Why were settlements started in places like Vegas and Pheonix if they weren’t connected to a river that connected to the ocean like the Mississippi River for trade and had no viable farmland?

Question

Why were settlements started in places like Vegas and Pheonix if they weren’t connected to a river that connected to the ocean like the Mississippi River for trade and had no viable farmland?

In: 4650

Answer 1

Sorry if this was stated already but some cities like Denver were settled because they were a convenient resting point before pioneers crossed the mountains to the west. Some ended up staying. It probably was a good business, selling provisions to the pioneers and repairing their wagons.