Hobart is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 25,363 at the 2000 census.

Geography

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Hobart is located at (41.528715, -87.267420).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 69.2 km² (26.7 mi²). 67.9 km² (26.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.83%) is water.

Demographics

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As of the census of 2000, there were 25,363 people, 9,855 households, and 6,977 families residing in the city. The population density was 373.6/km² (967.5/mi²). There were 10,299 housing units at an average density of 151.7/km² (392.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.73% White, 1.39% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.60% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.05% of the population.

There were 9,855 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,759, and the median income for a family was $35,078. Males had a median income of $43,702 versus $26,619 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,508,662. 4.8% of the population and 2.9% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 5.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

History

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Hobart was named by founder George Earle in honor of his brother, Frederick Hobart Earle.

After purchasing land from the Potowatomi Indians, Earle founded the city in 1846 and built the city's first business: a grist mill.

Hobart was home to numerous brickyards in the nineteenth century, including the W.B. Owen Terra Cotta Works, the Natco yards, and the Kulage Brick Works. This provided Hobart High School with its unique nickname for its athletic teams: the Brickies. Under head coach Don Howell, the Hobart Brickies won the Indiana state championship for football in 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1993, as well as 19 straight sectional title wins. Hobart's brickyard was built in the area which is known as Lake Park Avenue today. When the brickyard was still in business, bricks would be transported to other areas via trains on the former Pennsylvania Railroad (The former Pennsylvania Railroad is...