Why did the settlers settle where they did in the US?

[Johanna]

I posted in another thread

@Johanna

when I researched the history of my pioneer ancestors who moved west of the Alleghenies in 1788, I realized the significance of that big escarpment as a barrier to movement was when there were no roads over it in Pennsylvania (the only road over it went through Cumberland, Maryland), while my ancestors had to climb up it at what would become Altoona.

Then it became plain to see how a different dialect was bound to develop there in the early days, when it was a big pain in the ass to cross the Alleghenies at all, let alone hauling cargo. Which was the major reason contributing to the Whiskey Rebellion. Western Pennsylvania’s commerce was more closely connected (via rivers) with New Orleans than with Philadelphia.

@Patience McGuire 1788

After the steep ascent of the eastern face of the Allegheny Front, the west side sloped down more gently. To the west, the rugged land stayed at higher elevation, for now we were heading up into the inner reaches of this continent. Climbing up onto this tableland for us must be how ants would feel climbing up onto our kitchen table.

The weather up there on the west side of the mountain was chill, overcast, and windy compared to the mild conditions we’d come from by the eastern slopes.

—from my fictionalized account of my real ancestors.