Editing Lawton, Oklahoma

{{short description|City in Oklahoma, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Lawton, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Old Lawton High School.jpg
|image_caption            = Lawton City Hall (2010)
|image_flag               = 
|nickname                 = 
|image_map                = Comanche County Oklahoma Incorporated areas highlighting Lawton.svg
|map_caption              = Location in the state of [[Oklahoma]]
|image_map1               = 
|map_caption1             =

|coordinates              = {{coord|34|36|15|N|98|23|44|W|type:city_region:US-OK|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Comanche County, Oklahoma|Comanche]]
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = August 6, 1901
|named_for                = [[Henry Ware Lawton]]
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Stan Booker<ref name=Booker>{{Cite news |url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/Home/Components/News/News/242/15 |title=Mayor Stan Booker's 2024 New Year Address |publisher=City of Lawton |date=2024-01-10 |access-date=2024-06-14}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[City council]]
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 211.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 81.47
|area_land_km2            = 210.92
|area_land_sq_mi          = 81.44
|area_water_km2           = 0.09
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03
|area_water_percent       = 0.04
|elevation_ft             = 1145
|population_total         = 90381
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_density_km2   = 428.52
|population_density_sq_mi = 1109.85
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_urban         = 87,464 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|336th]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html |title=Urban and Rural: List of 2020 Census Urban Areas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 22, 2023}}</ref>
|population_metro         = 131,089 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|300th]])
|population_rank          = US: 304th
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 73501–73503, 73505-73507
|area_code                = [[Area code 580|580]]
|website                  = [https://www.lawtonok.gov/ City of Lawton]
|footnotes                = 
|leader_title2            = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name2             = Michael Cleghorn<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/departments/city-manager|title=City Manager|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116011935/https://www.lawtonok.gov/departments/city-manager|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset = &minus;6
|timezone_DST             = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = &minus;5
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-41850<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_PL/G001/1600000US4041850 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202954/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_PL/G001/1600000US4041850 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-02-12 | author=American Fact Finder|publisher=US Census Bureau |title=Geographic Identifiers |access-date=2011-05-05}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411638<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411638}}</ref>
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
}}

'''Lawton''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Comanche County, Oklahoma|Comanche County]], in the U.S. state of [[Oklahoma]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscounties.org/cffiles_web/counties/citiescounty.cfm?countyid=40031 |publisher=National Association of Counties |title=Places in Comanche County, OK |access-date=2011-05-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113104037/http://www.uscounties.org/cffiles_web/counties/citiescounty.cfm?countyid=40031 |archive-date=2013-01-13 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>  Located in western Oklahoma, approximately {{convert|87|mi|km|-1|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Oklahoma City]],<ref name="okstate">{{cite web |author=Savage, Cynthia |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/L/LA035.html |title=Lawton |website=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518164350/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/L/LA035.html |archive-date=2010-05-18 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/ |website=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |title=Lawton |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531193517/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/ |archive-date=2010-05-31 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> it is the principal city of the [[Lawton metropolitan area|Lawton, Oklahoma, metropolitan statistical area]]. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Lawton's population was 90,381, making it the sixth-largest city in the state, and the largest in [[Western Oklahoma]].<ref name="2010census">{{cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lawton city, Oklahoma |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lawtoncityoklahoma/PST045221 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105094330/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lawtoncityoklahoma/PST045221 |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |access-date=2022-10-24 |publisher=US Census Bureau |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Developed on former [[Indian reservation|reservation]] lands of the [[Kiowa]], [[Comanche]], and [[Fort Sill Apache Tribe|Apache]] peoples, Lawton was incorporated in 1901. It was named after [[Major General]] [[Henry Ware Lawton]], who served in the Civil War, where he earned the [[Medal of Honor]], and was killed in action in the [[Philippine–American War]]. Lawton's landscape is typical of the [[Great Plains]], with flat topography and gently rolling hills, while the area north of the city is marked by the [[Wichita Mountains]].

The city's proximity to the [[Fort Sill|Fort Sill Military Reservation]], formerly the base of the [[Apache]] territory before statehood, gave Lawton economic and population stability throughout the 20th century.<ref name="major employ">{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtonok.org/businessenvironment/major_employers.htm |publisher=Lawton Ft. Sill Economic Development Team |title=Major Employers |access-date=2010-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820003344/http://www.lawtonok.org/businessenvironment/major_employers.htm |archive-date=2008-08-20 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Although Lawton's economy is still largely dependent on Fort Sill, it has grown to encompass manufacturing, higher education, health care, and retail.<ref name="bea"/> The city has a [[council-manager government]]; the city council members are elected from [[single-member district]]s and the mayor is elected [[at-large]]. They hire a professional city manager to direct daily operations.

[[Interstate 44 in Oklahoma|Interstate&nbsp;44]] and three major [[United States Numbered Highways|United States highways]] serve the city, [[Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport]] connects Lawton by air, while [[Greyhound Lines]] and the [[Lawton Area Transit System]] provide intercity and local bus service respectively.

==History==
{{Main|History of Lawton, Oklahoma}}
The territory of present-day Oklahoma was long settled by ancient cultures of prehistoric American Indians, including the [[Clovis culture|Clovis]], 11500 [[Common Era|BCE]]; [[Folsom tradition|Folsom]], 10600 BCE; and [[Plano cultures|Plainview]], 10000 BCE cultures.

The valleys of the [[Arkansas River]] and [[Red River of the South|Red River]] were the center of [[Caddoan Mississippian culture]], which began to develop about 800 CE. The people developed more dense settlement and a complex architecture of earthwork platform mounds. Archeological evidence has shown that these people were the direct ancestors of the historic Caddoan-language peoples who inhabited the larger region, including the [[Caddo]] and the [[Wichita people|Wichita]] peoples.

In the 16th century, Spanish explorer [[Francisco Vásquez de Coronado]] visited in 1541, beginning European contact. Around the 1700s, two tribes from the north, the Comanche and Kiowa, migrated to the Oklahoma and Texas regions.<ref name="okhistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.odl.state.ok.us/almanac/2005/14-histry.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Libraries |title=Oklahoma Almanac 2005 |department=Oklahoma History |pages=687–691 |access-date=2011-04-25 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210110/http://www.odl.state.ok.us/almanac/2005/14-histry.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For most of the 18th century, the French exerted nominal control over the Oklahoma region as part of [[Louisiana (New France)|French Louisiana]]. The largest French settlements were along the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. The limited interaction between the Native American and European peoples was based on [[fur trading]].

In 1803, the French sold this territory as [[Louisiana Purchase]] to the US, under President  [[Thomas Jefferson]]. European Americans continued to migrate into the Southeast and across the [[Mississippi River]] into Indian territories, especially seeking territory to expand cotton cultivation, which was a lucrative commodity crop. They pressured the government to give them access to Indian lands. In 1830, under President [[Andrew Jackson]], Congress passed the [[Indian Removal Act]], which removed American Indian tribes from the Southeast and relocated them to [[Indian Territory]] west of the [[Mississippi River]].

