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Neither DFW nor Houston feel remotely western. Yes, I realize Fort Worth has the stockyards, but Denver has the National Western Stock Show, and neither of those things make their respective cities outwardly "western." You want the stereotypical cowboy stuff like hats, chaps, spurs, cinch jeans, chewing tobacco, big belt buckles, etc, you'll have to go to smaller cities like Amarillo, Cheyenne, Lamar, and Sterling.
Tucson has a ginormous Rodeo Days event that is a school holiday. Yet, in much of the city, you don't "feel" the cowboy vibe so much - it's a mix of Native American/Mexican/Liberal College/Golf more than cowboy - IMO. Now, on the outskirts to the SE, W and S, you do still see/feel some of that, but not central or north.
Tucson has a "cowboy vibe" because of how the landscape looks, but yes, the cowboy thing is a bit of a sub culture any more. Chances are that if you see somebody with a cowboy hat and a bolo tie they are a snowbird or a tourist.
Amarillo/Lubbock have a more exposed cowboy culture but even they feel as much blue collar/country as much or more than they do "cowboy".
In OKC there is a "cowboy" culture but the only place it is really prevalent is around Stockyards City. Again, mostly blue collar 'huntin' and fishin' types is what we have in most parts of town.
The thing to remember is that the west was mostly empty back in the old west days. The major cities were quite small, around 15,000 to 30,000 people in 1920. They were only 5,000-8,000 in 1900. The major growth and population changes came after WW-II and those folks had no old west connection. Smaller cities in places like Cody or Winnemucca or Williston might have some old west.
Tucson has a "cowboy vibe" because of how the landscape looks, but yes, the cowboy thing is a bit of a sub culture any more. Chances are that if you see somebody with a cowboy hat and a bolo tie they are a snowbird or a tourist.
Amarillo/Lubbock have a more exposed cowboy culture but even they feel as much blue collar/country as much or more than they do "cowboy".
In OKC there is a "cowboy" culture but the only place it is really prevalent is around Stockyards City. Again, mostly blue collar 'huntin' and fishin' types is what we have in most parts of town.
This line is getting really blurred, IMO. The blue collar/country vibe and culture and the cowboy culture are almost (but not quite) the same these days.
Keep in mind Texas metro's are exploding so they are losing some of the western charm, but it is still their and especially in their ex-burbs.
I lived on the Dallas side of DFW between 99 & 2011. It wasn't western then. Fort Worth is sort of western, but it's not really genuine. It's more for show.
Of those the original poster mentioned, to me El Paso is the eastern most western like city, ensconsed in the mountains. Amarillo and Wichita don't have that terrain. El Paso is solidly west, in contrast.
Of those the original poster mentioned, to me El Paso is the eastern most western like city, ensconsed in the mountains. Amarillo and Wichita don't have that terrain. El Paso is solidly west, in contrast.
I suppose you have to differentiate the cultural aspect vs. the terrain. If you are looking for guys with cowboy hats, boots, wranglers, big belt buckles and all that stuff, Amarillo has that way more than El Paso does.
And I think the high plains is still considered western terrain despite not being in the mountains. But yeah, if mountains are your criteria then El Paso or maybe Rapid City, SD would be your answer. But the high plains are where true cowboy culture still exists as a large part of the culture.
Amarillo, TX
Lubbock, TX
Flagstaff, AZ
Cheyenne, WY
I would even toss in San Angelo & Abilene, TX.
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