How the Wild West Could Have Been Tamed with Better Urban Planning

“This town ain’t big enough for the both of us…” – Nick Grindell, The Western Code, Columbia Pictures, 1932

The Wild West was the land of cowboys, outlaws, and gunfights at high noon. It was a time when the bravest staked their claim in the rugged, untamed frontier, where tumbleweeds rolled, and saloons were the center of the universe. However, much of the conflict, including the showdowns, duels, and dramatic standoffs, could have been avoided if cowboy city planners had simply made their towns big enough for everyone.

Let’s paint a picture, shall we? Imagine a bustling Wild West town. You’ve got your saloon, your general store, the sheriff’s office, and about five other buildings crammed into a dusty little strip. The problem? It’s not that cowboys were inherently violent or that outlaws were just waiting to cause trouble. No, the issue was that these towns were so darn small, everyone was stepping on each other’s boots — literally and figuratively.

Take the classic showdown scenario. Two cowboys standing in the middle of the street, hands twitching over their holsters, ready to draw. Now, why did they have to settle their differences this way? Because there was no room to walk away! In a town the size of a postage stamp, where could they go? They couldn’t just avoid each other…