Hobart, Indiana

Hobart is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,059 at the 2010 census. The city is pronounced by locals as Ho-bert instead of Ho-bart, which is how many people not from the area mistakenly pronounce it.

Geography
Hobart is located at 41.52861°N, -87.2675°W (41.528715, -87.267420).

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

Hobart is approximately 31 mi southeast of Chicago.

Demographics
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 967.5 people per square mile (373.6/km²). There were 10,299 housing units at an average density of 392.9 per square mile (151.7/km²). 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. 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.

Recreation
Hobart is home to Lake George, a popular place for people to gather to walk along the city's waterfront. Musical entertainment can be found near the clock tower in Lakefront Park and at the Revelli Bandshell during the warm months. Fishing and boating are two popular activities at Lake George. At Festival Park, directly off of Lake George, domsticated ducks and geese, as well as mallards, Canada geese, and mute swans inhabit the area year-round.

In the past, fishermen fished at Hobart's Robinson Lake. As of October 2006, Former Mayor Linda Buzenic announced the "highest and best use" for Robinson Lake would be to put it up for sale, according to the Post-Tribune.

The city features 14 parks, 2 public 18-hole golf courses (Cressmoor Country Club closed in 2006 leaving 1), and many sports fields for basketball, football, baseball, soccer, rugby, and many other sports. The city recently bought an outdoor swimming pool.

The Oak Savannah rails-to-trails route cuts through the city and offers biking and hiking. The Oak Savannah trail passes by the 90 acre (360,000 m²) Hobart Prairie Grove Unit of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

The Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Inc. owns other nature preserves in the city of Hobart, including a tallgrass prairie. The Cressmoor Prairie is a dedicated state nature preserve. The Cressmoor Prairie is the largest state-protected rare "black soil" or silt-loam prairie in Indiana.

The city's Mundell Field has a quarter-mile outdoor oval track for walking.

Hobart is home to one of Indiana's largest indoor shopping malls: Westfield Southlake, located in the southern part of the city near the intersection of US 30 and Interstate 65. The area is filled with outdoor strip malls that contain over 200 stores and restaurants.

Hobart residents drive 15 minutes west-northwest to visit casino boats on Lake Michigan and 15 minutes northeast to visit the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Indiana Dunes State Park, containing 15,000 acres (60 km²) of beaches, sand dunes, bogs, and protected wildlife.

Business
Hobart is home to many thriving businesses in its downtown shopping district, including the historic Art Theatre.

Hobart is also home to the Westfield Southlake Shopping Mall and many surrounding retailers and restaurants, although most businesses are required to list their addresses as Merrillville. Though this area was historically an unincorporated section of Lake County prior to annexation by the City of Hobart, it is currently served by the Merrillville post office.

The nearest large airports serving Hobart are the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) in Gary and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in nearby Chicago. The Hobart Sky Ranch Airport (3HO) is located 2 mi north of the city's downtown business district.

Hobart contains 3 major railroads: Norfolk Southern Railway, which runs through County Line Road to Liverpool Road, Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad, which runs through County Line Road to Wisconsin Street, and Canadian National Railway, which runs through Colorado Street and through a portion of Hobart in the southernmost part of the area known as Ainsworth.

Hobart is also home to the Indiana Botanic Gardens, which is the nation's largest and oldest retailer of herbs. The company moved to Hobart back in the mid-1990s and is located off of Business Route 6.

Education
Most of the city is within the School City of Hobart. Some of the city is within the River Forest Community School Corporation and some of the city is within the Merrillville Community School District. Hobart High School students are referred to as the " Brickies." This is in reference to the brickyards that were located on the north side of Hobart, close to the Cressmore Prairie. The school mascot is named Yohan and bears a strong resemblance to "Boilermaker Pete" from Purdue University. Hobart High, represents the colors purple and gold, but the gold is often changed to yellow. Hobart High School at one time was considered a leader in music education. In the early 20th century The Hobart High School band won national Sousa band competitions under the direction of Dr. William Revelli, who later went on to lead the prestigious University of Michigan bands programs.

The Merrillville section is served by John Wood Elementary School and the feeder schools in Merrillville.

Public libraries
Lake County Public Library operates the Hobart Branch at 100 North Main Street.

History
George Earle, an English immigrant bought land from the Potawatomi Native American tribe, who built a dam on Deep River, creating Lake George. He named the settlement which later developed Hobart, after his brother, Frederick Hobart Earle, who never left England.