Open Range, in U.S. history, the areas of public domain north of Texas where from about 1866 to 1890 more than 5,000,000 cattle were driven to fatten and be shipped off to slaughter.
What was the open range system?
The essence of open range was the free grazing of cattle on millions of unfenced acres of public land . It was possible to become wealthy raising cattle without owning any acreage. Although most ranchers owned a base operation, some owned millions of acres. America’s open range started with the Civil War [1861-1865].
What was the open range act?
The “open range” states reverse the duty to fence in livestock and allow livestock to roam in certain remote parts of the state while requiring other landowners to fence off their land if they wish to keep livestock off of their property.
What was the open range and how did it end?
Deep snow prevented the cattle from reaching the grass and around15% of open range herds died . Any cattle that did survive the winter was in a terrible condition. Ranchers tried to sell any remaining cattle they had and this made prices drop further. This marked the end of the open range.
What was open range and why was it important for cattle?
The open range consisted of the unfenced public lands of the West . When the cattle industry boomed following the American Civil War (1861–1865), ranchers in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana allowed their cattle to roam freely across the vast range.
What hardship did cowboys face on their long drive?
River crossings, storms, and stampedes were just a few of the dangers cowboys faced on a trail drive. At night, the men took turns riding around the herd, two men at a time, moving in opposite directions.
Who ended open-range?
The expansion of large ranches, multiplying herds of livestock, and barbed wire all served to close the open range in Texas. In 1876, wire salesman John Gates demonstrated the wire to skeptical cattlemen. He made a barbed wire corral in front of the Alamo that penned longhorn cattle.
Does open-range still exist?
Over time, as the Western lands became more populated and more developed (through railroads, mining, farming, etc.), open-range laws began to be challenged and were significantly curtailed, though they still exist in certain areas of most Western US states and Canadian provinces .
What states have open-range laws?
1> Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont all have or have had open-range laws and case decisions which require that if the driver of a motor vehicle does not exercise reasonable ...
What is driving a herd of cows called?
A cattle drive is the process of moving a herd of cattle from one place to another, usually moved and herded by cowboys on horses.
What caused the end of the open range and therefore ended the long drive?
Why did the open range come to an end? 1880 -1885 – Peak period of ranching on the Plains . Cattle prices rose and cattle ranchers put more and more animals onto the open range.
Who brought the first cattle to Texas?
In 1493, Christopher Columbus made his second voyage to the island of Hispaniola. He brought with him the first Spanish cattle and the precursors of the famed Texas longhorn. Through the 16th and 17th centuries, cattle ranching continued to spread north through Spanish Mexico and into the land now known as Texas.
What brought an end to the cattle drive?
Railroad : When railroads reached Texas, ranchers were able to transport their cattle to the market by railroad. ... The last years of the cattle drive brought low prices for cattle ranchers. Low prices led to little or no profit and contributed to the end of the cattle driving era.
What danger did early ranchers face?
Farmers and ranchers often came into conflict over land and water rights . Overgrazing was also a problem. As more and more ranchers grazed their animals on the open range, the quality of the land became degraded.
Why were Longhorns bred out west?
They are descendants of the first cattle introduced in the New World, brought by explorer Christopher Columbus and the Spanish colonists. Descended from cattle that thrived in arid parts of southern Iberia, these cattle have been bred for a high drought-stress tolerance .
What was the goal of the cattle drive?
Cattle drives moved large herds of livestock to market, to shipping points, or to find fresh pasturage . The practice was introduced to North America early during European colonization.
