HOCHATOWN — It seems musician Tom Petty was correct. The waiting is the hardest part.
Hochatown, considered one of the state’s most successful tourist spots, is still fighting for its ZIP Code. Located in far southeastern Oklahoma, Hochatown has generated more than $22 million per year in tourism revenue, according to state records.
With a long, unique story and a song that matches, Hochatown has been pushing to get its ZIP Code back since 1962.
The town’s latest push to get its ZIP Code restored started on March 28, 2023. At that time, Hochatown Mayor Dian Jordan and Sara Jane Smallwood-Cocke, an official with the Choctaw Nation, sent a joint letter to eight postal officials asking that Hochatown’s ZIP Code be reinstated.
The letter was also copied to three members of the state’s congressional delegation: U.S. Sen. James Lankford, then-U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen.
Since then, the back-andforth has continued while, at the same time, the post office has regularly said “no.”
Since then, the approach has changed. Instead of just lobbying efforts, the town’s push now includes federal legislation. Filed March 2, 2026, Senate Bill 4505 “requires the United States Postal Service to designate ZIP Codes for certain communities.”
The measure, four pages long, designates 75 new communities that should receive ZIP Codes. Those communities are in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hamshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.
And Oklahoma. Under S.4505, Hochatown and North Enid – numbers 60 and 61 – would each receive a ZIP Code. The measure was written by Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, and co-sponsored by Oklahoma’s Sen. Lankford, a Republican.
So far, the measure remains alive, having cleared the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Jordan said the measure was positive progress for the project.
“This is a real-deal ZIP bill,” she said.
Until then, both officials from Hochatown and the state’s federal delegation wait to see what action.
“It’s a continuing effort,” Jordan said.
An effort that has continued for years. ___
M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma.
He can be reached at scott.carter@swoknews.com.