Hobo

A hobo is a historical term for a migratory worker in North America who travels, typically by hopping freight trains, in search of temporary employment. Hobos were distinguished from tramps (who wander without working) and bums (who do not work), though the terms have varied in usage. The label gained prominence in the United States and Canada from the late 19th century into the mid‑20th century, with a peak during the Great Depression.

Hobos formed loose communities as they moved along railroad lines. They shared information about job opportunities, shelters, and routes, and developed informal codes and conventions, including survival norms and safety practices. The best known is the hobo code, a system of symbols scratched on walls or placed in public places to convey messages to fellow travelers about towns, lodgings, danger, or work.

Economically, hobos received wages for seasonal or short-term work, often taking odd jobs and railroad jobs. The practice declined after improvements in social welfare, railroad policing, and changes in freight transport, reducing opportunities and access to rail yards.

In culture, hobos have appeared in American literature and music as a symbol of mobility and poverty, notably in works by Jack London and Woody Guthrie, and in songs and folklore. Today the term is largely historical and can be considered outdated or sensitive, with more neutral terms used in contemporary discourse.