Marietta Became America’s First Permanent Settlement in the Northwest Territory

The westward expansion of the United States accelerated in 1788 when American pioneers crossed the Appalachian Mountains and established Marietta, Ohio, the first permanent American settlement in what was then known as the Northwest Territory. Following the American Revolution, families seeking opportunity moved beyond the Appalachian Mountains into the frontier. The Northwest Territory Shaped America’s GrowthCreated by Congress, the Northwest Territory became the nation’s first incorporated territory. A Path Toward the Louisiana PurchaseThe development of the Northwest Territory also influenced the young federal government to pursue additional western expansion. Marietta Became America’s First Permanent Settlement in the Northwest Territory