History and Trails
The Significance of the Chisholm Trail
After the Civil War, Texas was overrun with cattle while the rest of the country was crying out for beef. When the town of Abilene, Kansas was founded in 1867 at the end of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, transporting cattle all over the United States became a reality. After the Civil War, urban populations in the north and east grew and railroads spread across the mid-west. The emergence of "cow towns," accessible cities with railroad service across the Great Plains, gave ranchers the opportunity to ship cattle where the demand for beef was surging and prices were high. Runaways and homeless drifters, displaced Civil War veterans, and fugitives from justice all sought sanctuary on the ranching frontier after the Civil War. .
Abilene, Kansas was the largest cow town on the Chisholm Trail. When Joseph McCoy arrived in 1867 it had twelve Red Roofed cabins. A Chicago cattle dealer named McCoy thought that the town would be a great cattle center. He negotiated with the Hannibal & St. Joseph RR for better rates, cars and service and built cattle holding pens. He advertised in Texas that the Chisholm Trail was the best route for them to follow north. He promised more prairie, more grass, more water and less timber and Indians. This convinced enough cattlemen to head their herds north on the Chisholm Trail to Abilene. Approximately 75,000 cattle were led on the Chisholm Trail to Abilene in 1868. By 1869 that increased to 350,000.
The Chisholm Trail is one of the most famous of all the cattle trails. There are songs, stories and movies relating to the Chisholm Trail. It was the trail that carried the majority of cattle north from Texas.
Abilene, Kansas was the largest cow town on the Chisholm Trail. When Joseph McCoy arrived in 1867 it had twelve Red Roofed cabins. A Chicago cattle dealer named McCoy thought that the town would be a great cattle center. He negotiated with the Hannibal & St. Joseph RR for better rates, cars and service and built cattle holding pens. He advertised in Texas that the Chisholm Trail was the best route for them to follow north. He promised more prairie, more grass, more water and less timber and Indians. This convinced enough cattlemen to head their herds north on the Chisholm Trail to Abilene. Approximately 75,000 cattle were led on the Chisholm Trail to Abilene in 1868. By 1869 that increased to 350,000.
The Chisholm Trail is one of the most famous of all the cattle trails. There are songs, stories and movies relating to the Chisholm Trail. It was the trail that carried the majority of cattle north from Texas.