Newton - Before the railroad arrived in Newton, the area was only sparsely populated by a few homesteaders. However with the anticipation of the railroad's arrival, a number of businesses were soon established and when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad arrived on July 17, 1871, Newton became the shipping point of the immense herds of Texas cattle which prior to this time had been driven to Abilene.

With the arrival the large herds of cattle, also came cowboys, gambers, "soiled doves," and roughs of every variety. To accommodate these rowdy men and women, a portion of the fledgling city known as "Hyde Park" developed which held no less than fifteen buildings devoted to "social amusement," with such flamboyant names as the Do Drop In, the Side Track, and the Gold Room. In total, the town boasted 27 saloons and eight gambling halls. During these days, Newton was filled with with tales rivaled only by Dodge City and was called the "wickedest city in the west." This reputation came primarily from the August, 1871 Gunfight at Hyde Park, which ultimately resulted in eight men being killed before, during and after the event.

The cowboys reigned supreme in Newton from during the 1871 cattle season, during which time there were 12 documented killings, although by some estimates, there may have been twice that many. However, by the next trail driving season, the railroad had been extended to Wichita and the City of Newton had passed an ordinance prohibiting the running at large animals in their city.

The city continued to be a railroad town for more than a century, along with developing into an agricultural and industrial center. Today, it is home to about 17,000 people.

Wichita - The site of Wichita was first settled in 1864 when J.R. Mead opened a trading post there. The next year, Jesse Chisholm pioneered the Chisholm Trail and trade quickly developed the area. In 1865, a town site was platted and more people moved in. 

A short-lived army post known as Camp Beecher was established nearby in 1868, but it was abandoned the next year. In 1872, the railroad arrived, and Wichita became the destination for Texas cattle being driven north along the Chisholm Trail for shipment by rail to eastern markets. The following year 66,000 head of cattle were shipped out of Wichita, twice as many as from Ellsworth. Serving as a cowtown primarily from 1872 through 1876, the city developed a rough part of town called the "Delano" district that became the hub of gambling and drinking activities in Wichita.