[txhurl]

(4) there weren’t many trees from which to build houses.

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Is there something with the soil that trees just won’t grow? Always wondered why no trees.

[stefanbatory]

It was referred to early on as “The Great American Desert” for a very good reason. Not enough rainfall for forests to grow. Most crops now grown there are supported by irrigation.

[MasterGunner01]

I really don't know why there weren't a lot of trees on the prairie, but there weren't — at least not in the numbers out east. It could be rainfall and the soil conditions just don't promote forests that are a prime source of building materials. There were trees on the prairie and some scraggly forests. However, they were not extensive so that all-wood frame houses could be built in large numbers. As the railroads moved west, they brought building materials from the east to to the prairies. As soon as more and better materials were available, the sod huts and houses went away.