Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key locations Billy the Kid visited during his short but legendary life:

1. New York City (Born 1859)

Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty, is believed to have been born in New York City. Though little is known about his early years, he likely spent some time in the crowded tenements before his family moved west.

2. Wichita, Kansas & Indiana (Mid-1860s)

His family moved west to Kansas, where his mother sought better opportunities. Wichita was a growing frontier town at the time. Some reports also suggest that they spent time in Indiana before continuing further west.

3. Santa Fe, New Mexico (1873)

After his mother, Catherine McCarty, remarried William Antrim, the family settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was here that Billy, still a young teenager, experienced life in the rugged Southwest.

4. Silver City, New Mexico (Early 1870s)

Following his mother’s death from tuberculosis in 1874, Billy was orphaned and became involved in petty crime. Silver City was a mining boomtown, and it’s here that he was first arrested for stealing food. His life of crime began when he later stole clothing and guns, leading him to flee town.

5. Arizona Territory (1875-1877)

Billy traveled to Arizona, where he worked as a ranch hand and gambler. He got into trouble again in Camp Grant, where he killed a blacksmith named Frank “Windy” Cahill in a fight, making him a fugitive.

6. Lincoln County, New Mexico (1877-1878)

Billy fled back to New Mexico and became involved in the Lincoln County War, a violent feud between rival factions. He became affiliated with John Tunstall and his group, “The Regulators,” after Tunstall was murdered by a rival group linked to the powerful Murphy-Dolan faction. The ensuing violence made Billy one of the most wanted men in the territory.

7. Fort Sumner, New Mexico (Late 1870s)

Billy frequently stayed in Fort Sumner, where he had friends and allies. This small settlement was one of his safe havens. He spent time gambling, rustling cattle, and evading the law. He was also romantically linked to a local Mexican woman.

8. Las Vegas, New Mexico (Captured in 1880)

Sheriff Pat Garrett captured Billy the Kid in December 1880 near Fort Sumner. He was transported to Las Vegas, New Mexico, and later to Santa Fe.

9. Santa Fe, New Mexico (1880-1881)

Billy was imprisoned in Santa Fe before being sentenced to hang for the murder of Sheriff William Brady during the Lincoln County War. He managed to delay his execution by writing letters appealing for clemency.

10. Lincoln, New Mexico (Escape in April 1881)

While awaiting execution in Lincoln, New Mexico, Billy made a daring escape, killing two deputies in the process. This was one of the most legendary jailbreaks of the Wild West.

11. Fort Sumner, New Mexico (Death in 1881)

Billy returned to Fort Sumner, where he continued to hide. On the night of July 14, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked him down and shot him in the dark at Pete Maxwell’s ranch. Billy the Kid was buried in Fort Sumner Cemetery.