In today’s world, living a real cowboy life means living in the ranching lifestyle and wearing the cowboy signature boots and hat in the old west. The cowboy way of life is essential in American society as cattle operations are the largest single segment of American agriculture.
The Cowboy culture, which dates more than 2000 years back, is a symbolic icon of the American West culture. It’s a distinctive social subculture with a unique dressing style and a lifetime worth acquiring riding skills on cattle and horses.
Five cities in Texas which still live the cowboy way of life
While most of you only see the Hollywood version of cowboy tradition depicted on TV, here are five cities in Texas where the culture is still alive:
1. Dallas
According to Hotels.com, this is a city that offers a mixture of a big metropolitan city feeling mixed with a cowboy tradition. It has museums, fabulous restaurants, and live music venues. It provides the best blend of the Modern and the cowboy tradition giving the city an exciting swirl. Ensure you visit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, located in Barn A in the Stockyards.
2. San Antonio
This city is considered the birthplace of the cowboy culture. Bull riding, rope steering ad busting broncos can be dated back to the city’s earliest days with Vaqueros on the Mission Ranches. To date, the city’s culture can be seen throughout the Dude ranched and dance halls that provide you with an authentic western experience.
3. Houston
Famous for the filming of the Urban Cowboy movie, this city offers a modernized cowboy culture experience. The culture here is not as deep as in other areas in Texas, but Houston still holds one of the largest livestock shows and rodeos in the world: The Houston Livestock Shows and Rodeo. This show celebrates Houston’s western heritage and culture.
4. Fort Worth named the Cultural Capital of the Southwest
Fort Worth is a city with a diverse cowboy cultural background dating back to the 19th century. According to Destination DFW, the locals have a reputation of being friendly to visitors, thus making this the perfect place for you and your family to live the full cowboy experience.
5. El Paso
Head to El Paso and get yourself a pair of handcrafted Lucchese boots and a hat. Then head to the Miller Horse Farm, which offers horseback riding for both children and adults. Take a stroll along the beautiful farm roads to get the local experience. Wikipedia has named this the 22nd largest city in the U.S.
The Cowboy Capital of the World
Texas is known as the world’s cowboy capital. Most people who live and own ranches in Texas have taken on an all-year-round job of taking care of their cattle. This job requires hard work, commitment, and dedication to the wellbeing of animals. Moving to Texas and embracing the Texan cowboy tradition will give you and your family a sense of belonging and a friendly community.