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Content: When the United States was being settled, these locations were very important trade centers. These cities have large ports where ships can load and unload their goods. From these ports, goods can then move to other locations by land or river. Trade and shipping are very important to the development of towns and cities. Shipping creates jobs, and communities develop around these locations. Take a look at the settlement locations on the map above. Use what you have learned about why people settle where they do and explain what is located near these settlements that would explain why these were located where they are. When at all possible, people chose to settle near the water and mountains. Mountains provided protection from possible attack from invaders. Mountains also provided protection from weather elements.