The southern part of this territory was originally assigned to the [[Choctaw]] and [[Chickasaw]]. Following the Civil War, during which most of the Southeast tribes had allied with the Confederacy, in 1867, the United States required new treaties of peace. In 1867, under the [[Medicine Lodge Treaty]], it allotted the southwest portion of former Choctaw and Chickasaw lands to the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache tribes. It had forced them to move out of East Texas and nearby areas of Arkansas.<ref name="okhistory" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Kappler |first=Charles |title=Indian Affairs: Laws and treaties |volume=2 |publisher=Government Printing Office |page=755 |location=Washington D.C. |year=1903 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdEUAAAAYAAJ&q=lodge&pg=PA755 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Fort Sill was established in 1869 after the American Civil War and commanded by Major General [[Philip Sheridan]]. He was leading a campaign in Indian Territory to stop raids into Texas by American Indian tribes.<ref name="sill history">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fort-sill.htm |title=Fort Sill |website=Globalsecurity.org |access-date=May 23, 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 1874, the [[Red River War]] broke out in the region when the Comanche, Kiowa, and Southern Cheyenne left their Indian Territory reservation. Attrition and skirmishes by the US Army finally forced the return of the tribes to Indian Territory in June 1875.<ref name="sill history"/>

In 1891, the United States Congress appointed a commission to meet with the tribal leaders and come to an agreement allowing White settlement. Years of controversy and legal maneuvering ensued before President [[William McKinley]] issued a proclamation on 4&nbsp;July 1901, that gave the federal government control over {{convert|2000000|acre|km2|abbr=on}} of "surplus" Indian lands that remained after allotments of communal tribal lands to individual households under the Dawes Act.<ref>''[[Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock]]'', 187 U.S. 553 (1903).</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kappler |first=Charles |title=Indian Affairs: Laws and treaties |volume=1 |publisher=Government Printing Office |page=1012| location=Washington, DC |year=1904 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H4UTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Under other legislation, the United States through the Dawes Commission allotted communal lands as plots to individual households of tribal members, selling off what remained as "surplus". These actions extinguished the tribal claims to communal lands, a condition needed for the admission of Oklahoma as a state in 1907.

[[File:General Henry W. Lawton.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Major General Henry Ware Lawton| Major General Henry Ware Lawton]]
After these changes, the legislature of the new state began to organize counties. Three 320-acre sites in [[Kiowa County, Oklahoma|Kiowa]], [[Caddo County, Oklahoma|Caddo]] and [[Comanche County, Oklahoma|Comanche]] counties were selected for county seats. Lawton was designated as the Comanche County seat. The town was named for Major General [[Henry W. Lawton]], a quartermaster at Fort Sill, who had taken part in the pursuit and capture of Apache chief [[Geronimo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/Lawton.html |publisher=The California Military Museum |title=Major-General Henry Ware Lawton, U.S. Volunteers |access-date=2010-05-23 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The city was opened to settlement through an auction of town lots beginning on 6&nbsp;August 1901, which was completed 60 days later.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kutchta |first=Howard |title=Lawton, a centennial history, 1901-2001 |publisher=Bell Books |year=2001 |pages=7–8}}</ref> By 25&nbsp;September 1901, the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Rock Island Railroad]] expanded to Lawton and was soon joined by the [[St. Louis - San Francisco Railway|Frisco Line]].<ref>Kutchta (2001) p.&nbsp;10</ref> The first city elections were held 24&nbsp;October 1901.<ref>Kutchta (2001) p.&nbsp;15</ref>

The United States' entry into [[World War I]] accelerated development at Fort Sill and Lawton. The availability of {{convert|5|e6USgal|m3}} of water from [[Lake Lawtonka]], just north of Fort Sill, was a catalyst for the War Department to establish a major cantonment named [[Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma|Camp Doniphan]]. It was active until 1922.<ref>Kutchta (2001) p.&nbsp;28</ref>

Similarly, the US response in World War II stimulated activity and expansion at Fort Sill and Lawton. The city's population increased from 18,055 to 34,757 from 1940 to 1950.<ref name="pop data">{{cite web |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Commerce |access-date=2010-05-13 |url=http://www.okcommerce.gov/Libraries/Documents/Historical_Census_Population%3B_City_by_County_1890_to_2000_0812041317.pdf |title=Historical census population; City by County 1890 to 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601162831/http://www.okcommerce.gov/Libraries/Documents/Historical_Census_Population%3B_City_by_County_1890_to_2000_0812041317.pdf |archive-date=2010-06-01 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> By the 1960s, it had reached 61,697.<ref name="pop data"/>

[[File:Oklahoma - Lawton - NARA - 68147164 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Lawton in 1933]]

In the postwar period, Lawton underwent tremendous growth during the late 1940s and 1950s, leading city officials to seek additional water sources to supplement existing water from Lake Lawtonka. In the late 1950s, the city purchased large parcels of land along East Cache Creek in northern Comanche County for the construction of a dam and human-made lake, built in 1959 on the creek just north of U.S. 277 west of Elgin. [[Lake Ellsworth (Oklahoma)|Lake Ellsworth]], named for a former Lawton mayor, soft-drink bottler C.R. Ellsworth, was dedicated in the early 1960s. It offered additional water resources, but also recreational opportunities and flood control along Cache Creek.<ref>Kutchta (2001) p.&nbsp;72</ref>

In 1966, the Lawton City Council annexed several square miles of land on the city's east, northeast, west, and northwest borders, expanding east beyond the East Cache Creek area and west to 82nd Street.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation |title=Official State Highway Map |edition=1954}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation |title=Official State Highway Map |edition=1975}}</ref> On 1&nbsp;March 1964, the north section of the [[H. E. Bailey Turnpike]] was completed, connecting Lawton directly to Oklahoma City, the capital. The south section of the turnpike leading to the Texas border was completed on April 23, 1964.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pikepass.com/about/History.aspx |publisher=Oklahoma Turnpike Authority |title=History |access-date=2011-09-27 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Urban-renewal efforts in the 1970s transformed downtown Lawton. A number of buildings dating to the city's founding were demolished to build an [[Central Plaza (Oklahoma)|enclosed shopping mall]], which was believed to provide a suburban attraction for shoppers.<ref name="okstate"/>

On June 23, 1998, the city expanded when Lawton annexed neighboring Fort Sill.<ref>Kutchta (2001) p.&nbsp;100</ref> The [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure of 2005]] resulted in reassignment of people from other bases and consolidation of some military activities at Fort Sill, increasing the number of people assigned there and its scope of activities. Lawton expects a continuing benefit of population and economic growth over the course of the next 20&nbsp;years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newsok.com/lawton-figures-fort-sill-annex-to-add-12500/article/2616730|title=Lawton figures Fort Sill annex to add 12500}}</ref><!-- Explain how closure expands the size of Fort Sill; seems counter-intuitive -->

==Geography==
Lawton is the fifth-largest city in Oklahoma. The city has a total area of {{convert|75.1|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |title=U.S. Gazetteer Files |access-date=2010-04-20 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Lawton is located about {{convert|84|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of Oklahoma City. Other surrounding cities include [[Wichita Falls, Texas|Wichita Falls]] about {{convert|47|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the south, [[Duncan, Oklahoma|Duncan]] about {{convert|33|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the east, and [[Altus, Oklahoma|Altus]] about {{convert|56|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the west.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation |title=Official State Highway Map |edition=2009}}</ref>

