What was the Cherokee Strip primarily used for after the Civil War?

The Cherokee Strip, which became part of the Oklahoma Territory after the Civil War, was primarily used for ranching cattle. This region, characterized by its vast open spaces and fertile grasslands, provided an ideal environment for cattle ranching. Following the Civil War, there was a significant demand for beef in the Eastern United States, which drove many ranchers to the area to take advantage of the available land for grazing their cattle.

Ranching became the dominant economic activity in the Cherokee Strip, as cattle could be raised extensively across its expansive landscape. This not only contributed to the local economy but also played a significant role in the broader development of the cattle industry in the American West during this period.

Options like growing crops, mining resources, or establishing settlements did occur in the region, but they did not become the primary use of the Cherokee Strip after the Civil War; rather, the landscape's suitability for ranching made it the key focus of economic activity there.