Cotton
Cattle
Railroads
Cotton
During the late 19th century, cotton was the primary cash crop in Texas. Texas produced more cotton than any other state. In 1880, there were 805,284 bales of cotton produced. By 1900, there were 2,506,212 bales of cotton produced in Texas.
Cattle
Cattle and ranching were also important to the Texas economy during the late 19th century. The farming and ranching industry produced the largest herds in the United States. In 1880, there were 4,894,698 herds of cattle. That number increased to 8,543,635 in 1890.
Railroads
By 1875, there were 1,650 miles of railroad tracks in Texas. As commercial agriculture increased, the need to transport items such as cotton and cattle across Texas and beyond also increased. By 1900, there were 9,867 miles of railroad across Texas.