Trans-Appalachia facts for kids
The Trans-Appalachia region is a historical area in the United States. It lies west of the Appalachian Mountains and stretches towards the Mississippi River. This area was very important during the early days of American settlement, especially during frontier times.
It was never an official territory or political unit. Today, this region mostly includes parts of western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and western Virginia. The name "trans-Appalachia" isn't used much anymore. A similar name, "trans-Allegheny," refers to the Allegheny Mountains, which are the northern part of the Appalachians.
Early Journeys into Trans-Appalachia
In the mid-1700s, many Americans wanted to start new lives in the wilderness. They traveled west over the Appalachian Mountains using several main roads.
- People from New England followed the Mohawk Trail into western New York.
- Travelers from Philadelphia took Forbes' Road to Pittsburgh. From Pittsburgh, they could travel west on the Ohio River.
- From Baltimore, settlers used Braddock's Road to reach Pittsburgh.
- Settlers from the Middle Atlantic states used the Cumberland Road (also called the National Road).
- Southerners used either the Great Valley Road or the Richmond Road through the mountains. These roads led to the Cumberland Gap.
- From the Cumberland Gap, they could take the Wilderness Road north into what is now Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. Daniel Boone was hired by the Transylvania Company to create the Wilderness Road.
Growing Populations in Trans-Appalachia
Between 1790 and 1810, many people moved west into the region south of the Ohio River. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was an important law. It said that slavery was not allowed in the states north of the Ohio River.
- By 1795, about 75,000 people lived in Kentucky.
- By 1830, hundreds of thousands of settlers lived in the region. This area included the Michigan Territory and new states.
- Ohio had 1,000,000 people.
- Indiana had almost 350,000 people.
- Illinois had more than 150,000 people.
