| Besides Stephenville, Texas, there are | | | | Wyatt Earp and Boot Hill, these days, Dodge |
| several cities across the nation that refer | | | | is keeping its heritage alive through |
| to themselves as the "Cowboy Capital of the | | | | historical preservation programs. Dodge, stop |
| World." Whoa! Now, wait a minute! How can | | | | "dodging" the issue....honor your past but |
| Dodge City, Kansas, Banderas, Texas and | | | | stop living in it. That's just sad.WILL THE |
| Oakdale, California ALL claim the same title | | | | REAL COWBOY CAPITAL PLEASE STAND UP?Enter |
| as Stephenville? Somebody ain't tellin' the | | | | Stephenville, Texas! The REAL Cowboy Capital |
| truth.Git a rope.True, Oakdale, California | | | | of the World located in what's referred to as |
| had the first outdoor rodeo in the West, | | | | the Cross Timbers region of the state. How |
| started early in the fabulous 50's. Nineteen | | | | can one small town, 70 miles south of Fort |
| fifties, that is. What's so "Cowboy" about | | | | Worth and almost 2 hours from Abilene, make |
| the era of Rockabilly, Elvis, 3-D movies and | | | | such a bold claim? Easy! The Cross Timbers |
| the hoola-hoop?Banderas, Texas got its start | | | | region has been a thoroughfare to the |
| as a staging area for the great cattle drives | | | | American Cowboy since Americans crossed the |
| of yesteryear. The town is known for its | | | | Mississippi westward. The lush, timbered |
| "dude" ranches which came into being when | | | | basins of the Trinity, Brazos and Bosque |
| ranching fell upon hard times. When was that? | | | | Rivers (the timber ranges "crossed" at this |
| During the Great Depression of 1929. One | | | | juncture, hence the name "Cross Timbers") |
| enterprising rancher decided to open up his | | | | yielded thousands of unbranded Longhorn |
| ranch to city-slickers as a means for | | | | cattle. Essentially, it's where the longhorns |
| generating earn extra money and a new | | | | came to graze. The famous Goodnight-Loving |
| industry was born. Perhaps it should be | | | | trail originated from the Cross Timbers |
| called the City Slicker Capital or the Dude | | | | region; the Great Western Trail passed right |
| Ranch Capital, since that's what Banderas has | | | | through the heart of the Cross Timbers area. |
| hung its hat on.Dodge City, Kansas is known | | | | One old-timer told me that one of those |
| by several nicknames including Queen of the | | | | trails started right where the Sonic Drive-In |
| Cowtowns, Wickedest Little City in America | | | | is located on Washington Street and insisted |
| and Buffalo Capital of the World. C'mon, | | | | there should be an historical marker placed |
| Dodge, surely you don't need another moniker, | | | | there. |
| do ya? Famous for the likes of Bat Masterson, | | | | |