Steel fencing wire with sharp points twisted in at intervals, the cheapest fence ever invented. Joseph Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois patented the successful design in 1874, and it enclosed the American Great Plains within a generation: fencing that had cost timber and stone now cost wire, large livestock operations became workable with little labor, and the open range ended. A tool this simple redrew property, ranching and the map of the West. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Introduced YearJoseph Glidden's patent; earlier barbed designs existed without commercial success. OriginPatented in its successful form by Joseph Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois in 1874; credited by historians with ending open-range ranching on the Great Plains. 1 Connections
Associated With
Enabled ranchers to enclose vast territories and control cattle movement, ending the open range
Source Barbed Wire (Wikipedia)
Developed By
Source Joseph Glidden (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Barbed Wire (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section; history of the Glidden patentQuote, Lead section; history of the Glidden patent
Barbed wire is a type of steel fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strands.
Joseph Glidden (Wikipedia)
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.