Hobson is on the southern end of Ruby Lake, about midpoint between Elko and Eureka. Hobson was a settlement established in 1898 near the site of old Fort Ruby.
Prior to the founding of Hobson, Fort Ruby was brought into existence in September 1862 by a company of California volunteers to protect whites from Indians. The predecessor to the fort was a trading post built nearby in 1859 by Uncle Billy Rogers. The Pony Express chose the site as a station in 1860 and in 1861 the Overland Mail & Telegraph Company came through.
Hobson was named for Admiral Richmond P. Hobson. Hobson was famous for sinking the Merrimac in Santiago Harbor during the Spanish-American War. A post office, named for the town, was established August 7, 1902 and was discontinued on November 30, 1914 when Cave Creek became the mailing address for its patrons.
The post office was re-established July 18, 1919 and continued until November 30, 1936 when Ruby Valley became the mailing address for its patrons.
