Early American Rates of Travel

Nice historical perspective. This may also explain why administrative units (states, counties, etc.) in the east are typically smaller than in the west. As travel speeds increased, the size of administrative units could expand.

One quibble: As a former Michigander, I wonder whether the travel distances around the Great Lakes are accurate in this map. Wouldn’t lake boats reduce travel distances there in the same way that Atlantic/Gulf water travel visibly reduces travel times along the seaboard?