Named after the Cahokia Indians, the region of Kahokia was in fact inhabited by a variety of Sioux, Assiniboines and tribes that had absolutely nothing to do with the Cahokians. The land was claimed by the United States following the Canadian War and an eastern border was drawn with France in 1834. The territory, especially the area around the burgeoning frontier city of Winnipeg, was at the heart of the territorial dispute that eventually led to the Alaskan War. The area experienced a strong period of growth in the late 19th and early 20th century until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1904. Kahokia today remains an important state due to its proximity to the border between Canada and Alaska and its numerous railyard routes.