Ray Allen Billington bol americký historik zameraný na históriu amerického pohraničia a amerického Západu. Stal sa jedným z popredných obhajcov „Frontier Thesis“ Fredericka Jacksona Turnera v rokoch 1950 až 1970 a rozšíril oblasť histórie amerického Západu. V roku 1961 bol spoluzakladateľom Western History Association.
When it appeared in 1949, the first edition of Ray Allen Billington's Westward Expansion set a new standard for scholarship in western American history, and the book's reputation among historians, scholars, and students grew through four subsequent editions. This abridgment and revision of the fifth edition focuses on the Trans-Mississippi frontier.
Recognized for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. Scholars have deemed it essential, highlighting its importance in understanding historical contexts and societal developments.