"A complex
mosaic of post oak and blackjack oak forests interspersed
with prairies, the Cross Timbers cover large portions of
southeastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, and north central
Texas. Home to Native Americans over several thousand
years, the Cross Timbers were considered a barrier to
westward expansion in the nineteenth century, until roads
and railroads opened up the region to farmers, ranchers,
coal miners, and modern city developers, all of whom changed
its character in far-reaching ways.
This landmark book describes the
natural environment of the Cross Timbers and interprets the
role that people have played in transforming the region.
Richard Francaviglia opens with a natural history that
discusses the region's geography, geology, vegetation, and
climate. He then traces the interaction of people and
the landscape, from the earliest Native American inhabitants
and European explorers to the developers and residents of
today's ever-expanding cities and suburbs. Many
historical and contemporary maps and photographs illustrate
the text.
Richard V. Francaviglia is Professor of History and Director
of the Center for Greater Southwestern Studies and the
History of Cartography at the University of Texas at
Arlington."
