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Cover of Before Texas: Florida's First Cattle Empire by Wm. E. McMullen II

Before Texas: Florida’s First Cattle Empire

The Cattle, Cowboys, and Trade That Built Florida’s Open-Range Legacy

By Wm. E. McMullen II

Before Texas: Florida’s First Cattle Empire tells the often-overlooked story of the cattle industry that developed in Florida long before cattle drives became symbols of the American West.

Beginning with cattle introduced during the Spanish colonial era, Florida’s herds adapted to a demanding landscape of heat, wetlands, pine flatwoods, insects, and seasonal storms. Generations of Florida cattlemen and cow hunters built an open-range culture around these hardy animals.

The story follows the people, places, and trade networks that turned cattle into one of Florida’s foundational industries. It explores frontier ranching, overland drives, Gulf ports, commerce with Cuba, and the communities shaped by the cattle economy.

Readers will encounter the distinctive tools and traditions of Florida cattle country, including cracking whips, working dogs, open-range roundups, and the difficult work of moving cattle through a landscape unlike the western plains.

Part of the Florida History Series — Before There Were Highways and Subdivisions.

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Why This Story Matters

Florida’s cattle history reaches back centuries and connects Spanish settlement, Indigenous and frontier communities, international trade, pioneer families, ports such as Punta Rassa, and the development of the state’s rural economy. It places Florida where it belongs in the larger story of American cattle ranching.

Inside the Book

  • The Spanish origins of cattle in Florida
  • Florida cow hunters and open-range traditions
  • How the landscape shaped cattle and ranching practices
  • Cattle drives, Gulf ports, and trade with Cuba
  • The people and communities behind Florida’s cattle economy
  • Why Florida’s cattle story began long before the celebrated western era

About the Author

Wm. E. McMullen II is a seventh-generation Floridian, author, educator, and business owner whose family is documented in territorial Florida by 1830. His work explores Florida history, agriculture, pioneer heritage, education, and practical nonfiction.

Explore more Florida history. Continue with Florida Learning Hub’s collection of books and articles about the people, places, and industries that shaped the state.

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