lots were auctioned to raise funds for county government. Hobart, named for Vice President Garrett A. Hobart, was designated as the seat of Kiowa County.

Transportation developments ended the cattle drives and brought rail access to the future Kiowa County area. In 1900 the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway built west from Anadarko across the northern part of the county, linking Hobart with Chickasha and Mangum. In 1902 the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad (later part of the St. Louis and San Francisco system), completed its north-south line connecting Kansas to the Red River, passing through Hobart. Finally, in 1908 the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway (later the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe system) completed its Kansas-Texas line from Clinton through Lone Wolf. These linked the county's economy with outside agricultural markets.

Following 1907 statehood, residents in southern Kiowa County won the support of Gov. Charles N. Haskell, who in 1910 proclaimed Hunter Township, Mountain Park, and Snyder, all in Kiowa County, and portions of western Comanche County, to be "Swanson County." Trouble erupted immediately when Snyder disputed Mountain Park's designation as county seat. Following a homicide, a kidnaping, and charges of election fraud, Comanche County filed suit to dissolve its new neighbor. Swanson County ceased to exist in June 1911 when the Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision. Citizens of Hunter Township, which included the communities of Siboney and Manitou, voted to join Tillman County after the dissolution of Swanson.

Although bounded on the south by the Wichita Mountains, Kiowa County is largely flatland. Principal crops are wheat, cotton, and other grains. Cattle, hogs, and sheep dominate the livestock arena. Vineyards were added to the agricultural base in the late twentieth century. Major water sources include the Washita River, Elk Creek, and Otter Creek. Lakes Altus-Lugert on the North Fork of the Red River and Tom Steed on Otter Creek provide both commercial water and recreational areas. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Farmrail furnish transportation of agricultural goods. Hobart Municipal Airport provides access by air. Major thoroughfares include State Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 183.

By the year 2000 Kiowa County was home to several industries, such as Chicago Rawhide in Hobart, a manufacturer of rubber seals; the Dolese quarry near Roosevelt; Highland Supply in Hobart, manufacturer of Easter grass; and the Parsons Monument Company in Mountain Park. Education is offered from kindergarten through twelfth grade at Hobart, Lone Wolf, Mountain View-Gotebo, and Snyder public schools. The county enjoyed a steady population growth from 22,247 at statehood in 1907 to 29,630 in 1930. That number subsequently declined from 22,817 in 1940 to 12,532 in 1970. Census records for 2000 showed a population of 10,227. Incorporated towns included Cooperton, Gotebo, Hobart, Lone Wolf, Mountain Park, Mountain View, Roosevelt, and Snyder.

Kiowa County was the birthplace of several well-known Oklahomans. Col. Jack Treadwell of Snyder, who served in the180th Infantry, Forty-fifth Infantry Division, during World War II, received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Gen. Lavern Weber and Dale Meinert, an All-Pro linebacker for the St. Louis Cardinals, were born at Lone Wolf. Novelist N. Scott Momaday (1934-), 1969 Pulitzer Prize winner for House Made of Dawn, is from Mountain View.

COOPERTON

The Kiowa County incorporated community of Cooperton is located fourteen miles south of Gotebo and nine miles east of Roosevelt. Situated along State Highway 54/19, which passes north-south through town, Cooperton is in a farming and ranching region. Originally called Cooper, the community was planned in 1899 by Frank Cooper, who had organized a settlement company in anticipation of the opening of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Reservation in August 1901. When he learned the reservation would be opened with a lottery instead of a run, Cooper asked for and was granted 320 acres for his company members. He planned the settlement to be at the foot of the Wichita Mountains, about two miles east of the town's present location. However, an error was made when the townsite was registered. Later the name had to be changed to Cooperton, as there was already a Cooper in present Blaine County, Oklahoma.

Cooperton grew and soon had eighteen businesses and a town board and expected a railroad. The first general store and post office were in a small building. Other businesses included a second general store, livery stable, drug store, bank, hardware store, and cotton gin. Also coming to town were a cigar factory, mill, blacksmith shop, and two hotels. Churches and a school were built, and a newspaper, the Cooperton Banner, was published.

By 1910 Cooperton had one hundred residents. Despite its failure to acquire a railroad, the town grew gradually until 1940 when the population reached 187. Over the years the schools disbanded, students transferred, and people moved on, so that by 2000 there were only 20 residents remaining.

HOBART

The Kiowa County seat, Hobart is situated on State Highway 9, two miles west of U.S. Highway 183. Located 120 miles southwest of Oklahoma City and sixty-five miles northwest of Lawton, Hobart is served by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, which runs north-south along the town's eastern limits. The town was named in honor of Garrett A. Hobart, a vice president of the United States (1897-99). 

On August 1, 1901, the present Hobart townsite was secluded prairie. The next morning a throng of people, many of whom had traveled from across the nation, occupied the area. They were there for land. Most had no money but hoped to build homes and businesses on the former Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation. Thirteen thousand people, living in tents, gathered for the land lottery. After the lot sale began on August 6, 1901, Hobart became the residence of 2,530 individuals.

