XIT Ranch
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The XIT Ranch was a cattle ranch in the Panhandle of Texas which operated from 1885 to 1912. Comprised of over 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km²) of land, it ran for two hundred miles (300 km) along the border with New Mexico, varying in width from 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 km).
In 1879, the Sixteenth Texas Legislature appropriated 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km²) of land to finance a new state capitol. In 1882, in a special legislative session, the Seventeenth Texas Legilature struck a bargain with Charles B. and John V. Farwell, under which a syndicate, led by the Farwell's, agreed to build a new $3,000,000.00 Texas State Capitol and accept the 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km²) of Panhandle in payment.
The ranch started operations in 1885 and at its peak averaged handling 150,000 head of cattle within its 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of fencing. The ranch also erected 325 windmills and 100 dams across its land. The cattle on the ranch were constantly plagued by cattle rustlers and predators, especially wolves.
Starting in the late 1890s, the syndicate that owned the ranch, began selling off the land to pay off investors. By 1905, most of the land was subdivided and being sold to farmers. The last of the XIT cattle were sold on November 1, 1912, and land sales subsequently increased.
External link
- The XIT Museum (http://www.xitmuseum.com/)
References
- "XIT RANCH". The Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/XX/apx1.html). Retrieved Apr. 13, 2005.
- "Thumbnail History of the XIT Ranch". The XIT Museum (http://www.xitmuseum.com/history.shtml). Retrieved Apr. 13, 2005.