- Cattle ranchers: The vast open range of the Great Plains provided ideal grazing land for cattle. Cattle ranching became a major industry in the West, and ranchers such as John Chisum and Charles Goodnight established large cattle empires.
- Railroad workers: The construction of the transcontinental railroad required a massive labor force. Many of these workers were Chinese immigrants, who faced harsh working conditions and discrimination.
- Mormons: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), led by Brigham Young, established a large Mormon community in the Salt Lake Valley in present-day Utah. The Mormons faced persecution in the East and sought religious freedom in the West.
- Hispanic settlers: Many Hispanic people settled in the West, especially in areas that had previously been part of Mexico. Hispanic settlers included both Mexican Americans and people from other Spanish-speaking countries, such as Spain, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
- African Americans: Although they faced discrimination and segregation, some African Americans also settled in the West. They worked in a variety of occupations, including mining, ranching, and farming.
- Women: Women played an important role in the settlement of the West. They worked as teachers, nurses, and homesteaders. They also established women's suffrage movements and fought for their rights.
- Native Americans: Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the West. They had lived there for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. Many Native American tribes were displaced or forced to live on reservations as settlers moved into their traditional lands.