Newton, Kansas History

July 1871 the Santa Fe Railroad extended its line to Newton, which then succeeded Abilene as the terminus of the Chisholm Trail. The cattle boom only lasted a year for the railroad was soon extended to Wichita. During this brief period there was considerable violence in the saloons and dance halls at Newton, with nine men being shot down in one shootout in August, 1871.

1872 The Newton city council passed an ordinance prohibiting the running at large of buffalo and other wild animals.

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