Introduction 

---

This website is a spatial analysis of the westward expansion of the United States through time.  We trace the  the addition of major land acquisitions and the admittance of new states to the union from 1776 until present.  At 1776 the United States only comprised land east of the Appalachian mountains.  The western border of United States steadily progressed to the Pacific Ocean.  Meanwhile, it also stretched north and south in some areas, eventually taking its present day shape.  Our maps show the stages in which this change took place.   As well as land acquisition, we have included the formation of boundaries within the nation as each state entered the union.   Key  View Maps Sources