What was the real "Old West" like?

by KushTheKitten

We all know the Hollywood Legends, but what was it really like to live in the 19th century Old West?

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Contrary to the Hollywood legends where there was a shootout on every corner, gunfights in the old west were seemingly pretty few and far between. Source 1

Many of the fights were also romanticized to look better on screen. For example: One of the most famous, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, lasted only about 30 seconds and didn't even take place at the O.K. Corral. It happened at a vacant lot beside the Corral. However, 3 were killed and 3 were wounded in that short duration.

Source 2 Source 3