Rural Life in Texas

Nearly all Texans lived on farms or ranches from 1846 to 1860. Since land was available and inexpensive, many Texans worked growing corn, wheat, oats, and sweet potatoes on their own land rather than working for someone else. Cotton was the main cash crop, or crop produced for a profit, in Texas. Farmers even raised livestock on their farms such as cows, chickens, and hogs. During the 1850s the Texans started to raise these livestock for profit which led the economy to grow.