Final answer:
Old West "cowtowns" such as Abilene, Dodge City, and Wichita, Kansas, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, developed alongside the cattle industry and railroad expansion. Contrary to the violent fictional portrayals, these towns faced challenges such as weather and disease, and later, transformations with the influence of community organization and morality led by middle-class women.
Step-by-step explanation:
A few of the old West "cowtowns" include Abilene, Dodge City, and Wichita in Kansas, as well as Greeley, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. These towns thrived during the height of the cattle drives as cowboys sought to transport beef via railroad to urban markets in the East. Men like Joseph G. McCoy were instrumental in developing these towns by building essential infrastructure to support the booming cattle trade.
The reality of these cowtowns contrasts with the fictional portrayal of the Wild West. Violence, while present, was not the central feature; rather, issues like weather, disease, and economic stability were vital concerns. Nonetheless, towns like Abilene did undergo transformations as lawlessness was gradually replaced by community-organized efforts for morality and order, particularly with the arrival and influence of middle-class women and Protestant missionaries.