The Myth of the Murderous West

Killings were relatively rare.

Dodge City, 1878 had five killings during its most homicidal year. Deadwood’s most violent year had four killed. Tombstone had five. In the period from 1870 through 1885, Ellsworth, Dodge, Wichita, Abilene and Caldwell had a total of 45 killed. Compare that to the average daily homicides in Chicago or other major American cities today.