The cattle kingdom of the Great Plains developed in the mid-19th century, as settlers from the eastern United States moved westward in search of new land. The vast grasslands of the Great Plains were ideal for raising cattle, and the region quickly became a major center of the cattle industry. By the late 19th century, the cattle kingdom had reached its peak, with millions of cattle grazing on the Great Plains.
The cattle kingdom played a major role in the development of the western United States. The cattle industry provided jobs for thousands of people, and the sale of cattle brought wealth to the region. The cattle kingdom also helped to shape the culture of the West, as cowboys and cowgirls became iconic figures of American folklore.
The cattle kingdom began to decline in the late 19th century, as the open range was increasingly settled by farmers and ranchers. The introduction of barbed wire also made it more difficult for cattle to graze freely on the range. As a result, the cattle industry began to shift from the open range to fenced pastures.
Today, the cattle kingdom is a small fraction of what it once was. However, it still plays an important role in the agricultural economy of the western United States. The cattle industry in the United States is ranked among the top in the world, with large operations found primarily in the Great Plains and Western states. It still provides jobs for thousands of people, and the sale of cattle brings in billions of dollars each year.