A further obstacle was that most of the land in New England had already been settled by this time. Consequently, ambitious farmers had little opportunity to expand their farm holdings. Many chose to leave the area for cheaper, more fertile, and more plentiful farmlands in the Midwest and West. By the last quarter of the century, however, the best farmlands in the West were also taken. An increasing percentage of migrants from rural New England subsequently moved into urban areas.
American cities had expanded a great deal by this time. As the twentieth century approached, employment opportunities became more plentiful and diverse than ever before. The many factories, retail stores, and other types of businesses located in cities needed workers to fill a multitude of positions. In addition, the city offered a much wider array of social and cultural activities than the rural community did. Restaurants, theaters, and museums provided varied sources of stimulation, and a city dweller lived among different types of people. Farm areas had a more homogeneous population than this and far fewer recreational diversions.
Another reason people left for urban areas was the increasing mechanization of the farm.
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