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Did You Know? 20 Quirky Facts About US State Borders
The United States’ state borders are filled with fascinating quirks, unusual stories, and surprising geographical oddities. From surveying errors to historical disputes, these boundaries tell interesting tales about American history and geography. Here are 20 intriguing facts about U.S. state borders that might surprise you.
1. Four Corners Monument Isn’t Quite Right
The famous Four Corners Monument, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet, is actually about 1,800 feet east of where it should be due to 19th-century surveying errors. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that the current location is the legal boundary.
2. Delaware’s Circular Border
Part of Delaware’s northern border is actually a perfect arc, known as the “Twelve-Mile Circle.” It’s the only circular state boundary in the United States, centered on the cupola of the Old New Castle Courthouse.
3. Michigan’s Toledo War
The state of Michigan and Ohio once had an armed conflict over a strip of land called the Toledo Strip. Michigan eventually surrendered its claim in exchange for the Upper Peninsula, which proved far more valuable due to its mineral deposits.
4. Kentucky Bend’s Isolation
A small portion of Kentucky, known as Kentucky Bend, is completely separated from the rest of the state by Missouri and can only be reached by land through Tennessee, thanks to a peculiar twist in the Mississippi River.
5. California’s Wandering Border
California’s eastern border with Nevada shifts slightly each year because it’s defined by the Colorado River, which naturally changes course over time.
6. Ellis Island Dispute
New York and New Jersey fought over Ellis Island for years until the Supreme Court ruled in 1998 that most of the island belongs to New Jersey, while the original island belongs to New York.
7. Point Roberts Anomaly
Point Roberts, Washington, is accessible by land only through Canada, created when the 49th parallel was established as the border between the U.S. and British territories.
8. Connecticut’s Southward Jut
Connecticut has a small panhandle that extends southward along New York’s eastern border, created due to colonial-era agreements and land disputes.
9. Minnesota’s Northwest Angle
The Northwest Angle of Minnesota is separated from the rest of the state by Lake of the Woods and can only be reached by land through Canada, resulting from a mapping error during border negotiations.
10. Tennessee’s Missing Mile
Due to a surveying error in 1818, Tennessee’s northern border was drawn approximately one mile south of where it should be, creating a small strip that technically should belong to Kentucky.
11. Rhode Island’s Name Length
The smallest state has the longest official name: “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” though in 2020, voters approved shortening it to just “Rhode Island.”
12. Virginia’s Western Counties
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War, creating irregular border patterns that still cause jurisdictional confusion in some areas.
13. Oklahoma’s Panhandle Origin
Oklahoma’s panhandle exists because Texas couldn’t have territory north of 36°30′ when it was admitted as a slave state, creating an unclaimed strip of land.
14. Maryland’s Weird Western Border
Maryland’s western border with West Virginia follows the meandering Potomac River, creating numerous small peninsulas and irregular patterns.
15. South Dakota’s Island
A change in the Missouri River’s course created a small piece of South Dakota that’s completely surrounded by Nebraska, though it remains under South Dakota’s jurisdiction.
16. Maine’s Disputed Territory
The Maine-New Brunswick border was settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, ending the bloodless Aroostook War over lumber rights.
17. Montana’s Triple Divide Peak
Montana’s Triple Divide Peak marks where two continental divides meet, making it one of the few places where water can flow to three different oceans.
18. Hawaii’s Moving Borders
Hawaii’s state boundaries technically change with volcanic activity, as new land created by lava flows automatically becomes state territory.
19. New Mexico’s Boot Heel
New Mexico’s “boot heel” in its southwestern corner was created to ensure a major mining town remained in the state rather than in Mexico.
20. Missouri’s Bootheel
Missouri’s bootheel was added to the state because a wealthy landowner in 1850 wanted his property to be part of Missouri rather than Arkansas.
Conclusion
These 20 quirky facts about U.S. state borders demonstrate how historical events, geographical features, surveying errors, and political compromises have shaped the unique boundaries we see today. From circular borders to isolated territories, these peculiarities make American geography fascinating and showcase the complex history of state boundary formation.