Trans-Appalachian Migration Routes

Introduction

List of Migration Routes

Internet Resources

Contact Information

Introduction

     The Appalachian Mountains, an older and smaller range than the Rockies, stretch nearly 1,500 miles from northeastern Alabama to northern Vermont and through which there are few natural passes.  This natural barrier considerably hindered early migration into the interior of North America.  By 1750, however, colonial fur traders, explorers, and land speculators had begun to cross over the Appalachians into Kentucky and Tennessee and return to eastern communities with tales of vast and rich lands to the west.

     The first migrants to cross the Appalachians soon discovered that the mountains were not the only obstacles to westward settlement.  Other factors were the Native-American inhabitants and the ongoing dispute between the British and French governments as to who controlled this area.  As such the migrations of British colonists beyond the mountains was a principal cause of the French and Indian War (1754-1761).

     After the war, migrants crossed the mountains in increasing numbers despite the British government's 1763 proclamation prohibiting settlement beyond the Appalachians. The British knew if the colonials continued their unrestrained encroachment upon Indian territory another Indian war would ensue, a situation they hoped to avoid. However, neither government prohibitions nor army blockades could stop the deluge of settlers that poured west after 1765.  Separated by mountain ranges and hundreds of miles from the center of political authority in the East, migrants such as Daniel Boone, and John Sevier followed their own designs and ignored government policies that they deemed to be inconsistent with their interests. Other routes through the Appalachians were also discovered during this time, including the Cumberland Gap, which afforded migrants access to eastern Kentucky and Tennessee.

     By 1775 the frontier had been pushed beyond the Appalachian Mountains, but renewed war with Indian tribes living in the Old Northwest and the western Carolinas, slowed the westward push into Tennessee. However, these conflicts as well as the American Revolutionary War did not completely curb westward migration.  Migrants continued to come west during this time some to escape the ravages of war along the east coast, but most still seeking land and opportunity settled in the western Carolinas and Kentucky.  At wars end in 1783, these migrants became the forerunners of American expansion into the Northwest Territory.

Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/westward-migration

Trans-Appalachian

Migration Routes

Generally these routes are defined crossing the Appalachian Mountains and having their terminus in present day Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

The LINKS in the following list will take you to either our web page or

Another  identified resource with more information about that migration route.  

NAME

FROM / TO

COMMENTS

Avery’s Trace

Kingston, TN / Nashville, TN

A major route used by settlers to reach the Cumberland Settlements in Tennessee from 1788 to the mid-1830s. Named for Peter Avery who had the road laid out along trails used by the Cherokee Indians.

Boone’s Trail

Salisbury, NC / Boonesboro, KY

Starts as Daniel Boone’s home on the Yadkin River. Was used by Boone between 1760 and 1775 to explore into Kentucky.

Cisco Road

Augusta, GA / Maryville, TN

see Unicoi Road

Great Emigrant Road

Philadelphia, PA / Cincinnati, OH & Greenville, SC

A term used by the Brethern Church to show the migration trails taken by 18^th century members. The routes commenced in from eastern Pa and ran south to Fort Chiswell in VA where it probably branched to Greenville, SC, and  northwest to Cincinnati, OH.  

Great Indian Warpath (TN)

Great Indian Warpath (WV)

James River-Kanawah Turnpike

Buchanan, VA /

Charlton Heights, WV

Built during the first half of 19^th century to facilitate portage of passenger and freight shipments between the western reaches of the James River via the James River and Kanawha Canal and the eastern reaches of the Kanawha River.

Jonesboro Road

New Bern, NC /

Jonesboro, TN

Migration route from the coast of North Carolina across the Appalachians to eastern Tennessee where it linked with the Knoxville Road.

Kanawah Trace

Ft. Chiswell, VA / Pt. Pleasant, WV

Aka. Kanawah Route

Knoxville Road

Bristol, TN / Knoxville, TN

Developed as a more direct path from the Clinch River to Knoxville by 1792. This road follows much of present day U.S. Route 11E, a distance of about 120 miles. 

Logan Trace

Wilderness Rd. NW / Stanford, KY

Northwest extension of the Wilderness Road

Maysville Turnpike

Maysville, KY /

Lexington, KY

Opened in 1835, a 64 mile road from Maysville to Lexington built along an old route to New Orleans.

Miami River Road

Buffalo, NY / 

Indiana & Kentucky

Nashville Road

Knoxville, TN /

Nashville, TN

An early migration route through Tennessee that linked with the Natchez Trace.

Old Northwest Turnpike

Winchester, VA / Parkersburg, WV

migration route to the Ohio River

Old Walton Road

Kingston, TN / Carthage, TN

an alternative route of Nashville Road

Richmond Road

Richmond, VA /

 Ft. Chiswell, VA

An early western migration route from the James River to the Great Wagon Road.

Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike

Staunton, VA /

Parkersburg, WV

225 mile road built during the first quarter of the 19^th century.  Follows much of today’s U.S. Route 250.

Unicoi Road

Augusta, GA /

Maryville, TN

Originally a Native-American trading path, this route starts at the highest point of navigation on the Savannah River.   Began use in the later 18^th century by migrant wanting to reach settlements near Maryville, TN. aka. Cisco Road

Virginia Turnpike

Richmond, VA /

Gauley Bridge, WV

Wilderness Road

Ft. Chiswell, VA /

 Louisville, KY

Opened in 1775 by Daniel Boone and widened into a wagon road by 1792 this early migration route through the Cumberland Gap links the Shenandoah and Ohio River Valleys. 

Internet Resources

We recommend that you use the following search engine and

external links  to obtain additional knowledge about this topic.  

• From Trail to Railway Through the Appalachians: Through the Appalachians, by Albert Perry Brigham, Published 1907, 188 pages

• History Of Fayette Co,, WV, Beginning of Public Highways

Contact Information

Email

Snail mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

Email

Pony Express:

Tom
27 Christopher Dr.
Burton, NB E2V3H4
Canada