Lawton lies in an area typical of the [[Great Plains]], with prairie, few trees, and flat topography with gently rolling hills.<ref name="ClimateOK"/> The region north of the city consists of the [[Wichita Mountains]], including [[Mount Scott (Oklahoma)|Mount Scott]] and [[Mount Pinchot (Oklahoma)|Mount Pinchot]], the area's highest peaks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/wichitamountains/faq.html#trails |publisher=US Fish and Wildlife Service |title=Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=2010-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726203232/http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/wichitamountains/faq.html |archive-date=2010-07-26 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The area consists mostly of [[Permian]] [[limestone]] on the northern sections of the city.<ref name="geo"/>

In the south sections of the city, Permian [[Garber Sandstone]] is commonly found with some Hennessey Group [[shale]]. Area creeks including East Cache Creek contain deposits of [[Quaternary]] [[alluvium]]. To the northwest, the Wichita Mountains consist primarily of Wichita Granite Group from the [[Cambrian]] period.<ref name="geo">{{cite web |url=http://www.ogs.ou.edu/MAPS/HA1-12/HA6plate1.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma Geological Survey |title=Reconnaissance of the Water Resources of the Lawton Quadrangle, Southwestern Oklahoma |access-date=2011-04-26 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Climate===
Lawton lies in a relatively dry [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa''), with frequent variations in weather daily, except during the constantly hot and dry summer. Frequent strong winds, usually from the south or south-southeast during the summer, help to lessen the hotter weather. Northerly winds during the winter can occasionally intensify cold periods.<ref name= "ClimateOK">{{cite web |publisher=University of Oklahoma |access-date=2010-04-20 |url=http://climate.mesonet.org/county_climate/Products/oklahoma_climate_overview.pdf |title=Oklahoma's Climate: An overview |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The average mean temperature for southwest Oklahoma is 62.6&nbsp;°F (17.0&nbsp;°C). The summers can be mildly hot; Lawton averages 21 days with temperatures 100&nbsp;°F (37.8&nbsp;°C) and above.<ref name=NCDC>{{Cite web |url=http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ok/345063.pdf |series=Climatography of the United States |id=NO. 20 1971−2000 |title=Lawton, OK |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=2011-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713092410/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ok/345063.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-13 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The winters are typically mild, though periods of extreme cold can occur. Lawton averages eight days that fail to rise above freezing.<ref name=NCDC/> The city receives about {{convert|31.6|in|mm|-1}} of precipitation<ref name= NCDC/> and less than {{convert|3|in|cm|-1|abbr=on}} of snow annually.<ref name="ClimateOK"/>

Lawton is located squarely in the area known as [[Tornado Alley]] and is prone to [[severe weather]] from late April through early June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html#Climatology |author=Edwards, Rodger |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |title=Tornado Climatology |access-date=2010-05-29 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Most notably, an [[Late-May 1957 tornado outbreak|F4]] tornado in 1957, and an [[1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak|F3]] tornado in 1979 struck the southern region of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-county-ok-comanche |publisher=National Weather Service - Norman |title=Comanche County, OK Tornadoes (1875–2009) |access-date=2010-05-28 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Lawton (1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1912–present{{efn|Records for Lawton have been kept at the [[Lawton–Fort Sill Regional Airport]] since April 1998 and at downtown from July 1912 to March 1998. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ ThreadEx]}})
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high F = 85
| Feb record high F = 95
| Mar record high F = 98
| Apr record high F = 100
| May record high F = 108
| Jun record high F = 114
| Jul record high F = 114
| Aug record high F = 115
| Sep record high F = 111
| Oct record high F = 104
| Nov record high F = 90
| Dec record high F = 88
| Jan avg record high F = 73.8
| Feb avg record high F = 79.4
| Mar avg record high F = 86.5
| Apr avg record high F = 89.9
| May avg record high F = 96.8
| Jun avg record high F = 100.9
| Jul avg record high F = 105.4
| Aug avg record high F = 104.7
| Sep avg record high F = 99.4
| Oct avg record high F = 92.0
| Nov avg record high F = 81.5
| Dec avg record high F = 74.2
| year avg record high F = 107.1
| Jan high F = 53.7
| Feb high F = 58.0
| Mar high F = 66.8
| Apr high F = 74.8
| May high F = 83.2
| Jun high F = 92.0
| Jul high F = 97.2
| Aug high F = 96.4
| Sep high F = 87.6
| Oct high F = 76.5
| Nov high F = 64.1
| Dec high F = 54.3
| year high F = 75.4
| Jan mean F = 40.5
| Feb mean F = 44.9
| Mar mean F = 53.7
| Apr mean F = 61.7
| May mean F = 71.0
| Jun mean F = 80.0
| Jul mean F = 84.4
| Aug mean F = 83.6
| Sep mean F = 75.1
| Oct mean F = 63.4
| Nov mean F = 51.2
| Dec mean F = 41.7
| year mean F = 62.6
| Jan low F = 27.4
| Feb low F = 31.9
| Mar low F = 40.5
| Apr low F = 48.5
| May low F = 58.9
| Jun low F = 68.1
| Jul low F = 71.5
| Aug low F = 70.7
| Sep low F = 62.6
| Oct low F = 50.3
| Nov low F = 38.2
| Dec low F = 29.1
| year low F = 49.8
| Jan avg record low F = 12.9
| Feb avg record low F = 17.5
| Mar avg record low F = 22.2
| Apr avg record low F = 32.1
| May avg record low F = 43.0
| Jun avg record low F = 57.3
| Jul avg record low F = 63.9
| Aug avg record low F = 62.0
| Sep avg record low F = 47.5
| Oct avg record low F = 33.3
| Nov avg record low F = 22.1
| Dec avg record low F = 15.2
| year avg record low F = 8.9
| Jan record low F = -11
| Feb record low F = -12
| Mar record low F = 6
| Apr record low F = 22
| May record low F = 30
| Jun record low F = 45
| Jul record low F = 53
| Aug record low F = 50
| Sep record low F = 35
| Oct record low F = 16
| Nov record low F = 11
| Dec record low F = -8
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.04
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.89
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.89
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.46
| May precipitation inch = 3.72
| Jun precipitation inch = 3.98
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.00
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.21
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.80
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.52
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.50
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.46
| year precipitation inch = 27.47
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.7
| Feb precipitation days = 4.5
| Mar precipitation days = 5.6
| Apr precipitation days = 6.5
| May precipitation days = 8.5
| Jun precipitation days = 7.3
| Jul precipitation days = 4.7
| Aug precipitation days = 5.3
| Sep precipitation days = 5.4
| Oct precipitation days = 6.9
| Nov precipitation days = 4.9
| Dec precipitation days = 4.5
| year precipitation days = 67.8
| Jan snow inch = 1.4
| Feb snow inch = 0.4
| Mar snow inch = 0.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.3
| Dec snow inch = 0.2
| year snow inch = 2.3
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.3
| Feb snow days = 0.2
| Mar snow days = 0.0
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.1
| Dec snow days = 0.1
| year snow days = 0.7
| source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981&ndash;2010{{efn|Snowfall data are measured at the weather station in downtown}})<ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00003950&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: LAWTON MUNI AP, OK (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = September 11, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230911232425/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00003950&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-09-11
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00345063&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Lawton, OK (1981&ndash;2010)
|access-date = June 15, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230911232248/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00345063&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-09-11
}}
</ref>
| source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=oun
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Norman
|access-date = June 15, 2023
}}
</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 7788
| 1920 = 8930
| 1930 = 12121
| 1940 = 18055
| 1950 = 34757
| 1960 = 61697
| 1970 = 74470
| 1980 = 80054
| 1990 = 80561
| 2000 = 92757
| 2010 = 96867
| 2020 = 90381
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 91542
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lawtoncityoklahoma/POP060210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lawton city, Oklahoma|publisher= www.census.gov.|access-date= August 11, 2023}}</ref>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=August 30, 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><br /> 2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Lawton, Oklahoma – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lawton city, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US4041850&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lawton city, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4041850&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lawton city, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4041850&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|56,605
|52,540
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43,483
|57.79%
|54.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |48.11%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|20,937
|19,848
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,554
|22.57%
|20.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19.42%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|3,200
|4,031
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,958
|3.45%
|4.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.38%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|2,204
|2,423
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,645
|2.38%
|2.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.93%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|388
|564
|style='background: #ffffe6; |707
|0.42%
|0.58%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.78%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|165
|128
|style='background: #ffffe6; |371
|0.18%
|0.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|3,539
|5,173
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,878
|3.82%
|5.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.72%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|8,719
|12,160
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,785
|9.40%
|12.55%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.25%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''92,757'''
|'''96,867'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''90,381'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the census of 2010, 96,867 people, 34,901 households, and 22,508 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,195.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 39,409 housing units  averaged 486.3 per square mile (187.8/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 60.3% White, 21.4% African American, 4.7% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.4% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.6% (7.8% Mexican, 2.8% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Panamanian).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid%3DDEC_10_SF1_QTP10%26prodType%3Dtable |title=American FactFinder - Results |access-date=2014-10-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203429/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP10&prodType=table |archive-date=2014-12-18 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Of the 34,901 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were not families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was distributed as 24.9% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,566, and for a family was $50,507. Males had a median income of $36,440 versus $31,825 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,655. About 16.6% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Lawton, OK, US.jpg|right|thumb|Comanche County Memorial Hospital]]
Lawton is primarily centered on government, manufacturing, and retail trade industries. The Lawton MSA ranks fourth in Oklahoma with a [[gross domestic product]] of $4.2 billion produced in 2008, with a majority ($2.1 billion) in the government sector, primarily associated with the military.<ref name="bea">{{cite web |url=https://www.bea.gov/regional/gdpmetro/ |title=Gross Domestic Product by Metropolitan Area |access-date=2010-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523173232/https://www.bea.gov/regional/gdpmetro/ |archive-date=2017-05-23 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Fort Sill is the largest employer in Lawton, with more than 5,000 full-time employees. In the private sector, the largest employer is [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company]] with 2,400 full-time employees. Some major employers in the Lawton area also include: [[Lawton Public Schools]], Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Southwestern Hospital, City of Lawton, [[Cameron University]], and Bar S Foods.

