Transportation innovations, like the steam engine, railroads, and later, cars, changed how people moved. These new ways to travel made it easier and faster to go long distances.
In the 19th century, railroads opened the West, attracting many to new lands for farming and jobs. The rise of cars in the 20th century led to suburban growth, as people could live farther from work.
Overall, better transport pulled people to new places, reshaping where they lived and worked in the U.S.