Illinois has long been a crossroads state at the heart of the nation, where major transportation routes including the Great Lakes, the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, the railroads, and the interstate highway system intersect. It was therefore fitting that Illinois stood at the forefront of developing the transcontinental Lincoln Highway. In the Midwest, sticky prairie soil known as "gumbo" provided an ideal contrast between concrete and mud, and the first seedling miles helped persuade the public that long-distance roads should be built not merely for local convenience but for the benefit of everyone, as roads for the nation rather than just the community. As paved roads spread, the country rapidly mobilized, and by 1927 a majority of families owned an automobile. Short, casual visits replaced all-day travel, farmers and villagers found it easy to dash to town for shopping or entertainment, and even high school sports became major social events for the community. Farmers also profited from early travelers trapped in wet stretches of road, especially "speeders" who raced along concrete sections at 35 mph only to sink deep into mud when the pavement ended.