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How many rushed during the Oklahoma land openings?

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas W. Allen

    (SFU)

  • Bryan Leonard

    (ASU)

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, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 14(2), pages 397-416, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:cliomt:v:14:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11698-019-00193-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-019-00193-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cheung, Steven N S, 1973. "The Fable of the Bees: An Economic Investigation," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(1), pages 11-33, April.
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    3. Douglas W. Allen, 2019. "Establishing Economic Property Rights by Giving Away an Empire," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 62(2), pages 251-280.
    4. Bohanon, Cecil E & Coelho, Philip R P, 1998. "The Costs of Free Land: The Oklahoma Land Rushes," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 205-221, March.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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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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