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Date Range
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January 1, 1740 – January 2, 1740
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Title
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Wisconsin Glacial Stage Promotes Early Hunting and Trade
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What occurred
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The Wisconsin Glacial stage significantly influenced the environmental history of Geauga Country Ohio by laying the foundation of environmental conditions and transportation routes. Beginning in 98,000 BC and ending around 13,000 BC, the retreating ice sheets generated environmental prosperity. The glacier deposited fertile top soil and till while carving out Lake Erie and its major tributaries. The rich soil and untouched wilderness allowed trees - hemlock, white pine, maple, black walnut, chestnut and oak - as well as animals - beaver, elk, black bear and racoons - to thrive in significant numbers. The major rivers - Cuyahoga, Grand, and Chagrin - along with their sand ridge deposits provided early transportation routes for New England Euro-American settlers. Depletion of resources in New England forced settlers to expand in search of new resources for economic prosperity. Following these routes created by the glacier, settlers made it to Ohio. The fur and hide trade of black bears, beavers, and racoons skyrocketed due to minimal Native American presence allowing settlers to leave nearby forts. This had a significant impact on species like the beaver and black bear which became nearly extinct in Ohio and are still endangered to this day. The rich environment generated by the Wisconsin Glacial stage set the groundwork for Ohio's first settlers, but as resources depleted what factors kept people there and brought in new settlers?
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Location
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Geauga County, Ohio 44024
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Image Citation
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“Wisconsin Glacial Stage.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 23 Sept. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/science/Wisconsin-Glacial-Stage. - Stith, Bari. “History of Geauga County.” Geauga County Government, July 2012, https://www.co.geauga.oh.us/Departments/Archives/Holdings/County-History.
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Student name(s)
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Jackson Selent
