American frontier

American frontier

The cowboy, the quintessential symbol of the American frontier. Photo by John C. H. Grabill, c. 1887.
Date	17th to early 20th century 1607–1912 (territorial expansion) 1865–1917 (popular culture) 1865–1920 (Census Bureau)[1][2] 1860s–1910s (historians)[3][4][5] 1865–1890 (Turner's Thesis)[6][7]
Location	United States Historically in order of assimilation: Thirteen Colonies New Sweden New Netherlands New France New Spain Missouri Territory Vermont Republic Louisiana territory Rupert's Land Dakota Territory Nebraska Territory Spanish Florida Republic of Texas Oregon Country California Republic Colorado Territory Montana Territory Wyoming Territory Utah Territory Oklahoma Territory Indian Territory New Mexico Territory Arizona Territory Alaska

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The American frontier, also known as the Old West, and popularly known as the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial settlements in the early 17th century and ended with the admission of the last few contiguous western territories as states in 1912. This era of massive migration and settlement was particularly encouraged by President Thomas Jefferson following the Louisiana Purchase, giving rise to the expansionist attitude known as "manifest destiny" and historians' "Frontier Thesis". The legends, historical events and folklore of the American frontier, known as the frontier myth, have embedded themselves into United States culture so much so that the Old West, and the Western genre of media specifically, has become one of the defining features of American national identity.