Lawton has developed two major [[industrial park]]s. One is located in the southwest region of town, while the second is located near the [[Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtonok.org/sites-buildings/industrial-parks/airport/default.htm |publisher=Lawton Fort Sill Economic Development Team |title=Lawton Municipal Airport |access-date=2010-05-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820003422/http://www.lawtonok.org/sites-buildings/industrial-parks/airport/default.htm |archive-date=2008-08-20 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2010, the city of Lawton was engaged in the Downtown Revitalization Project. Its goal is to redesign the areas between Elmer Thomas Park at the north through Central Mall to the south to be more visually appealing and pedestrian-friendly to encourage business growth in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/DowntownRev.htm |publisher=City of Lawton Oklahoma |title=Downtown Revitalization Plan |access-date=2010-05-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624222942/http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/DowntownRev.htm |archive-date=2010-06-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/ActionPlan.pdf |publisher=City of Lawton Oklahoma |title=Downtown Lawton Actions |access-date=2010-05-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721154956/http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/ActionPlan.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Lawton had 35,374 employed civilians as of the 2010 Census, and 49.1% were female. Of the civilian workers, 21,842 (61.7%) were private for-profit wage and salary workers. Of the for-profit wage and salary workers, 659 (1.9% of the total Lawton civilian workforce) were employees of their own corporations. The nonprofit sector had 2,571 (7.3%) private nonprofit wage and salary workers. The government sector included 4,713 (13.3%) federal workers, 2,545 (7.2%) state government workers, and 2,160 (6.1%) local government workers. In addition, the city had 1,634 (4.6%) self-employed workers and unpaid family workers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_1YR/S2408/1600000US4041850 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212083304/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_1YR/S2408/1600000US4041850 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-02-12 | publisher=US Census Bureau |year=2010 |id=S2408 |series=Class of Worker by Sex and Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2010 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over |title=Lawton, Oklahoma |access-date=2011-10-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===Events and festivals===
In May, Lawton Arts for All, Inc hosts the Arts for All Festival. The festival includes several judged art competitions, as well as live entertainment. The festival is typically held at Shepler Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtonafa.org/Festival.htm |publisher=Arts for All Lawton |title=AFA Festival |access-date=2010-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317150347/http://www.lawtonafa.org/Festival.htm |archive-date=2010-03-17 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In late September, The International Festival is held in the city. Founded in 1979, the event showcases the many different cultures, arts, and music of the community.<ref>Kutchta (2001) p.&nbsp;98</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/lahc/IF.htm |publisher=City of Lawton Oklahoma |title=International Festival |access-date=2010-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130031155/http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/LAHC/IF.htm |archive-date=2010-01-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Museums===
Lawton has three public museums. The [[Museum of the Great Plains (Oklahoma)|Museum of the Great Plains]] is dedicated to natural history and early settlement of the Great Plains, particularly by European Americans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumgreatplains.org/museumofthegreat.html |publisher=Museum of the Great Plains |title=Museum of the Great Plains Educators |access-date=2011-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206013912/http://museumgreatplains.org/museumofthegreat.html |archive-date=2010-12-06 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Outdoor exhibits include a replica of the Red River Trading Post, the original Blue Beaver schoolhouse, and Elgin Train Depot with a Frisco locomotive.<ref name="gp museum">{{cite web |url=http://www.museumgreatplains.org/museumofthegreal.html |publisher=Museum of the Great Plains |title=Museum of the Great Plains Outdoor Exhibits |access-date=2010-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009132013/https://museumgreatplains.org/museumofthegreal.html |archive-date=2010-10-09 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
[[File:Lawton Comanche Museum 3-2025 Wikipedia.jpg|thumb|Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center in Lawton, 3-2025]]
The Fort Sill Museum, located on the military base of the same name, includes the old Fort Sill corral and several period buildings, including the old post guardhouse, chapel, and barracks. It also features several artillery pieces.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sill-www.army.mil/Museum/history.htm |publisher=Fort Sill Historical Landmark Museum |title=Museum History |access-date=2010-11-11 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420061311/https://sill-www.army.mil/Museum/history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The old fort is designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=462&ResourceType=District |publisher=National Park Service |series=National Historic Landmarks Program |title=Fort Sill |access-date=2010-06-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214091728/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=462&ResourceType=District |archive-date=2009-12-14 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, operated by the [[Comanche| Comanche Nation Tribe]], focuses on exhibits and art relating to the Comanche culture. The museum also hosts traveling American Indian exhibitions from the [[Smithsonian Institution]], [[Michigan State University Museum]], and [[Field Museum of Natural History|Chicago's Field Museum.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comanchemuseum.com/about-the-museum.aspx |publisher=Comanche Nation Museum |title=About the Museum |access-date=2011-04-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414084801/http://comanchemuseum.com/about-the-museum.aspx |archive-date=2011-04-14 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Historic structures===
{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Comanche County, Oklahoma}}
The [[National Register of Historic Places]] lists places in Lawton, including the [[Mattie Beal House]], the [[Carnegie Library]], the [[First Christian Church (Lawton, Oklahoma)|First Christian Church]], the [[First Presbyterian Church of Lawton]], the [[Mahoney-Clark House]], and the [[Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Lawton, Oklahoma)|Methodist Episcopal Church, South]].  Old Fort Sill has been designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]], the highest classification.

