At least some Stark settlers, such as Aaron Stark, had reached North America by 1650. The map at the left shows the areas of settlement and the country of origin of the majority of the settlers in that area. This map also illustrates that there was no distinct border between the U.S. and Canada. Although the land bridges between the countries are evident, it is also clear that settlement was primarilly in narrow areas along the coastlines at this time. Travel was primarily by ship.

By the end of the American Revolutionary War, there were 13 colonies in the United States. Although some of these colonies, such as New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts, bear the same names as some states today, the boundaries have altered in the interim.