How the States got their shapes

By Mark Stein

Do you live in The United States? Then at least one chapter on this book will interest you. I found them all engrossing. How the States got their shapes tells just that. It gives a quick history about how each state got it's North/South/East/West border.

The book is filled with interesting facts, maps, and humor. It's hard to say much about this book as everyone will probably be most interested in the stare they grew up in or live in. But in general I can say that the planners really thought out their reasons to why each group of states is the way it is. I say group because most states were Territories first and size wise these territories made up more than one finished state.

The government tried to make the states equal in size (relative), or resources. Some interesting things I found out. States willingly gave up land to get rid of gold bearing areas just as readily as others wanted that land. Bureaucracy, influence, bad surveyors, and whim all helped to decide the borders of the states. The original 13 states were not made equal in any way as they were made by royal charter.

I mentioned humor. Well yes this book has it. Stein tells us that the American West contains states whose borders were never tainted by colonial rule. President Polk secured his place as one of America's least remembered President by avoiding war and agreeing to a border with Britain (Canada) at 49 degrees after campaigning 54 40 or fight. Rhode Island is the only state in the union founded expressly for religious freedom. The fact that Rhode Island is also the smallest state gives one pause.

Oh and when was the last border settled? (Though there could conceivably be changes in the future.) In 1998 Ellis Island was split between NY and NJ due to NY using reclaimed land from the Hudson.

This is a well written, informative book that will give you insight and make you take a second look at the borders on a map.