In John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, what is the setting?

The setting of Of Mice and
Men is California during the Great
Depression.

The book starts near Salinas,
California along the central coast.  The men are headed to a ranch, after having been
run out of Weed in Northern California.

Steinbeck begins by
painstakingly describing the nature in the Salinas
valley.

A few
miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs
deep and green. (ch 1)

During
the 1930s, times were tough.  Many people were traveling from ranch to ranch trying to
find work.  George and Lennie did this.  This is why they were headed to a new ranch. 
They could never stay in one place too long.  They and other migrant farm workers had
bigger dreams, but few chances.

Interestingly enough, the
entire book takes place over only a few days.  When the story begins, it is Thursday.
 We know this because George and Lennie arrive on a Friday.  It ends on a Sunday.  It is
a compact book with a compact time frame.