Caldwell, Kansas was born on the Chisholm Trail in 1871 due to her location on the border of what was then called Indian Territory. While only a dusty trail town for a decade, the Texas cowboys looked forward to reaching Caldwell for a little rest and replenishments. Nicknamed the “Border Queen” by these cowboys, this shantytown sprung up to cater to the herds and crew passing through with plenty of saloons, gambling halls, general supplies, and gunfire. After the trail slowed down to a crawl in 1875 due to barbed wire and range wars, the anticipation of a railroad began to rumble.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
