Abilene

What was Abilene?

Abilene in Kansas was an example of a cow-town. Thanks to John McCoy it was the first cow-town.

How did the population of Abilene change due to the railroad?

The population of Abilene grew from 500 to 7,000 people.

How lawless was Abilene?

Abilene, and other cow towns, were lawless in a number of ways.

• ❖ Cowboys used the saloons and bars to drink and gamble. Cheating and swindling at the card table were not uncommon.
• ❖ Cowboys were paid their wages after loading the cattle onto the trains. They then celebrated and this could lead to lawless trouble.
• ❖ Gunfights and murder were frequent and attempts to stop them were futile. A sign saying guns were banned in Abilene was shot so badly that nobody could read it.
• ❖ A jail was built in Abilene in 1870, but it was demolished by cowboys.
• ❖ In early 1870, Thomas Smith was appointed town marshal of Abilene. He was killed in November the same year. Wild Bill Hickok was appointed marshall in 1871, but he lasted in the job for just a few months.

When did the Kansas Pacific Railroad reach Abilene?

The Kansas Pacific Railroad reached Abilene in 1867.

Why did Abilene become the first cow town?

Abilene became the first cow-town when Joseph McCoy built cattle ports alongside the railroad there.