Stephenville, Texas! Cowboy Capital of the World, and a Whole Lot More
Besides Stephenville, Texas, there are several cities across the nation that refer to themselves as the "Cowboy Capital of the World." Whoa! Now, wait a minute! How can Dodge City, Kansas, Banderas, Texas and Oakdale, California ALL claim the same title as Stephenville? Somebody ain't tellin' the truth. Git a rope. True, Oakdale, California had the first outdoor rodeo in the West, started early in the fabulous 50's. Nineteen fifties, that is. What's so "Cowboy" about the era of Rockabilly, Elvis, 3-D movies and the hoola-hoop? Banderas, Texas got its start as a staging area for the great cattle drives of yesteryear. The town is known for its "dude" ranches which came into being when ranching fell upon hard times. When was that? During the Great Depression of 1929. One enterprising rancher decided to open up his ranch to city-slickers as a means for generating earn extra money and a new industry was born. Perhaps it should be called the City Slicker Capital or the Dude Ranch Capital, since that's what Banderas has hung its hat on. Dodge City, Kansas is known by several nicknames including Queen of the Cowtowns, Wickedest Little City in America and Buffalo Capital of the World. C'mon, Dodge, surely you don't need another moniker, do ya? Famous for the likes of Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and Boot Hill, these days, Dodge is keeping its heritage alive through historical preservation programs. Dodge, stop "dodging" the issue....honor your past but stop living in it. That's just sad. WILL THE REAL COWBOY CAPITAL PLEASE STAND UP? Enter Stephenville, Texas! The REAL Cowboy Capital of the World located in what's referred to as the Cross Timbers region of the state. How can one small town, 70 miles south of Fort Worth and almost 2 hours from Abilene, make such a bold claim? Easy! The Cross Timbers region has been a thoroughfare to the American Cowboy since Americans crossed the Mississippi westward. The lush, timbered basins of the Trinity, Brazos and Bosque Rivers (the timber ranges "crossed" at this juncture, hence the name "Cross Timbers") yielded thousands of unbranded Longhorn cattle. Essentially, it's where the longhorns came to graze. The famous Goodnight-Loving trail originated from the Cross Timbers region; the Great Western Trail passed right through the heart of the Cross Timbers area. One old-timer told me that one of those trails started right where the Sonic Drive-In is located on Washington Street and insisted there should be an historical marker placed there. This Cross Timbers area is one of very few places in the United States that is directly involved in the evolution of the “professional cowboy.” During the period from 1930 to 1950, the ranch cowboy discovered that the general public was enamored with the idea of the Cowboy. A significant number of movies produced by Hollywood glamorized the myth of the Cowboy and the public yearned to get more of him. To meet this need, rodeos were held in Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden, etc. These rodeos played to packed houses, even during the Great Depression. Since the first indoor rodeos were held in Fort Worth at the Cowtown Coliseum, much of the expertise for these big-building rodeos came from the Cowboys of the Cross Timbers area, many of which called Stephenville their home. This being the Cowboy Capital, you are quite likely to find all things Cowboy just as you had hoped, in every direction you turn. For example, here's where you'll find the largest private Country and Western club in the state, with live CW bands and two steppin' all night long. Then there's the Cross Timbers Country Opry, a thriving equine industry, and the fact that Stephenville is the county seat of Erath County, the largest milk producer in Texas. Stands to reason that where there are horses and cows, there are cowboys and cowgirls. Yes, people shopping with spurs on can be seen in these parts all the time. It's not uncommon to see a world champion cowboy or musical celebrity around town, sharing in day-to-day community life. Around the town these days, it might be the singer Jewel or Rodeo Cowboys Ty Murray, Tom Reeves, Tuff Hedeman or Cody Ohl. Time was, when 20,000 spectators would crowd into Everett Colburn's Rodeo Bowl from 1940 to 1959. Colburn's Lightning C Ranch was the world's largest ranch devoted entirely to Rodeo livestock. Lightning C was operated by Colburn but he was joined later by TV Cowboy star Gene Autry. This rodeo made up its events and contestants each year in Dublin and then rode the train to New York's Madison Square Garden and the Boston Garden. In those days, the likes of Autry, Roy Rogers, Audy Murphy and more of Hollywood's Western stars and Rodeo greats were spotted regularly around the Cross Timbers area, especially Stephenville and nearby Dublin, according to local old-timers. Many of these are honored off downtown Stephenville's Heritage Square where you'll find the Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame, here to recognize the significance of the Western heritage that is an integral part of Stephenville and the Cross Timbers Area. SMILE WHEN YOU SAY THAT So, what do we mean when we use the term “cowboy” anyway? Stephenville backs up its Cowboy claim by declaring that Erath County is the home of more professional cowboys and cowgirls, per square mile, than anyplace else on the planet. Who did the math? Well, that's a mystery the likes of Marfa's lights, but there’s no question that there are lots of horse trailers, pick-ups and Western Wear stores to accommodate all the 'pokes in these parts. Our cowboy culture is the real deal, and all one must do is take a look outside - or sniff our dairy air - to attest to that fact. The REAL Cowboy Capital is home to Lone Star Arena, a huge, indoor rodeo complex featuring a regular schedule of barrel racing, horse shows, bull riding, team roping, and more (www.lonestararena.com). The USTRC calf roping finals are held there annually and the Bayer Legends Celebration of Champions will be here in February 2006. Other crowd favorites that are held in Stephenville each year include Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival and Chili Cook-Off in April at Melody Mountain Ranch & RV Park (www.larryjoetaylor.com) and rodeo champions will herd into town for the Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo (www.stephenvilleprca.com) in May at the Erath County Livestock Arena. DairyFest, an annual celebration of the local dairy industry with all the free dairy products you can stand, takes place in June at City Park. CAPITAL IDEA FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM Is Stephenville the Cowboy Capital? You bet yer boots! But it's more than that. Whether your focus is commerce, education, culture, recreation or just a great place to settle down, Stephenville is a "capital" idea. The town is known as one of the country's most desirable places to live and earn a living. In fact, it is included in Norman Crampton's "The 100 Best Small Towns in America," published by Prentice Hall. Yes, City Hall is committed to aggressively providing services that encourage the highest quality of life to the citizens of Stephenville. Promoting a business? Nobody helps you maximize your business capital like The Chamber... the award-winning Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, that is! In five years, this organization has blossomed from less than 300 to over 700 local businesses and tourism income is consistently higher than it's ever been. As a business professional, you'll definitely want to capitalize on Stephenville's ready and able workforce, many of whom attend our local university. Where Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are concerned, Stephenville spells "Education" with a capital "E!" The Stephenville Independent School District has a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students. There are two elementary schools for children in grades K thru 4, and intermediate school for grades 5 thru 6. Junior High includes grades 7 and 8 and High School, grades, 9 thru 12. Scholastically, musically, athletically...the success of these schools have truly made Stephenville a City of Champions! Located in the heart of Stephenville is Tarleton State University. Founded in 1899 as John Tarleton College, in 1917, the college became a part of the Texas A&M University System, gaining official status as a university in 1973. Tarleton University has experienced considerable growth over the past decade (about 8% annually), with a current enrollment exceeding 8000. Students come from over 200 Texas counties, as well as 30 states and ten foreign nations. Tarleton is dedicated to providing outstanding instruction and concern for the individual, ensuring that students acquire the tools they need to achieve successful careers, gain cultural enrichment, and become productive citizens and leaders in a diverse and ever-changing culture. Tarleton offers the community the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center as well as the TSU Planetarium, giving the community a wonderful array of visual sensations to enjoy. While we're on the subject of higher education, let's talk about the Highest Education, developing one's spiritual life. Whatever your worship preference, you'll probably find it here in Stephenville. With a large variety of churches to choose from, many with a passion for unity, you're sure to find your next home church here! That includes (what else?) the thriving Cowboy Church of Erath County. Yes, Stephenville is the Cowboy Capital of Texas... and proud of it. But overall, whether your interest includes business, family, education or recreation, you're bound to find Stephenville, Texas to be the "capital" idea you've been looking for! Mike Tummillo is the Communications Director for the Award-Winning Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, Stephenville, Texas and can be contacted at 254.965.5313 or e-mailed at miket@stephenvilletexas.org |
Other Horse Racing Articles
Sports - America's Obsession If you watch situation comedies, the one thing that you will notice, or at least should notice, is that situation comedies make fun of real life situations. That's why they're funny, because they're all about things we can relate to. On an episode of "Home Improvement" Jill asks Tim if he's ready to go with her to some party. He replies by te ...How to Keep Peaceful Relationships Jesus said in the last days many will be offended as the love of the church will grow cold (Matthew 24:10).So many people are majoring on minor issues today such as whether or not we should speak in tongues, whether or not we should baptize babies, whether or not we should prophesy, and a bunch of other stuff that shouldn't be causing us ...Playing Poker Online...The Smart Way The scene is set. It’s just past 2 A.M. on a school night. The windows are closed and the sun has long been gone, but the glow from the computer screen has never been more evident on his face than this moment. As the sweat crawls slowly down his forehead, his hands simultaneously creep up on either side of his face, the palms perching under his ...Hunter Jumper Horses Jumper courses are very demanding, calling for technical accuracy on the part of the rider and absolute obedience from the horse. Connecting with the horse from the hind legs, through the back to the bit will prevent most of resistance problems that horses have with