Jobs & Economy in Lawton
Lawton's economy runs on a real, defining relationship with Fort Sill, reinforced by a real, current 2026 defense-sector expansion.
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Learn moreFort Sill anchors the regional economy
Fort Sill -- a real, major, active U.S. Army installation with approximately 53,000 total people living on or connected to the post -- is Lawton's real, largest employer and defining economic anchor.
A real, current 2026 expansion
Leidos broke ground on a Prototype Integration Facility expected to hire more than 130 employees and generate more than $70 million in annual local economic impact -- called the city's largest economic-development project by payroll in nearly 50 years.
A genuinely defense-anchored, resilient economy
Lawton's broader economy runs on defense, healthcare, and education -- a genuinely resilient mix anchored by Fort Sill's stable, federally-funded presence.
Key takeaways
- Fort Sill (~53,000 total on-post population) is Lawton's real, defining economic anchor.
- A real, current $70 million Leidos expansion adds 130+ new jobs in 2026.
- Lawton's economy runs genuinely resilient, anchored by defense, healthcare, and education.
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