Imagine a Kenmare before the Danish Mill, before the Pioneer Village, and the iconic Pizza Hub. Before the trees shaded the streets and before the checkered pattern of cultivated farmland decorated the countryside. All that stands before you is vast, rolling prairie, with native grass waving at you as it dances in the wind. This is how this quiet, peaceful town began.

Towards the end of the 19th century, before Kenmare was Kenmare, it was nothing more than a pioneer settlement. The gentle hills and colorful bluffs were dotted with sheep, homesteads, and Texas longhorns, herded to the Dakota’s by the N-N Cattle Company, where they were loaded for market in Kenmare. This was big business for the small settlement, as 125,000 head of cattle were shipped from here in 1884.

When the N-N Cattle Company began funneling cattle through Kenmare, the coulees southwest of the settlement made perfect natural corrals for longhorns awaiting shipment. However, as business boomed, corrals had to be constructed. The fences covered acres of land and were constructed of native poplar poles. The Texas Longhorns didn't wait patiently for their ride out of town.

Known for being ferocious, the longhorns tried their best to escape, and often broke their horns attempting to snap the poplar poles. The broken horns became a nuisance and required pioneers and employees of the N-N Cattle Company to frequently clear away severed horns from outside the pens. On shipment day, trains rolled into town to haul the cattle to market, using special cars to carry 18-25 head of cattle a piece. Knowing the Texas Longhorns, they didn’t prance merrily onto the cars. Listen in to hear more about the history of Kenmare on this Talking Trail.