| Prior Era: | Texas in Reconstruction Era |
|---|---|
| Next Era: | Texas During Progressive Era |
Texas During The Wild West Era 1874-1901
The period from 1874 to 1901 in Texas is often called the "Age of Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads." This era saw the final "closing" of the frontier and the dramatic shift from a war-torn state to an economic powerhouse.
1874
The Red River War: The U.S. Army launches a major campaign to push the Comanche, Kiowa, and Southern Cheyenne onto reservations. The decisive Battle of Palo Duro Canyon effectively ends the era of Native American dominance on the Texas plains.
1875
The Constitutional Convention: Delegates meet to replace the Reconstruction-era constitution. The goal of the "Grange" (a farmers' organization) is to limit the power of state government, lower taxes, and strictly regulate railroads.
1876
The Constitution of 1876: Texas adopts its current state constitution. It severely restricts the governor's power and mandates a balanced budget. This same year, Texas A&M University opens as the state's first public institution of higher land-grant learning.
1877
The El Paso Salt War: A violent dispute breaks out over the ownership of salt deposits at the base of the Guadalupe Mountains. It remains one of the few instances where the Texas Rangers were forced to surrender.
1878
The Rise of the Cattle Kingdom: Following the removal of Indigenous tribes, the cattle industry booms. Large-scale ranching takes over West Texas, and the "Dodge City Trail" (Western Trail) becomes a primary route for moving herds north.
1879
The Capitol Fire: The old state capitol building in Austin is destroyed by fire. Plans begin immediately for a massive new structure made of "Texas Pink" granite from Granite Mountain.
1880
Railroad Expansion: The Texas and Pacific Railway and the Southern Pacific begin laying tracks across the state. This marks the beginning of the end for long-distance cattle drives, as cattle can now be shipped by rail.
1881
The Pecos River Bridge: The "High Bridge" across the Pecos River is completed, connecting San Antonio to El Paso by rail and effectively ending the isolation of far West Texas.
1882
Charles Goodnight and the J.A. Ranch: Large corporate ranches begin to dominate the Panhandle. Goodnight establishes one of the most successful ranching operations in history, including a project to save the southern buffalo herd from extinction.
1883
The University of Texas Opens: UT Austin opens its doors to students, funded by the "Permanent University Fund" (PUF) consisting of two million acres of West Texas land.
1884
The Fence Cutting War: As the open range is fenced off with barbed wire, violent "fence cutting" conflicts break out between large landowners and landless cattlemen. Governor John Ireland calls a special session to make fence cutting a felony.
1885
The King Ranch Grows: Under the management of Robert J. Kleberg, the King Ranch in South Texas becomes one of the largest and most scientifically advanced ranching operations in the world.
1886
The Great Die-Up: A series of brutal blizzards and droughts decimate Texas cattle herds. This disaster marks the end of the "Open Range" era and forces ranchers to adopt smaller, fenced-in operations.
1887
Prohibition Vote: Texas holds its first statewide vote on the prohibition of alcohol. The "Wet" forces (those against the ban) win, but the debate creates a political divide that lasts for decades.
1888
The New Capitol Dedicated: The current Texas State Capitol is completed in Austin. At the time, it is one of the largest buildings in the world, famously standing taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
1889
The Anti-Trust Act: Texas passes one of the first anti-trust laws in the U.S. to prevent railroads and oil companies from forming monopolies that hurt small farmers.
1890
James Stephen Hogg Elected: The first native-born Anglo-Texan to become governor is elected. A "Man of the People," he campaigns on regulating the powerful railroad companies.
1891
The Texas Railroad Commission: Governor Hogg establishes the Railroad Commission to regulate freight rates and stop unfair business practices. It eventually becomes the most powerful regulatory body in the state.
1892
The Populist Party: The "People's Party" gains massive support among struggling Texas farmers. They challenge the Democratic establishment, demanding government ownership of railroads and better credit for farmers.
1893
Economic Panic: A national financial panic hits Texas hard. Cotton prices plummet, and many farmers fall into a cycle of debt and "tenant farming" (sharecropping).
1894
The Corsicana Oil Discovery: While drilling for water, a major oil vein is struck in Corsicana. This is the first significant oil field in Texas, foreshadowing the coming "Oil Age."
1895
John Wesley Hardin Killed: The notorious Texas outlaw is shot and killed in El Paso, symbolizing the end of the "Wild West" era of lawlessness.
1896
The Crash at Crush: To promote the railroad, a massive staged train wreck is held near Waco. Over 40,000 people attend, but a boiler explosion turns the publicity stunt into a tragedy.
1897
The Trans-Mississippi Exposition: Texas showcases its agricultural wealth to the nation, emphasizing that it is no longer just a frontier but a modern commercial state.
1898
The Spanish-American War: Theodore Roosevelt recruits his "Rough Riders" at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio. Texas serves as a primary training ground for troops heading to Cuba.
1899
The Brazos River Flood: One of the most destructive floods in Texas history ravages the Brazos River Valley, leading to a push for better water management and levee systems.
1900
The Galveston Hurricane: A Category 4 hurricane strikes Galveston, killing over 6,000 people. It remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history and leads to the construction of the Galveston Seawall.
1901
Spindletop: On January 10, 1901 a massive oil "gusher" erupts at Spindletop near Beaumont. This event changes Texas forever, shifting the economy from agriculture to petroleum and launching the modern oil industry.