​Studies Weekly, Week 22 Article 6:

Changing Landscape of Texas

​The cattle industry changed the landscape of Texas in many ways. Before the Civil War, the majority of cattle ranches were located in southern Texas. After the war, cattle ranchers realized that the land in western Texas was ideal for grazing and raising cattle.

​Settlers began pouring into the frontier areas of Texas. This caused tension between the American Indians and new settlers along the frontier. Traditional hunting grounds used by the tribes of Texas became cattle grazing areas for ranchers and farmland for settlers. The overhunting of bison on the prairies changed the ecosystem and the lifestyle of American Indians of Texas.

​Timber was cleared to build ranches and farms. The timber was used to build homes and businesses, but deforestation led to a loss of the natural habitat for many indigenous species. New towns were constructed near ranches, many of which grew into large communities and cities, including Amarillo and Kingsville.

​The cattle boom eventually led to the use of barbed wire fencing across the open plains of Texas. At the beginning of the cattle boom, ranchers let their cattle roam and openly graze throughout the prairies. Farmers did not want animals to wander onto their land. So, farmers began to install fences around their farms to prevent cattle and wild animals from roaming through their fields and eating their crops.