Old West Cattle Drives

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.

Old West cattle drives were the process of moving large herds of cattle from ranches in Texas and other southern states to markets in the north, typically in Kansas. Cattle drives began in the mid-1800s and continued through the late 1800s. They were necessary because the demand for beef was much greater in the north than in the south.

Cattle drives began with a round-up of cattle from the ranch
as seen in this 1887 photo.

Who were the Cowboys? Cowboys were the men who drove the cattle on the cattle drives. They were usually young men, often in their late teens or early twenties. The life of a cowboy was rough and dangerous. Cowboys spent long hours in the saddle, enduring harsh weather conditions and dealing with stampedes, rustlers, and other dangers.

Photo of the cook making some grub in 1908.
His sleeping friend can be seen under the tent.

What was a typical cattle drive like? A typical cattle drive involved a group of cowboys driving a herd of cattle along a trail for several months. The cowboys would ride ahead of the herd to make sure the trail was clear and to search for water and grazing land. At night, the cowboys would circle the wagons and take turns standing guard to protect the cattle from predators and rustlers.

What was the Chisholm Trail? The Chisholm Trail was one of the most famous cattle trails used during the Old West cattle drives. It ran from Texas to Kansas and was named after Jesse Chisholm, a trader and guide who helped establish the trail. The trail was about 1,000 miles long, and it took several months to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas.

How did cattle drives end? Cattle drives came to an end in the late 1800s when railroads began to expand across the west. With the arrival of railroads, it became much easier and faster to transport cattle to markets in the north. The expansion of railroads also made it easier for ranchers to transport their cattle directly to slaughterhouses, eliminating the need for long cattle drives.

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