Cowboy Hats and More

While most people think cowboys originated in the United States, in truth, cowboys originated elsewhere but were popularized in America.  Cowboys are of Spanish descent, and the first cowboys were herders and rangers who rode across the rolling plains of Spain with their trusty horses and cowboy felt hats.  The need to drive vast herds of cattle came to the U.S. with the westward expansion, and soon cowboys were popularized in the Southwestern United States.  While there were not as many cowboys by the 1900s, the cowboy became an idol of America and the western world. 

Cowboys were made even more popular with the coming of actors like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, who popularized the Western movie.  Nowadays, Westerns are still quite a popular genre, with movies like 3:10 to Yuma (remake) and Appaloosa generating media buzz and significant revenues.  All this started with the classic cowboy model with their rugged appeal and spirit.