Why were most American cities located along the Atlantic coast during first 50 years of independence?

Most American cities were located along the Atlantic coast during the first 50 years of independence because of the importance of maritime trade and transportation. The Atlantic coast provided access to major shipping routes, allowing for easy import and export of goods. Additionally, many of the early settlers in America came from Europe, and they naturally settled along the coast, where they could easily maintain contact with their home countries. Furthermore, the Atlantic coast had an abundance of natural resources, such as fish, timber, and fertile soil, which made it an ideal place to establish settlements and develop industries.