Hobart businesses began in tents, then transferred to wooden structures as they were built. Among the first frame buildings was a courthouse for the county government. Cowboys, gamblers, ministers, and entrepreneurs all mingled in "Ragtown," as Hobart was then nicknamed. The town's first crops included corn, but farmers soon found the climate suitable for cotton. By 1903 Hobart possessed electric lights, an ice plant, and some of the Southwest's largest wholesale businesses. There was a flour mill and several department stores. The Dan Miller and Son cotton oil mill developed into one of the region's major mills. Other establishments included two cotton gins, lumber and coal yards, hardware stores, hotels and restaurants, laundries, lawyers, doctors, fraternal orders, four national banks, a public library, a telephone exchange, livery and feed stables, wagonyards, and furniture stores. Hobart had several early newspapers, including the Hobart Daily Chief, the Hobart Republican, and the Hobart Democrat-Chief, which remains in publication.

LONE WOLF

The Kiowa County community of Lone Wolf is situated nine miles west of Hobart on State Highways 9 and 44. Lone Wolf's main street, State Highway 9, intersects with State Highway 44 on the town's eastern edge. Lone Wolf is located about six miles east of the North Fork of the Red River and the Kiowa-Greer county line. The Texas and Oklahoma Railroad runs in a northeasterly direction through town.

Lone Wolf was founded upon the opening of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Reservation in August 1901. Established along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, the settlement was quickly populated and named for Kiowa Chief Lone Wolf. The community's first business was a restaurant operated by Mark Sauerberg and his partner, Hance Van Rankin. Chief Lone Wolf and his wife and son were their first customers.

Other early businesses included Sauerberg's dray business, three lumberyards, a feed store, one hardware store, a drug store, two doctors, one dentist, two banks, five cotton gins, five grain elevators, three general stores, one livery stable, and saloons. Two wells located south and west of town supplied fresh water. Schools and churches were built, and farming was the major industry.

By 1907 statehood Lone Wolf's population was 337. That figure grew from 677 in 1910 to 1,023 in 1930. As with many rural communities, Lone Wolf's generations grew up and moved on to pursue careers elsewhere. As a result, the number of residents dropped from 783 in 1940 to 500 in 2000. The area's small farms have been absorbed into larger holdings, but cotton and wheat remain important to the local economy. Lone Wolf was the birthplace of Gen. LaVern E. Weber (1923-1999).

MOUNTAIN PARK

The Kiowa County community of Mountain Park is situated on U.S. Highway 183, three miles north of Snyder and twenty-seven miles south of Hobart. A short-line railroad operated by the Grainbelt Corporation runs through town in a north-south direction. The town's name honors the nearby Wichita Mountains.

Mountain Park, originally named Burford, was a trading post for cowboys and American Indians. A post office was established there following the opening of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Reservation in August 1901. An estimated two thousand to three thousand people witnessed that event. The settlement began as a "tent city," as did all the towns in Kiowa County. The community's name was changed to Mountain Park in February 1902.

When it was learned that the Oklahoma City and Western Railroad would come through Mountain Park, resident Sol Bracken was offered six thousand dollars for 160 acres on which to build a depot. Bracken, however, decided that was not enough and raised the price. This irritated railroad officials, who decided to extend their track through Snyder instead, passing two miles south of Mountain Park. At the time of the dispute there were forty-eight businesses in town. All but seven moved to Snyder. A few years later a fire, fanned by a south wind, almost destroyed Mountain Park.

Mountain Park was named seat of Swanson County, Oklahoma, in August 1910. One year later the town's development was hurt by that county's disorganization. Early newspapers included the Mountain Park News, the Mountain Park Lance, and the Mountain Park Herald. Located in an agricultural region, Mountain Park farms grew cotton and wheat. Granite quarrying and cutting was another local industry. Construction and production jobs remained important to the community's economy. By 1907 statehood Mountain Park had 381 residents. By 1930 that number had increased to 459, and reached a high of 557 in 1980. The 2000 census showed a population of 390.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

The Kiowa County community of Mountain View is situated just south of the Washita County line and twenty-two miles northeast of Hobart. Mountain View's main street is State Highway 9/115, which runs east-west through town. A quiet farming and ranching community, Mountain View had a population of 880 in 2000.

In Indian Territory in April 1899 the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway extended a line from Chickasha in the Chickasaw Nation, to the northern Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Reservation. North of the Washita River in present Washita County, about two miles from the railroad's terminus, was Oakdale, a store and post office on the former Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation. There a "tent city" developed that was supplied by wagon from El Reno.

Nicknamed "the City in the Woods," Oakdale boomed. Its first newspaper, the Southwestern Progress, was printed in spring 1899. Texas cattle were shipped north to the Rock Island's terminus, where they were unloaded and allowed to graze on the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache land. The first 2,585 head arrived in forty-seven railroad cars on April 23, 1899, with an additional five thousand en route.

Some Oakdale residents obtained land for a new townsite. Platted in May 1899 by the El Reno Development Company, the nearby settlement, with the Wichita Mountains looming on the south and west, was called Mountain View. The Oakdale post office was renamed Mountain View on October 9, 1900. In late 1903 Mountain View was relocated to its present position to be near the Rock Island railway. By 1904 Oakdale's businesses and homes had also moved to the new site, where schools and churches were started. By 1910 Mountain View's population was 855. That number fluctuated throughout the century, and peaked at 1,086 in 1990. Community newspapers have included the Mountain View Republican, the Mountain View Tribune, and the Mountain View News