“Where Does The West Begin?”

Traditionally the American West has begun at the edge of the settled areas, always advancing with the sun. The Delaware River was the West of 1700; the Mississippi of 1820. Then the settlement of the Pacific Slope started the West coming east against the sun. So a new definition was born – instead of geographic barriers, social customs and economics dictated boundaries.

HERE THE WEST BEGINS

The James River is the dividing line between the humid and semi-arid territory. Here the annual precipitation is less than twenty inches. Agricultural practices change. Westward the farms become progressively larger – the towns and cities more generously spaced. Ranching overshadows farming. Scenes of rolling range land, miles of barbed wire fence, frequent watering places, distant buttes and mountains meet the eye. Boots and broad-brimmed hats become the style. It’s a great country! It’s the West!

To our first settlers, the Lakotas, who left us clean waters and abundant game; to the early Explorers who mapped the country and pointed the way; to the Homesteaders who brought their families and developed this vast area; to the rugged pioneers of yesteryear who through drought, blizzard, depression and times of abundance learned to live with the land, to establish and maintain homes, churches, schools, cities and sound government – this Marker is respectfully dedicated.

Beadle County, on State Fair Grounds (2006)