1. Farmers and ranchers: They formed the majority of the frontier population. They cultivated crops and raised livestock to provide for their families and communities.
2. Trappers and hunters: These individuals primarily engaged in trapping animals for their fur which was a valuable commodity in the fur trade. They also hunted for food and to protect their settlements from predators.
3. Prospectors and miners: The allure of finding precious metals such as gold and silver enticed many people to venture into frontier territories. Prospectors searched for promising areas.
Miners worked the claims by extracting minerals from the earth