Settlement of the American grassland

This examination of the settlement geography of the interior American grassland reveals the importance of two fundamental relationships, that the largest share of its area is devoted to crop production, and that the economic potential of these prime farmlands was well-known during the railroad-building era. The author considers aspects of vegetation and settlement, migration patterns, the significance of the western plains, and town settlement, demonstrating the extent to which the present landscape of the American grassland reflects the history of human occupance at nearly every stage. He concludes that continuity, rather than change, will offer the more enduring perspective for the future of this area. -P.Hardiman