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The popular notion of the American cowboy, the "Hollywood" cowboy, is actually a composite of several historical types: the Spanish cowboy, the trail cowboy, the ranch cowboy, and the show cowboy.

When the Spanish came to the New World, they brought with them horses and cattle. Some of the animals found their way into the wild where they multiplied and spread. By the 18th century, vaqueros (Spanish cowboys) were taming wild horses and using them to round up longhorns.

A hundred years later, in the United States after the Civil War, Texas ranches brimmed with longhorns. But the greatest demand for beef was on the east coast--far from Texas. The trail drive developed as a practical means of transporting the cattle to the nearest railhead, in Kansas. Thousands of cattle were gathered again and again in southern Texas and herded overland by teams of cowboys to stockyards near the railhead. From there, trains did the rest.

By 1890, the era of the trail cowboy largely ended. A few ranches survived in the wake of the frontier where cowboys tended shorthorn cattle and trained horses. Rodeos developed during this time from contests between cowboys and competitions between ranches. Touring "Wild West" productions, featuring show cowboys, also became popular. Soon, however, the heyday of ranches gave way to farming, as machines increased the productivity and scale of agriculture.

Finally, the Hollywood cowboy appeared. Numerous well-known actors and balladeers of the early to mid-20th century began their adult lives as cowboys. Still, the cowboy on the movie and television screen was notably more glamorous than his historical counterpart.

• Cowboys were an ethnically diverse group. There were Hispanic, Native American and black cowboys. Isolation and hardship bound them in a distinct subculture that was expressed through songs, stories, and even language (cowboy slang).

• Relations with Indians, often portrayed as a menace on the trail, were usually quite good. It was much better to give up a few cattle, if approached, than to risk a provoked stampede during the night. After a stampede, the Indians could easily get all the cattle they wanted--but at a much greater expense to the outfit. Ranches adjacent to Indian land, however, were another matter. When cattle "strayed" into greener pastures, ranchers were wholly unapologetic for their animals.

• Although cowboys often carried a side arm for sundry reasons--to drive away dangerous animals, to protect against rustlers, or to communicate, for example--the "cowboy as gunslinger" is more of the Hollywood type. The modern cowboy myth has borrowed from many elements of the frontier era. (And a cowboy with an attractive set of guns would have been well-to-do indeed!)

Historically, each article of cowboy clothing served a specific purpose. The boot, with its pointed toe and block heel, allowed the cowboy to quickly mount and dismount. The toe easily slipped into the stirrup and the heel set the foot in place. Also, cowboys could easily slip out of the stirrups for sudden dismounts (roping calves), or in an emergency (being dragged with a foot caught in the saddle).

Close-fitting, heavy pants were not easily caught or torn in heavy brush. Leather chaps further protected the legs from rope burns, brush, thorns, and a host of other hazards. (The tall uppers of boots, combined with pants legs and chaps, also protected the lower legs from snakebites.)

The cowboy shirt was a durable wash-and-wear garment. Vests over cowboy shirts allowed the arms freedom of movement, while providing deep pockets for carrying small articles. Dusters and slickers (raincoats) further protected cowboys from wind, rain, or cold. Gloves with long cuffs protected the hands and wrists during roping or branding.

The broad brim of a cowboy hat shielded the eyes and face from sun and rain. A cord held the hat securely on the head, or allowed it to hang around the neck. Hats could be used to fan fires, as a water dipper, or to signal or direct cattle. The bandana was used primarily as a dust mask, but also as a neck covering (sun exposure), handkerchief, ear covering (in cold weather), a stay for hats, signal flag, water strainer, or even a tourniquet if needed.

Last reviewed: 2004-Jan-21