The Growth & Decline of Cow Towns (OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project)): Revision Note

Summary

The raising of cattle and the beef industry played an important role in the development of the west. In the early 1800s, cattle were raised in Texas before being 'driven' or walked by cowboys to the markets where they were sold. The American Civil War led to the Texas cattle herds growing enormously. This coincided with an enormous demand for beef in both the northern cities and new settlements in the west.

Ranchers started establishing new trails to drive their cattle to these markets. The arrival of the railroads on the plains led to 'cow towns' being built where the cattle were loaded onto the trains. These cow towns were initially wild and lawless places, but soon came under the control of sheriffs. Changes in the cattle industry meant that cow towns soon began to decline.

Cattle drives and the rise of cow towns

• Like horses, cattle had been brought to the Americas by the Spanish

  • They were introduced to the US from the south

  • Texas became the centre of cattle ranching in North America

• During the American Civil War, most of the ranchers left their cattle to go and fight

  • When they returned from the war, they found that the size of their herds had grown

    • There were around 5 million cattle in Texas

  • Some ranchers realised there was a huge demand for beef in both the northern cities and in the new settlements in the west

    • If they could get their cattle to these places, they could be sold for massive profits

• Cowboys began taking cattle on the enormous walks or 'drives' from Texas along various trails

  • Some trails led to US forts where the cattle were sold to the army, others went to mining towns or to the railroad builders

  • The great demand for beef meant that some ranchers became very rich

• When the railroads arrived on the plains, it led to the development of the cow towns

  • The first was called Abilene

Cow towns as centres of trade and settlement

• The arrival of so many cattle and cowboys in places such as Abilene, Ellsworth and Dodge City meant that towns grew around them

  • Businesses opened, selling services and items that the newly-paid cowboys wanted

  • By 1870, Abilene had four hotels and ten saloons

• Other businesses, like barbershops, blacksmiths and general stores, also opened

  • Before long, the cow towns grew into sizeable settlements

Lawlessness and early social conditions

• The early cow towns grew more quickly than the authorities were able to keep up with

  • When cowboys arrived after many weeks in the saddle and sleeping in the open, they were keen to spend their wages

  • They often spent much of their money on whiskey in the saloons and gambled much of the rest

  • This led to frequent outbreaks of violence, which could often be deadly, as cowboys usually carried guns

Stabilisation and decline of cow towns

• In the 1870s, sheriffs were appointed to enforce law and order in the cow towns

  • Gun laws were also introduced, which meant the 'Wild West' years of the cow towns did not last long

• Before long, people realised that raising cattle in Texas and then driving them long distances north was an inefficient way to do things

  • Instead, they began to raise cattle on the plains themselves before loading them onto trains

  • This led to dramatic changes in the lives and roles of cowboys and a decline of the cow towns