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Place Name
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Santa Fe Trail
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Place Status (Type)
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trail
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Location
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Missouri, United States, North America
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Latitude
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unknown
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Longitude
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unknown
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Santa Fe Trail
, important caravan route of the W U.S.,
extending c.780 mi/1,255 km from Independence,
Mo., SW to Santa Fe, N.Mex. Independence and Westport, Mo., were the
chief points where wagons, teams, and supplies were obtained. From
there, the trail led 150 mi/241 km SW to
Council Grove, Kansas (KS), which was the main wagon train organization
point. Crossing the Kansas plains to the Arkansas R., the trail then
followed the river to its fork near Dodge City, Kansas (KS). The Mountain
Div. of the trail in the N continued to hug the river W to Bents Fort
(now a natl. historic site); turning S, it passed over its most rugged
part, including the Raton Pass. The Cimarron or Cutoff Div.
of the trail in the S, a more direct route, crossed the Great Plains
from the Arkansas R. to Fort Union, N.Mex., where it rejoined the N
route. Although less rugged, the S route was dry, with poor grass and
little wildlife. By the early 19th cent. small trapping parties had
reached Santa Fe, then under Span. rule; but they were forbidden to
trade. In Nov. 1821, William Becknell, a trader, returned with news
that Mexico was free and Santa Fe welcomed trade. Early in 1822 he left
Mo. for Santa Fe with the 1st party of traders. From then on, annual
wagon caravans, usually leaving in early summer, made the 40-60-day
trip over the trail and returned after a 4-5-week stay in Santa Fe. An
increasing amount of goods was taken to Santa Fe each year. In 1850 a
monthly stage line was started bet. Independence and Santa Fe over the
N route. In 1880 the Santa Fe RR reached Santa Fe, which marked the
death of the trail.
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