Most of the settlement in the colonies was along the coastline with less population farther inland.
The 13 colonies were settled by the British and the colonies were based on mercantilism. Being trade was so important, many remained on the coastline to create port cities and trading centers to import and export goods to and from England. Settlement inland was more spread out because many of the settlers on the western part of the colonies were farmers.
By the Revolution, the colonies were getting cramped and new land was needed. The colonies were banned from expanding beyond the Appalachian Mountains by the Proclamation of 1763. Following the Revolutionary War, Americans would quickly go over the mountain range to settle new land. Immigrants would also come to take advantage of new farm land and opportunities in the US.
