The Great Plains

Moving west, away from the busy cities of the Midwest are the beautiful Great Plains. Prairies covered in grasslands, lying west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, this area covers most of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. Ranching and Agriculture dominate the economies of the area, with most people referring it to "America's Heartland"

The Great Plains have a wide variety of weather throughout the year, with cold and harsh winters and hot, humid summers. The eastern Great Plains generally fall into the humid subtropical climate and the northern and central areas fall into the humid continental climate.

Thunderstorms are abundant in the summertime, which cause the people of the area to watch out for them during this time. Another natural hazard to the population of the Great Plains are tornadoes; the southeastern part of the region is also known as "Tornado Alley" due to the high frequency of tornadoes in the area.

The Great Plains are also home to the first Americans, successive indigenous cultures who are known to have inhabited the Great Plains for thousands of years. Historically, the Great Plains were the range of Bison and the Plains Indians, whose tribes included to Blackfoot, Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Comanche tribes. 

After railroads were built, many pioneers who were traveling west to find new opportunities began to settle the area. Much of the Great Plains became open range where cattle roamed free and ranching operations let anyone run cattle freely. Ranching began in Texas and gradually moved north, shipping their cattle eastward to the major cities in that area.