The people who occupied this disputed territory had been exposed to a long tradition of intercultural conflict. This conflict in the Lower Border has, in large part, dictated the growth and success of the cattle industry in Texas. In 1821 Stephen F. Austin and a group of settlers came to Texas, and would create the market for what would become a mammoth cattle industry (Acuña, 7). The Texas-Mexico War of 1836 led to an increase in number of wild cattle. Ranchers in the area were too preoccupied with war to instigate large round-ups or settlements, and cattle were left to prosper on the open plain. Before 1848, the Valley of the Río Grande was home to thousands of cattle (Acuña, 27). Economic life in the Lower valley was based on agriculture, of which the cattle industry was a substantial part. Tejanos were “entrenched in a rural society, while Anglos…dominated the towns (De León, 50). During this time, some trade did develop between the lower valley in Texas and New Orleans (Everett 24). By 1850 Brownsville, right across the border from Matamoros, had developed as a trading center, which subsequently drew the interest of Anglo-Americans (Acuña, 28). Due to the unregulated nature of the trade at this point, there was always some sort of movement across the border area. However, during the 1850’s U.S. merchants ran Mexican merchants out of the Lower Valley. San Antonio in Central Texas was another well-developed trading town with the largest Mexican population of any Texas town. Many Anglos felt that Mexicans benefited from their presence and “felt little qualms about taking their property” through violent or coercive means (Acuña, 27). Show
By 1860, Anglo ranches had shifted westward into areas of Tejano ranching (Jordan, 84). Richard King and Mifflin Kennedy, owners of two of the most prominent ranches in south Texas were familiar with haciendas, or latifundios that existed in Mexico. These entrepeneurs were interested in creating an American version of the huge, highly profitable ranching and agricultural operations as well as the wealth, prestige and power that came with them. The partnership formed between the two men was much like the partnership formed may many Eastern entrepreneurs who were helping to create a new industial United States. The resulting ranches therefore resulted in a mixture of three cultures-Hispanic, Southern and Western (Monday, I) By 1860, Anglo-Americans dominated the Texas economy, which was based on the capitalistic endeavor of accumulating of land, resources, and cheap labor (Acuña, 30).
In the words of one scholar,
Fig.1 Map taken from Cultural and Historical Maps of Texas (Ellis, Jordan, and Buchanan, 25 ). The invention of barbed wire in 1884 closed the open range, bringing a halt the legendary cattle drives (Gard, 60). As railroads became more developed and widespread, they eventually became the transportation of choice for the shipment of cattle from South Texas. Large ranches such as King Ranch (1854) and Kennedy Ranch (1860) were formed to adjust to the new economy of fenced ranches and shipments by rail (Monday I0). The growth and extension of the railroad into Texas would serve as another link between people of all sectors of the country as well as greatly influencing the life of the Mexican ranch worker. Who started cattle ranching in Texas?This second entrada included priests, soldiers, colonists, and 4,800 head of Spanish cattle. Initially, the Franciscan priests were charged with caring for the livestock, earning them the title of first cattle ranchers in Texas.
Who was responsible for the cattle drive?Cowboys and vaqueros brought cattle up north on his trail the first time in 1866. When Jesse Chisholm started his trail in 1865 it began near San Antonio. But by the mid-1870's, the Chisholm Trail started at the Rio Grande (that's where the border with Mexico lies) near Brownsville.
Who established the first ranches in Texas?The earliest ranches were those of Spanish missionaries. By the mid-18th century, these were joined by competing private ranches. Vaqueros were the first cowhands on these early ranches.
Who owns the most cattle in Texas?O'Connor Family Ranch – 587,000 Acres
The O' Connor Family Ranch is one of the state's most significant land and cattle owners.
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