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The Homestead Act of 1862, which had been signed earlier during the war, begins to see significant use as former soldiers and others seek land in the Great Plains. -
April 9: Confederate forces surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, officially ending the Civil War.
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The cattle drive era begins, with herds of cattle being driven from Texas up through the Great Plains to railheads in the north for shipment to markets.
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The development of barbed wire and other fencing materials makes it easier to enclose and protect large tracts of land for farming.
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The buffalo hunting era peaks in the Great Plains, leading to the near-extinction of the buffalo population.
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The first large-scale wheat farming operations begin in the Great Plains, particularly in areas like Kansas and Nebraska.
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The population of the Great Plains explodes as more and more settlers arrive to farm the fertile land. -
Drought conditions begin to emerge in some parts of the Great Plains, foreshadowing future challenges with water supply. -
The construction of irrigation systems begins in some areas to counter the effects of drought.
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The Oklahoma Land Run of 1889 and subsequent land rushes bring tens of thousands of settlers to the area.
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The Dust Bowl era of the 1930s hits the Great Plains hard, with severe drought and wind erosion causing widespread crop failures and displacement. -
Federal programs like the Soil Conservation Service are established to help farmers restore and protect their land.
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After the Dust Bowl, many farmers adopt more sustainable farming practices, such as crop rotation and terracing.