A number of Old West gangs left a lasting impression on American history. While rare, the incidents were retold and embellished by
dime novel and magazine authors during the late 19th and the early 20th century. The most notable shootouts took place on the
American frontier in
Arizona,
New Mexico,
Kansas,
Oklahoma, and
Texas. Some like the
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral were the outcome of long-simmering
feuds and rivalries, but most were the result of a confrontation between
outlaws and law enforcement.