The Texas Rangers were known as a law enforcement agency, but the group was actually formed to protect the frontiers of Texas from marauding Indians. There were Texas Rangers even before Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836.

The Rangers were officially formed on November 24, 1835. Legislation called for three companies of 56 men each to be commanded by a captain, a first, and a second lieutenant. A private's pay was $1.25 per day for "pay, rations, clothing, and horse services". All Rangers were to provide themselves with 100 pounds of powder and ball, as well as a good horse, saddle, rifle and blanket. Officers received pay comparable to officers in the United States Dragoons.

Rangers saw plenty of service guarding the borders from Indians and Mexican raiders from the days of the Republic to the beginning of the Mexican War. During the 22 month Mexican War, Rangers Samuel Walker, Rip Ford, John Coffee Hayes, and Ben McCulloch gained fame as they claimed victory after victory.

After the Civil War, the Texas Rangers became an efficient and quick acting law enforcement agency. Among the infamous outlaws that the force put out of business were Sam Bass, John Wesley Hardin, and King Fisher. For much of the Texas region's early history the Rangers acted as the only organized regular force of military or legal authority, and at any given time there were usually less than 500 of them. While their numbers were always small, their deeds loomed huge and they played a major role in shaping the destiny of Texas.

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