Plumber in Hoyt

Hoyt at a glance

Hoyt is a small city in Jackson County north of Topeka, with 593 people at the 2020 census and about half a square mile of land.

What that means for your plumbing

Small towns like Hoyt have mostly older homes and few local tradespeople, so keeping basic supplies on hand helps: a spare toilet flapper, a washing machine hose and the right key for the meter. Knowing where the main shut-off is matters most of all. See what to do when a pipe bursts.

Named for an abolitionist

Hoyt was founded in 1886 and named for George Henry Hoyt, an abolitionist who served as John Brown's attorney. Hoyt sits north of Topeka near the Jackson County line, a short drive from the capital but with a small-town pace. Most homes are on modest lots with mature trees, and those trees have had decades to send roots toward sewer lines and old clay joints.

A cattle and hay town

In the late 1890s and early 1900s, Hoyt was a large cattle and hay shipping point on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad between St. Joseph and Herington. The line last ran in 1980 and little trace of it remains. Farm properties around Hoyt often have hydrants, stock tanks and outbuildings on long water lines, and these freeze before anything inside the house. A frost-free yard hydrant that's been damaged or doesn't drain properly will freeze and split below ground. If the house water is low after a cold night, see emergency plumbing.