jumping. As the riders head toward the jump, they focus on the rhythm of your ho ...Gambling Myths 101 Myths and rumors come with every gambling game. However undesirable, they can be a good source of recreation. The major cause of these beliefs and tales is the uncertainty related with gambling.Slot machines were first played in the late nineteenth century. Since then the machines have changed with more reels and increased number columns ...American Saddlebred The American Saddlebred is a breed of horse developed in the state of Kentucky. Today they are featured in many showring competitions, and they are also used for racing, parades, and hunting. These horses have a disposition which make them good for virtually any task in which they are needed. They are well known for their stamina and the ability ...October's UK Horse Racing Action The first Sunday in October can mean only one thing and that’s Paris in the autumn for the Prix de l’Ac de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 1. Not content with staging Europe’s premier Group1 contest for middle-distance racehorses, the French racing authorities have done plenty to develop this day as a fixture to match next month’s Breeders’ Cup ...New York Jets Won't Be That Bad Heading into the 2006-07 season, many people are expecting the absolute worse from the New York Jets. I on the other hand, am not. With an excellent coach and system in place by rookie coach Eric Mangini, the Jets are already going in the right direction. Chad Pennington will be making his return to the team after injuring his shoulder early ...Receiving the Wisdom of the Wisdom Self This meditation is built on the idea of trance identification with a future idealised, or present higher realized, self. Deep Trance Identification is a concept derived from the fields of NLP and hypnosis, but has its origins in shamanism, spiritual and religious practices of all kinds. Shamanic practices of identification with spirit beings and ...Horse Tack Horse tack refers to the accessories worn by domesticated horses. Tacking a horse is the act of fitting a horse with a wide range of equipment before the horse is taken for a ride. Tacking up a horse requires expertise, since any discomfort for the horse causes a lot of strain for both the horse and the rider. The tack also has to be of the exac ...Horses - Affirmed In the crazy world of horse racing the one thing we had yet to see going into the 1978 horse racing year was back to back triple crown winners. That was about to all change because of a horse by the name of Affirmed.Not only had there never been back to back triple crown winners but no horse ever had to beat the same rival in all three l ...The History of Steeplechase Horse Racing The sport of Steeplechase racing dates back to 1752 in Ireland when two, half-crocked, friends settled the argument over who owned the best horse by racing to the nearest Church steeple after returning from Fox hunting. The winner actually rode right through the church where the vicar was holding a solemn funeral. Soon steeplechase racing sprea ...Handicapping the Pacers Trade of Ron Artest - Current Playoffs Chances At this point the Pacers playoff hopes are definitely in jeopardy. Jermaine O’Neal and Jamal Tinsley are perennially injured. So far their season has been unimpressive with losses to some rather mediocre teams, including a 30-pt loss to the Bobcats. The road loss in Atlanta, where there’s as much atmosphere as a funeral, was the final straw for ...Colorado State Fair and Rodeos In Pueblo, Colorado there is a State Fair that is filled with Cowboys, and Cowgirls and celebrates Mexican culture in Rodeos and an Annual Fiesta Day. This fair is held every year from late August to early September. Visitors to the fair come to check out the food, and the music and the broncin’ bucks.This is a Rodeo Fair with both the ...Snorkeling Fins Fins are an important part of snorkeling gear. With their flat wide surface they allow the snorkeler to easily navigate under water. The larger the fins, the more force they provide in the forward direction; but larger fins are also heavier and may impede motion. Medium-sized fins are reportedly best.Snorkel fins are available in heel-str ...Rope Halters Does a rope halter make a great gift? It might for someone who uses them exclusively. For someone whose preference in halters is nylon or leather the gift of a rope halter might rank right up there with the gift of a bad necktie.But if you offer a 20' length of rope and a set of instructions on how to fashion a halter from that piece o ...Bullying At School Can Lead To Later Problems At Work! Simon admitted that he had always been an underachiever. Fidgeting nervously, he told me that also had problems with completing tasks – indeed he constantly found that he missed deadlines and let down his colleagues and clients.I asked him when this behaviour had started – and he replied that he couldn’t remember ever being any different. ...The Difference Between Bankroll and Money Management I am sure you would have heard comments like, 'if you don't have good money management skills then you simply won't win'; or how about 'money management is much more important than the selection strategy used'; or even 'you won't win if you don't have good money management skills'. There will always be a group of punters who is always bleating a ...Newspaper Vending Machines Newspaper vending machines are used for the sale or distribution of newspapers, periodicals, and commercial flyers. Most machines have a currency detector that verifies if the amount of money deposited is sufficient for the buying of the desired newspaper. Newspaper vending machines are reliable, easy to service, and easy to locate. They give yo ...
|
