Many individuals were moving into homes with private yards and trees for the first time. Suburban settlements began naming streets after trees and plants as a result of the rising suburban tendency and the greater significance people placed on nature (like Elm or Vine or Magnolia). Also, since cities tended to grow around railways or ports, they needed names to give them identity. Names like Grove, Park, and Boulevard came into common use. Trees were also used to mark boundaries. A tree stood in for a stone when there was no room for both, such as along a fence line or in a property dispute. Trees were also used as markers when there was no other way to identify a location quickly. For example, when soldiers were sent out on patrol, a tree would be chosen to represent their unit instead of giving each man his own flag. Finally, trees were important to Native Americans who lived in the area before Europeans arrived. They used all parts of the tree, including wood, food, and medicine, so they needed ways to identify them. Giving trees unique names was one way people showed respect and gratitude to these powerful plants. Since then, trees have been important to many cultures for similar reasons. People have named streets after trees because of their value and need for protection. Whether you're in America or India, it's likely there is a street that bears your name because of its relationship with you.