==Sports==
Lawton was the former home to the [[Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry]], a basketball team. The team moved in 2007 from Oklahoma City to Lawton, where they won two [[Continental Basketball Association]] championships and a [[Premier Basketball League]] championship.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |title=CBA Cavalry finds a home; Lawton steps up |date=2007-07-10 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The Lawton Constitution| title=Consistency key to Cavalry's title success| author=Nick Livingston |date=2010-04-29}}</ref> In 2011, the Cavalry ceased operations in their second year in the PBL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kswo.com/story/14486475/lawton-fort-sill-cavs-suspend-operations |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905040146/http://www.kswo.com/story/14486475/lawton-fort-sill-cavs-suspend-operations |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-05 |publisher=KSWO |title=Lawton-Fort Sill Cavs suspend operations |access-date=2011-04-26 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
Lawton operates 80 parks and recreation areas in varying sizes, including the largest - Elmer Thomas Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/parksnrec/parks.htm |publisher=City of Lawton Oklahoma |title=Parks & Grounds |access-date=2010-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805090300/http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/parksnrec/parks.htm |archive-date=2010-08-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Lawton branch of the [[YMCA]] offers a wide variety of recreational programs to members, and the Lawton Country Club maintains an 18-hole, par&nbsp;71 golf course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtonfamilyymca.org/thisiswhy.html |publisher=Lawton Family YMCA |title=LFY Our Cause |access-date=2011-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424230154/http://www.lawtonfamilyymca.org/thisiswhy.html |archive-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtoncc.com/golf-course/course-information |publisher=Lawton Country Club |title=Course Information |access-date=2011-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323074750/http://www.lawtoncc.com/golf-course/course-information |archive-date=2012-03-23 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Recreation can also be found in many amateur leagues, including adult softball, youth baseball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/parksnrec/Sports.htm |publisher=City of Lawton Oklahoma |title=Sports&Aquatics |access-date=2010-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805090607/http://www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/parksnrec/Sports.htm |archive-date=2010-08-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Government==
{{See also|List of mayors of Lawton, Oklahoma}}
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; float:right; margin: .5em;"
|+ '''City government:'''<ref name="officials"/>
|-
| '''Mayor''' || Stan Booker<ref name=Booker/>
|-
| '''Ward 1''' || Mary Ann Hankins<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/mary-ann-hankins|title=Mary Ann Hankins|website=LawtonOK.gov}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 2''' || Kelly Harris<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/index.php/directory/kelly-harris|title=Kelly Harris|website=LawtonOK.gov}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 3''' || Linda Chapman<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/linda-chapman|title=Linda Chapman|website=LawtonOK.gov}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 4''' || Jay Burk<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/jay-burk/|title=Jay Burk}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 5''' || Allan Hampton<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/allan-hampton|title=Allan Hampton|website=LawtonOK.gov}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 6''' || Sean Fortenbaugh<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/sean-fortenbaugh|title=Sean Fortenbaugh}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 7''' || Onreka Johnson<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/index.php/directory/onreka-johnson|title=Onreka Johnson|website=LawtonOK.gov}}</ref>
|-
| '''Ward 8''' || Randy Warren<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/randy-warren|title=Randy Warren|website=LawtonOK.gov}}</ref>
|}

Lawton uses the [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] model of municipal government. The city's primary authority resides in the city council, which approves ordinances, resolutions, and contracts. The city is divided into eight [[Wards of the United States|wards]], or [[single-member district]]s. Each ward elects a single city council representative for a three-year term.<ref name="officials">{{cite web |url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/departments/city-council |publisher=City of Lawton Oklahoma |title=Mayor/Council |access-date=2017-05-16 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The mayor, who is elected [[at-large]] every three years, presides and sets the agenda of the City Council, but is primarily ceremonial as a head of government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.municode.com/html/14726/level2/APXCCICHLA_ARTC-2THMACO.html#APXCCICHLA_ARTC-2THMACO_C-2-2MAMAPRTE |title=Lawton, Oklahoma, Municipal Code art. C-2-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726142040/http://search.municode.com/html/14726/level2/APXCCICHLA_ARTC-2THMACO.html#APXCCICHLA_ARTC-2THMACO_C-2-2MAMAPRTE |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |df=dmy-all}} (accessed 2011-03-30)</ref> The administrative day-to-day operation of the city is headed by the [[City Manager]], who is appointed by the City Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.municode.com/html/14726/level2/APXCCICHLA_ARTC-3CIMAADDEATOFAT.html#APXCCICHLA_ARTC-3CIMAADDEATOFAT_C-3-3CIMAOWDU |title=Lawton, Oklahoma, Municipal Code art. C-3-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726142106/http://search.municode.com/html/14726/level2/APXCCICHLA_ARTC-3CIMAADDEATOFAT.html#APXCCICHLA_ARTC-3CIMAADDEATOFAT_C-3-3CIMAOWDU |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=2011-03-30|df=dmy-all}}</ref> As of January 2024, the mayor of Lawton was Stan Booker.<ref name=Booker/>  As of January 2022, the city manager was Michael Cleghorn.<ref name="officials"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/michael-cleghorn|title=Michael Cleghorn|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107141311/https://www.lawtonok.gov/directory/michael-cleghorn|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, and houses county offices and courts. Three elected commissioners serving four-year terms manage the county government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comanchecounty.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=97 |publisher=Comanche County of Oklahoma |title=Board of Commissioners |access-date=2010-05-15 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513052417/http://www.comanchecounty.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=97 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the federal level, Lawton lies in [[Oklahoma's 4th congressional district]], represented by [[Tom Cole]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/Documents/Districts/2012/OK%20CD4%20Map.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma House of Senate |title=Oklahoma Congressional Districts |access-date=2019-01-13 |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105094322/https://www.okhouse.gov/Documents/Districts/2012/OK%20CD4%20Map.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cole.house.gov/about |title=About |website=Congressman Tom Cole |date=3 December 2012 |access-date=2019-01-13}}</ref> In the [[Oklahoma Senate|state senate]], Lawton is in District 31 (Chris Kidd) and 32 (Dusty Deevers).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/2011_maps/districts/District_31.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma Senate |title=Senate District 31 |access-date=2019-01-13 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211175744/http://www.oksenate.gov/senators/2011_maps/districts/District_31.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/2011_maps/districts/District_32.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma Senate |title=Senate District 32 |access-date=2010-05-14 |archive-date=March 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321125347/http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/2011_maps/districts/District_32.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[Oklahoma House of Representatives|House]], District 62 (Daniel Pae), 63 (Trey Caldwell), and 64 (Rande Worthen) cover the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.okhouse.gov/Documents/Districts/0405_3in1.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma House of Representatives |title=Stillwater Lawton Enid House Districts Map |access-date=2019-01-13 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108223905/https://www.okhouse.gov/Documents/Districts/0405_3in1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/Default.aspx |publisher=Oklahoma House of Representatives |title=House Members |access-date=2019-01-13 |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108223900/https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/Default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Education==

