Cowboys

After the American Civil War (1861–65), the states located just west of the Mississippi River experienced a boom in the cattle business. Those who were hired to tend the cattle and guide them across open lands on drives from pasture to ranch to market were called cowboys. The golden age of the cattle drives in the 1870s and 1880s increased the number of cowboys and established them as part of western folklore. While the work of cowboys was not new, it gained attention as a romantic and heroic livelihood during this time.

The first cattle were unloaded in America during Spanish explorer Hernándo Cortés's (1485–1547) conquest of Mexico in 1519. A tradition of tending the cattle arose, and the first cowboys, known as vaque-ros, developed methods for herding and handling cattle in open lands. Americans adopted these practices as the cattle industry moved north through the southwest to the northern Great Plains.

The most familiar aspects of the vaquero tradition were maintained in the unique but highly practical dress of cowboys. The high crown and broad brim of a felt hat kept the sun out of a cowboy's face, provided a scoop for water, and, doubled over, served as a pillow at night. A bandana protected the cowboy's nose and mouth from dust and debris while leather chaps protected his legs from brush, thorns, and cacti. Boots with spurs, the design of the saddle, and lassos were all similarly practical and essential to the cowboy's needs.

A cowboy was a hired hand with a long and difficult job in a challenging environment. Although their work required skill, cowboys were not highly respected, and their pay was often minimal. A cowboy typically did not own land or cattle and usually claimed his horse, saddle, and gear as his only possessions.

Early stereotypes of cowboys were often negative, with images of unhindered celebrations in saloons, illiteracy, and lawlessness. Adventure books, Western exhibitions and shows, and popular movies all helped to change that image. Eventually, cowboys became respected for the long hours and tough nature of their work. By the 1950's, cowboys had become folk heroes.

The cowboy glamorized by legend, however, began to disappear in the 1890s. As the free and open ranges became more and more settled and fenced, the role of the cowboy changed. Cattle became confined to pastures on ranches, and railroads and trucks transported cattle to markets. Today cowboys are ranch hands who enjoy ranch-cooked meals, the shade of a truck, and a bed every night.