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The historic 2,170-mile (3,490 km)[2] Oregon Trail connected various towns along the Missouri River to Oregon's Willamette Valley. It was used during the 19th century by Great Plains pioneers who were seeking fertile land in the West and North.
As the trail developed it became marked by numerous cutoffs and shortcuts from Missouri to Oregon. The basic route follows rivers, valleys, grass and water since they were absolutely necessary.
While the first few parties organized and departed from Elm Grove, the Oregon Trail primary starting point was Independence, Missouri, or Kansas City (Missouri), on the Missouri River. Later, several feeder trails led across Kansas, and some towns became starting points, including Weston, Missouri, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Hutchinson, Kansas, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska.
History.com Staff. “Oregon Trail.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2017, www.history.com/topics/oregon-trail.
“Covered Wagons of the Oregon Trail.” 7 Mar. 2013, youtu.be/GdbnriTpg_M.