===Higher education===
{{main|Cameron University}}
[[File:Cameron university sign.jpg|thumb|right|Cameron University]]
Cameron University is the largest four-year, state-funded university in southwest Oklahoma, offering more than 50 degree programs in areas of business, education, liberal arts, and science and technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cameron.edu/academic |publisher=Cameron University |title=Academic Information |access-date=2010-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527130228/http://www.cameron.edu/academic/ |archive-date=2010-05-27 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Founded in 1909, Cameron has an average fall enrollment of 6,000 students, with 70 endowed faculty positions.<ref name="CU Facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.cameron.edu/fastfacts |publisher=Cameron University |title=CU Fast Facts |access-date=2010-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828191237/https://www.cameron.edu/fastfacts |archive-date=2013-08-28 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Other colleges in Lawton include [[Comanche Nation College]]. Founded in 2004, the college provides lower-division programs and educational opportunities in higher education for the Comanche Nation and the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnc.cc.ok.us/home/Mission-Purpose |publisher=Comanche Nation College |title=Mission / Purpose |access-date=2012-01-20 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnc.cc.ok.us/usr_folders/pale3/history%20of%20the%20comanche%20nation%20college.pdf |publisher=Comanche Nation College |title=History of the Comanche Nation College |page=3 |df=dmy-all }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Lawton is also served by the [[Great Plains Technology Center]], which is part of the [[Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education]] system. Great Plains provides occupational education, training, and development opportunities to area residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatplains.edu/about/ |publisher=Great Plain Technology Center |title=About GPTC |access-date=2010-04-23 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[Lawton Public Schools]] serve most of the city of Lawton.<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40031_comanche/DC20SD_C40031.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Comanche County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-01-21}}</ref> The district operates two prekindergarten centers, 24&nbsp;elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools – [[Eisenhower High School (Lawton, Oklahoma)|Eisenhower]], [[Lawton High School|Lawton]], and [[MacArthur High School (Lawton, Oklahoma)|MacArthur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtonps.org/Schools/ |publisher=Lawton Public Schools|title=Schools |access-date=2010-05-30 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021217061659/http://www.lawtonps.org/schools/ |archive-date=2002-12-17 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2008, Lawton Public Schools had an enrollment of about 16,000 students with about 1,000 teachers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=1&details=1&InstName=lawton&State=40&DistrictType=1&DistrictType=2&DistrictType=3&DistrictType=4&DistrictType=5&DistrictType=6&DistrictType=7&NumOfStudentsRange=more&NumOfSchoolsRange=more&ID2=4017250 |publisher=National Center for Educational Statistics |title=District details for Lawton |access-date=2011-04-04 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Two independent districts, [[Bishop Public School|Bishop]] and [[Flower Mound Public School|Flower Mound]], serve portions of Lawton.<ref name=SDMap2020/> Bishop operates a single pre-K–6 elementary campus and Flower Mound has a pre-K–5 campus. Secondary students living in these districts attend Lawton Public Schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1169935/_Secondary_School_Boundary_Map.pdf|title=LPS Middle and High School Boundaries|publisher=[[Lawton Public Schools]]|access-date=2024-12-21|quote=*Students living in the LPS area of Medicine Park[...]}} - [https://www.lawtonps.org/documents/families/parents/school-boundary-maps/198465 Linked from here]</ref>

A small portion of far-west Lawton is served by [[Cache Public Schools]].<ref name=SDMap2020/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://comanchecounty.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=157&Itemid=252 |publisher=Comanche County Oklahoma |title=School Districts |access-date=2011-04-27 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513052328/http://www.comanchecounty.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=157&Itemid=252 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some portions of the city limits are in [[Geronimo Public Schools]].<ref name=SDMap2020/>

Other schools in Lawton include Trinity Christian Academy, Lawton Academy of Arts & Science, and Lawton Christian School. Trinity Christian Academy offers classes from K–3 through the eighth grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tcalawton.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180021118&sec_id=180001609 |title=Student Application |publisher=Trinity Christian Academy |access-date=2011-04-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322080526/http://www.tcalawton.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180021118&sec_id=180001609 |archive-date=2012-03-22 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Lawton Academy of Arts and Sciences and Lawton Christian has the city's only two private independent high schools. Lawton Christian, founded in 1976, offers education from prekindergarten through the 12th grade, and has a student body of 426 students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lcscrusaders.com/about/index.cfm |publisher=Lawton Christian Schools |title=About Us |access-date=2010-05-14 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504230822/http://www.lcscrusaders.com/about/index.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another private school - St. Mary's Catholic School - closed in 2020 after more than 100 years of operation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kswo.com/2020/04/17/st-marys-catholic-school-closing-after-years-due-financial-difficulties/|publisher=KSWO |title=St. Mary's Catholic School closing after 113 years due to financial difficulties |date=2020-04-17 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Media==
{{see also|List of newspapers in Oklahoma|List of radio stations in Oklahoma|List of television stations in Oklahoma}}
The ''[[Lawton Constitution]]'', the only daily newspaper published in Lawton, has a circulation of 30,000. In addition, the Fort Sill newspaper, ''The Cannoneer'', is published weekly primarily for military personnel; ''The Cameron Collegian'' has as its main audience  Cameron University students.<ref name="city services">{{cite web |url=http://www.lawtonfortsillchamber.com/index.php?pr=City_Services|publisher=Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce |title=City Services |access-date=2010-05-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Additionally, ''Okie Magazine'' is a monthly magazine that focuses on news and entertainment in the Southwest Oklahoma area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/36/2014/20896 |publisher=MondoTimes |title=Okie Magazine |access-date=2010-11-11 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Radio stations in Lawton include two AM stations – [[CBS Sports Radio]] affiliate [[KKRX]] (1380) and [[urban adult contemporary]] station [[KXCA]] (1050) – and 15 FM stations – including [[NPR]] member [[KCCU]] (89.3), [[Country music|country]] stations [[KFXI]] (92.1) and [[KLAW]] (101.3), [[rock music]] station [[KZCD]] (94.1), [[Hot Adult Contemporary|Hot AC]] station [[KMGZ]] (95.3), [[urban contemporary]] outlet [[KJMZ]] (97.9), and [[contemporary hit radio|CHR]] station [[KVRW]] (107.3).<ref name="city services" />

