 In the 1890s, the Canadian Northern Railway built a line on the east side of the escarpment which was eventually terminated in the Red Deer River Valley at Erwood in 1900.The building of this railroad led to the establishment of the forestry industry in this region, which overtook trapping as the main economic sector of the region.Throughout the 20th century, people began immigrating to the region to farm on the east and west sides of the range, and also in the river valleys.