[RandyT0001]

Average speeds were about 4-5 km per hour by foot, horse or wagon. The choice of foot, horse or wagon depended on wealth and necessary carrying capacity required to conduct the business that was the purpose of the travel (reporting a crime to the sheriff, buying a few small packages, or buying lots of lumber, etc.). Of course, horses and wagons can travel slightly faster, maybe 5-7km per hour. A person would travel about six-seven hours during the shorter winter days and up to about nine hours during longer summer days. Travel times were adjusted so that one could spend a few hours in town to conduct business. One would travel half the total time, about 16-22km into town, conduct business, then travel the 16-22km back home within a day. This defined the size of counties in England and the US until the advent of the railroad and automobile in the 19th century. County seats were usually located at the center of the county. Because of this county seats tended to be the bigger towns. Counties were about 30 to 45 kilometers across with some adjustments made for terrain. Few people left the county into which they were born.

Traders could also move from one county seat to the next one within about a day's travel.