Lawton is part of a bistate media market that also includes the nearby, larger city of Wichita Falls, Texas; the market, which encompasses six counties in southwestern Oklahoma and 10 counties in western [[North Texas]], has 152,950 households with at least one television set, making it the 148th-largest in the nation as of the 2016–2017 season, according to [[Nielsen Media Research]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Television Market Universe Estimates |url=http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/docs/solutions/measurement/television/2016-2017-nielsen-local-dma-ranks.pdf |publisher=[[Nielsen Media Research]] |access-date=August 2, 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[KSWO-TV]] (channel 7), an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate (which also carries affiliations with [[MeTV]] and [[Telemundo]] on [[digital subchannel]]s), is the only broadcast television station in the market that is licensed to Lawton, and its local news programming maintains a primary focus on southwestern Oklahoma in its coverage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=5441509&nav=menu495_12 |publisher=KSWO-TV |title=About KSWO-TV |access-date=2010-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101032320/http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=5441509&nav=menu495_12 |archive-date=2012-01-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> All other major stations in the area, including [[KFDX-TV]] (channel 3; [[NBC]], with [[The CW]] on its third digital subchannel), [[KAUZ-TV]] (channel 6; [[CBS]], which is a sister station to KSWO through a [[local marketing agreement|shared services agreement]] but maintains separate operations on the Texas side of the market), and [[KJTL]] (channel 18; [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]), are based in Wichita Falls.

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
Lawton is primarily served by [[Interstate 44 in Oklahoma|Interstate 44]], designated as the [[H. E. Bailey Turnpike]]. It connects the city to Oklahoma City to the northeast and to Wichita Falls, Texas, to the south. The city is also connected by [[U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma|US Highway 62]], which connects to the regional towns of [[Altus, Oklahoma|Altus]] to the west and [[Anadarko, Oklahoma|Anadarko]] to the north. Other major thoroughfares include [[U.S. Route 277|US Highway 277]] and [[U.S. Route 281|281]], which parallels the H. E. Bailey Turnpike to Wichita Falls to the south and leads to regional towns of Anadarko and [[Chickasha, Oklahoma|Chickasha]], respectively, to the north, and [[Oklahoma State Highway 7|OK-7]], which connects Lawton to Duncan.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|title=Official State Highway Map |edition=2010}}</ref>

While the days of the [[Lawton Area Transit System|Lawton Railway trolley]] are far behind it,<ref name=Trolley>{{cite book |last=Chandler|first=Allison|date=1980 |title= When Oklahoma Took the Trolley|publisher= Interurbans|pages=63–68|isbn=0-916374-35-1}}</ref> Lawton is currently served by the [[Lawton Area Transit System]] ("LATS") which provides public transit for both Lawton and Fort Sill. Founded in 2002, LATS had a ridership of 427,088 in 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/transit/pdfs/2010dir.pdf |publisher= Oklahoma Department of Transportation |title=2010 Directory of Public Transportation in Oklahoma |pages=20–21 |access-date=2012-01-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and provides five major routes throughout the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ridelats.com/ |publisher=Lawton Area Transit System |title=RIDE LATS|access-date=2010-05-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Intercity bus service]] is available from [[Greyhound Lines]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greyhound.com/en-us/destinations|title=Greyhound Lawton|access-date=September 16, 2023}}</ref> and was previously offered by [[Jefferson Lines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeffersonlines.com/jefferson-moves-lawton-ok/ |title=Jefferson Moves in Lawton, OK |date=25 October 2016 |publisher=Jefferson Lines, October 25, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref>

By air, Lawton is served by the [[Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport]] (LAW, KLAW). At present, it offers daily American Eagle flights to [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], and is also used for military transport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flylawton.org/travel |publisher=Lawton Metropolitan Area Airport Authority |title=American/American Eagle Airlines |access-date=2011-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723051514/http://www.flylawton.org/travel |archive-date=2011-07-23 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLAW |publisher=AirNav |title=Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport |access-date=2010-05-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Health care===
Lawton has three major hospitals in the area. The largest, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, is a 283-bed nonprofit hospital that employs 250 physicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ccmhonline.com/about-us|publisher=Comanche County Memorial Hospital|title=About US|access-date=2011-05-05}}</ref> Southwestern Medical Center is a 199-bed hospital with a staff of 150 physicians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capellahealth.com/our-communities/lawton-ok/ |publisher=Capella Healthcare |title=Lawton, Ok |access-date=2011-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407082013/http://www.capellahealth.com/our-communities/lawton-ok/ |archive-date=2011-04-07 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In addition, the [[Indian Health Service]] Lawton Indian Hospital is located in the city to provide health services for the large [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] population. It has 26 beds with a staff of 23 physicians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ihs.gov/oklahoma/index.cfm?module=dsp_okao_su_lawton |publisher=Indian Health Services |title=Lawton Service Unit |access-date=2011-04-03 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Notable people==

===Musicians and authors===
* [[Don Blanding]], (1894-1957), poet, cartoonist, author<ref>{{cite book |last=Goins |first=Charles |author2=Goble, Danney |author3=Morris, John W. |title=Historical Atlas of Oklahoma |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |year=2006  |location=Norman, Oklahoma |pages=232 |isbn=9780806134833 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCWjHf71PFgC&q=Don+Blanding+lawton&pg=PA232 }}</ref> 
* [[C. J. Cherryh]], (b. 1942) [[Hugo Award]]-winning science fiction writer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CH026.html |publisher=Oklahoma State Digital Library |title=Cherry, Caroline Janice |access-date=2010-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018200627/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CH026.html |archive-date=2010-10-18 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Conrad Herwig]] (b. 1959) jazz trombonist<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conradherwig.com/pressmaterials.php |author=Herwig, Conrad |title=Press Materials |access-date=2011-04-25 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712225412/http://www.conradherwig.com/pressmaterials.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Stephen Hillenburg]], (1961 - 2018) [[SpongeBob SquarePants]] creator
* [[N. Scott Momaday]], [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning author<ref>{{cite web |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/M/MO007.html |publisher=Oklahoma State Digital Library |title=Momaday, N. Scott |access-date=2010-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730042142/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/M/MO007.html |archive-date=2010-07-30 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Leon Russell]], (1942 - 2016) American musician and songwriter<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/russell_leon/bio.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040612064054/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/russell_leon/bio.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2004 |publisher=Country Music Television |title=Leon Russell |access-date=2010-05-30 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>  
* [[Bryan White]], [[country music]] singer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bryanwhite.com/index.php/about |author=White, Bryan  |title=About Bryan White |access-date=2010-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516134615/http://www.bryanwhite.com/index.php/about |archive-date=2010-05-16 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Kelly Willis]], [[country music]] singer<ref>{{IMDb name|id=0932371|name=Kelly Willis (I)}}. Retrieved 2010-05-30.</ref>

