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What Did Rail Roads Carry?

-Lumber from East Texas

-Cattle from West Texas ranches 

-Crops from the state’s farms, and 

-People moving to the state’s growing cities 

Quick Fact 

Because railroads allowed farmers and ranchers to 

transport their products efficiently, Texas   became a 

leading producer of both cattle and cotton

The Magical Powers of Railroads!

       Railroads brought rapid expansion of people, business, 

and cities across the state. Wherever a railroad passed through, 

a town or city was bound to be born. Since the railroad 

transported goods; and also provided transportation for people. 

These towns that lay along the railroad were very strategically 

placed.

Political

-The government gave land grants to railroads 

companies to build railroads

-Allowed Texas to recovered from 

Reconstruction faster than other southern 

states

Economics

-Affected the growth of a town if a railroad 

stopped in it

-Farmers and businesses were allowed to sell 

their goods to others outside of the town

-Altered the growth of the cotton and cattle 

industry

Geographic

-The creation of railroads could destroy entire 

towns if they were placed in the way of the 

railroad.

-On the other hand, the building of railroads 

could start towns along the railroad

Social

-Flow of ideas and people from within and 

exterior of Texas

-New type of transportation 

-Increased the population of Texas

Quick Fun Facts

-Texas still has more railroad mileage than any 

other state and the largest number of railroad 

employees.

-Houston, the city, earned the nickname 

“Where 17 railroads meet the sea” because of 

the 17 railroads going through it.

QUESTION: 

How important were railroads to the growth of 

Texas?

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