Introduction to Pioneer Life

This section on Prairie Fans (Pioneer Guide to life on the Prairie) was written by Vicki Wahl and Lennon Parker

This introduction page provides an overview and sense of how much changed in 100 short years during the 19th century.

The frontier of the United States was considered anything beyond the westernmost settlement at any time in the expansion history. The process of extending the frontier further west is considered to have began in 1607 with the settlement of Jamestown and ended around 1890, when no more land was available for homesteaders to settle.

The movement from the Atlantic coast across the 3,000 miles of our country covered wilderness, deserts and mountains until finally the Pacific Ocean was reached. This movement averaged only 10 miles a year. By 1820, all land east of the Mississippi was separate states or territories. The furthest settlement west was a fort at Tucson, Arizona.. but little habitation or settlement was between the Mississippi and that fort. From 1820 to 1850 a wave of pioneer settlers moved beyond the Mississippi homesteading along the way. These were our pioneer ancestors and this site is dedicated to their life.

Design by Lennon Parker