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How many rushed during the Oklahoma land openings?

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas W. Allen

    (Department of Economics, SFU, Burnaby, Canada)

  • Bryan Leonard

    (School of Sustainability, ASU, Tempe, USA)

Abstract

At noon on April 22, 1889, a gunshot on the border of what was then called the Unassigned Lands of the Indian Territory launched the first of six well-defined land giveaways in what is now the state of Oklahoma. Contemporary newspaper and eyewitness accounts described the prairie starting line as awash in the largest gathering in the West to that date, with a subsequent massive rush, followed by the disappointment of many who were unable to make a claim. Similar outcomes were reported at the other openings, and these reports have been repeated and accepted in popular culture and the academic literature. Using recently digitized BLM land grant records, data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture, and the 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census, we re-examine the land openings and show that the historical accounts greatly overstate the number of people actually rushing for lands.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas W. Allen & Bryan Leonard, 2020. "How many rushed during the Oklahoma land openings?," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 14(2), pages 397-416, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:afc:cliome:v:14:y:2020:i:2:p:397-416
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-019-00193-y
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Homesteading; Land rush; Racing; Oklahoma;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N21 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N51 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N91 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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