what is the old chisholm trail

What was the purpose of the Chisholm Trail?

The Chisholm Trail was the major route out of Texas for livestock. Although it was used only from 1867 to 1884, the longhorn cattle driven north along it provided a steady source of income that helped the impoverished state recover from the Civil War.

What was the route of the old Chisholm Trail?

Chisholm Trail, 19th-century cattle drovers' trail in the western United States. Although its exact route is uncertain, it originated south of San Antonio, Texas, ran north across Oklahoma, and ended at Abilene, Kansas.

Who wrote The Old Chisholm Trail?

"The Old Chisholm Trail" is a cowboy song first published in 1910 by John Lomax in his book Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads.

Why is it called the Chisholm Trail?

Herds with as many as ten thousand cattle were driven from Texas over the trail to Kansas. The trail acquired its name from trader Jesse Chisholm, a part-Cherokee, who just before the Civil War had built a trading post in what is now western Oklahoma City.

What towns were along the Chisholm Trail?

Newton and Wichita (both on the Chisholm Trail) eventually became well-known cowtowns. Caldwell, Hunnewell, and Dodge City were also well-known cowtowns. The Western Cattle Trail that led to Dodge City became the most utilized of all the trails.

How long did it take to drive cattle on the Chisholm Trail?

Movement of cattle On average, a herd could maintain a healthy weight moving about 15 miles (24 km) per day. Such a pace meant that it would take as long as two months to travel from a home ranch to a railhead. The Chisholm Trail, for example, was 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long.

What state is the Chisholm Trail in?

WyomingChisholm Trail / StateWyoming is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to the south. Wikipedia

What ended the cattle drives?

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.

How many men served on a cattle drive?

There were nine or 10 wranglers and drovers – sometimes called "thirty-dollar men" – per crew. The wrangler managed the herd of spare horses, known as the remuda, made up of eight or 10 horses for each man.

What was the largest cattle drive ever?

In reality, the largest cattle drive on record took place on Aug. 24, 1882, and only covered the distance from about Tulia to Canyon. And, after each individual cow was counted as it passed through a gate at the end of the drive, there were 10,652 head — a cattle drive record that has stood for 140 years.

How many miles long was the Chisholm Trail?

The Chisholm Trail originated in southern Texas and ran about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) to its end at Abilene, Kansas.

Which trail ran roughly parallel to the Chisholm Trail?

The Great Western Cattle TrailThe Great Western Cattle Trail was used in the 19th century for movement of cattle to markets in the East. It ran west of and roughly parallel to the Chisholm Trail. The Great Western Trail began at Bandera west of San Antonio and passed near Buffalo Gap and Abilene in West Texas.

Where did the Chisholm Trail go through Oklahoma?

The trail crossed the Red River south of Duncan, Oklahoma, led north through Indian Territory to Wichita, Kansas, and on to the railway in Abilene. It is estimated that more than 5 million Texas cattle were driven north to markets from 1866 to 1884, the majority over the Chisholm Trail.

What trail went from Texas to Oregon?

The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) east–west, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon.