Old West cattle drives were a major economic activity in the United States during the late 19th century, particularly between 1850s and 1910s. They played a significant role in shaping the history and culture of the American West.
In this period, 27 million cattle were driven from Texas to railheads in Kansas, for shipment to stockyards in Chicago and points east. They usually began in the spring, so that the cattle could feed on the new grass as they were herded along. For the northern ranges, the key element was to get to their destinations before an early winter came upon them.
The long distances covered, the need for periodic rests by riders and animals, and the establishment of railheads led to the development of "cow towns" across the frontier. Due to the extensive treatment of cattle drives in fiction and film, the horse has become the worldwide iconic image of the American West, where cattle drives still occur, but not the long distances of the original cattle drives. |