===Political leaders===
* [[Randy Bass]] Democratic State Senator, former [[MLB]] and [[NPB]] first baseman<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/bass_bio.html |publisher=Oklahoma State Senate |title=Senator Randy Bass - District 32 |access-date=2010-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527232452/http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/bass_bio.html |archive-date=2010-05-27 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Scott Ferris]], U.S. representative<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000091 |series=Biographical Directory |publisher=United States Congress |title=Ferris, Scott |access-date=2011-10-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Thomas Gore]], U.S. Senator<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000323 |series=Biographical Directory |publisher=United States Congress |title=Gore, Thomas Pryor |access-date=2011-10-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[L. M. Gensman]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Gensman, Lorraine Michael 1878-1954 |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000123 |access-date=2011-10-24 |website=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Elmer Thomas]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000177 |series=Biographical Directory |publisher=United States Congress |title=Thomas, John William Elmer |access-date=2011-10-24 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Gregory A. Miller]], an attorney and politician born at Fort Sill in 1962, where his father, Ralph R. Miller, was stationed. Ralph Miller was a state representative from St. Charles Parish from 1968 to 1980 and 1982 to 1992.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/09/st_charles_parish-based_56th_l.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130827233004/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/09/st_charles_parish-based_56th_l.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |title=Mary Sparacello, St. Charles Parish-based 56th Louisiana House district draws trio of hopefuls |date=September 28, 2011 |newspaper=[[New Orleans Times-Picayune]] |access-date=August 26, 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Julian Niemczyk]] US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (born on Fort Sill)
* [[T.W. Shannon]], Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives<ref>{{cite news |author=McNutt, Michael |url=http://newsok.com/t.w.-shannon-of-lawton-officially-takes-oklahoma-house-speakers-post/article/3744284|title=T.W. Shannon, of Lawton, officially takes Oklahoma House speaker's post |newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]] |date=January 9, 2013 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Paul Taliaferro]], Democratic State Senator
* [[Heck Thomas]], law enforcement officer who in 1896 captured the outlaw [[Bill Doolin]], the founder of the [[Wild Bunch]] gang, spent his later years as the first elected police chief in Lawton.

===Other notable people===
* [[Grady Brewer]], 2006 contender, champion boxer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=044367&cat=boxer |website=BoxRec |title=Grady Brewer |access-date=2011-03-20 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Marty Brown (baseball)|Marty Brown]], [[Buffalo Bisons]] manager and former MLB infielder 
* [[Charles Chibitty]], World War II [[Comanche]] code talker<ref>{{cite news |last=Holley |first=Joe |title=Comanche code talker Charles Chibitty dies |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington DC |date=July 26, 2005 |department=Obituary |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/25/AR2005072501542.html |access-date=2010-05-30 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Joan Crawford]], [[Academy Award]]-winning actress<ref>{{cite web |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CR003.html |publisher=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |title=Crawford, Joan |access-date=2011-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018201205/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CR003.html |archive-date=2010-10-18 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Vickie Gates]], professional bodybuilder<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vickiegatesonline.com/profile.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308182115/http://www.vickiegatesonline.com/profile.htm |archive-date=2005-03-08 |title=Vickie Gates profile |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Rance Hood]], Native American artist
* [[Butch Huskey]], former MLB outfielder<ref>{{cite news|title=Biography – Butch Huskey|url=http://newsok.com/article/2660117|access-date=20 January 2018|work=NewsOK.com|date=11 July 1999}}</ref>
* [[Robert S. Johnson]], WWII ace<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/1996/johnson_1996.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605233955/http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/1996/johnson_1996.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |publisher=Air University |title=Robert S. Johnson |access-date=2010-05-30 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Tom Jordan (baseball)|Tom Jordan]], former MLB catcher
* [[Tomassa]] ({{Circa|1840}}–1900), translator<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last1=Bataille |first1=Gretchen M. |author-link1=Gretchen Bataille |url=https://archive.org/details/nativeamericanwo00bata_0/ |title=Native American women : a biographical dictionary |last2=Lisa |first2=Laurie |date=1993 |publisher=New York : Garland |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-8240-5267-6}}</ref> 
* [[Stacey King]], three-time NBA champion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kingst01.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |title=Stacey King NBA & ABA Statistics |access-date=2010-05-30 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Hellen Linkswiler]], dietician and nutrition scientist<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Greger |first=J. L. |date=March 2002 |title=Hellen M. Linkswiler (1912–1984) |journal=The Journal of Nutrition |language=en |volume=132 |issue=3 |pages=333–334 |doi=10.1093/jn/132.3.333|doi-access=free }}</ref>
* [[Sam Maddux Jr.]], American Air Force lieutenant general and commander<ref>{{USGovernment|url=http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6274|title=Sam Maddux Jr.|agency=United States Air Force}}</ref>
* [[Louise Davis McMahon]] (1873–1966), philanthropist<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Opal Hartsell |title=Indomitable Oklahoma Women |date=1994 |publisher=Oklahoma Heritage Association |isbn=978-0-86546-088-1 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Lauren Nelson]], Miss America 2007<ref>{{IMDb name|id=1632772|name=Lauren Nelson}}. Retrieved 2010-05-30.</ref>
* [[Ralph McT. Pennell]], U.S. Army major general, retired in Lawton<ref name="Assembly">{{cite magazine |date=June 1974 |title=Obituary, Ralph McTyeire Pennell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zASikcpr72wC&pg=PA97 |magazine=Assembly |location=West Point, NY |publisher=Association of Graduates, USMA |page=97 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Michael Ray Richardson]], former NBA All-Star<ref>{{cite web |title=Where is Micheal Ray Richardson? |url=http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6863828/where-micheal-ray-richardson |work=2011-08-17 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
* [[Jason Rouser]], 1996 Olympic gold medalist<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tulsaworld.com/jason-rouser-ou-all-american-and-gold-medal-winner-teaching-track-in-florida/article_7783d96e-136f-11ed-bf6c-a755d44ac8e8.html|title=Jason Rouser: OU All-American and gold medal winner teaching track in Florida|access-date=2023-03-12}}</ref>
* [[Will Shields]] NFL Pro Bowlers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=119 |website=huskers.com (Nebraska Athletics official website) |title=Retired Jersey: #75 |access-date=2010-05-30 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009120352/http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=119 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Jammal Brown]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJa55.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |title=Jammal Brown |access-date=2011-03-20 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Kelly Stinnett]], former MLB catcher<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stinnke01.shtml|title=Kelly Stinnett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
* [[Charles Thompson (American football)|Charles Thompson]], motivational speaker and former [[University of Oklahoma]] quarterback<ref>{{cite news |department=Sports People: Football |title=Thompson released |newspaper=The New York Times  |date=February 16, 1989 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/16/sports/sports-people-football-thompson-released.html |access-date=2010-07-07 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Donald R. Wilton]], electrical engineering professor at [[University of Houston]] and [[National Academy of Engineering]] member<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Capolino |first1=Filippo |last2=Jackson |first2=David R. |last3=Wilton |first3=Donald R. |title=Fundamental Properties of the Field at the Interface Between Air and a Periodic Artificial Material Excited by a Line Source |journal=[[IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation]] |date=2005 |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=91–99 |doi=10.1109/TAP.2004.840518|bibcode=2005ITAP...53...91C |url=https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/3nj1k6hn }}</ref>

===Notes===
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Lawton, Oklahoma}}
{{Wikivoyage|Lawton (Oklahoma)}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.lawtonok.gov/ |title=Lawton official website}}

{{Lawton PS}}
{{Comanche County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma county seats}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}

[[Category:Lawton, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:County seats in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Comanche County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1901]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in Oklahoma Territory]]
[[Category:Seats of government of American Indian reservations]]