Before Europeans came to North America, the Eastern United States was covered in deciduous forests. White oak was one of the most widespread species, more prevalent than other varieties like red oak or chestnut oak. Once settlers arrived, they systematically cleared and harvested many of the native forests of the northeast. While many of those forests have since returned, they remain relatively young in many cases. That means that they consist of faster-growing species and that it will still take some time for the slow-growing white oak to return to its former prominence.