|
Post by Timeblue on Sept 10, 2017 11:58:19 GMT
Why do some inland states have totally straight borders and others have natural borders?
|
|
|
Post by eloneen on Sept 10, 2017 12:27:47 GMT
it depends on the region, according to my history buff hubby. Western states had lots of straight line borders, created by federal legislation in some cases, before they were settled by "pioneers." In more eastern states, surveyors used natural borders and also set artificial borders between areas that were already populated by the colonists. Probably not a very satisfying answer, but it's the best we've got off the top of our heads. Here's a cool TV series about the histories of various states. I haven't seen it, but it looks like fun! I think this is where Helmut83 watched the series about the Hatfields and the McCoys. Something cool to watch as a family the next time school is cancelled due to weather. www.history.com/shows/how-the-states-got-their-shapes
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Sept 10, 2017 12:40:14 GMT
Thanks Eloneen x
|
|
|
Post by 88keys on Sept 10, 2017 17:12:33 GMT
Our forefathers drank a lot.
|
|
|
Post by Helmut83 on Sept 10, 2017 18:05:28 GMT
Just to add a few points to eloneen's very good answer: - Straight borders typically follow a parallel and meridian, although there are a few diagonal borders. In those cases I guess the border must be defined as an imaginary line between two points, and it must be more complicated to find exactly where the it passes. - Natural borders are most times rivers, although in areas with mountains watersheds are often used too. Watersheds are the lines that make the water from the rain flow downhill to one side or the other and they are typically mountain ridges.
|
|
|
Post by eloneen on Sept 10, 2017 18:31:29 GMT
Our forefathers drank a lot. That, too! lol
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Sept 10, 2017 22:05:16 GMT
Colorado and Wyoming are almost perfect squares whilst Oklahoma has that odd shaped bit top left...
|
|
|
Post by eloneen on Sept 10, 2017 22:35:06 GMT
Colorado and Wyoming are almost perfect squares whilst Oklahoma has that odd shaped bit top left... I lived in OK for a couple of years right out of college-- not the greatest place to live IMO. The panhandle was once a part of Texas, which had to give it up when it wanted to join the Union in the 1840s as a slave state because of existing laws about how far north slavery could extend. That area was a neutral territory for a while, and when Oklahoma was "settled" in 1889, it became a part of that territory.
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Sept 10, 2017 22:46:34 GMT
Quick question for you (no googling) which two states have the most borders with other states?
|
|
|
Post by eloneen on Sept 10, 2017 22:50:48 GMT
Quick question for you (no googling) which two states have the most borders with other states? No clue. I have a terrible visual memory. I know they must be fairly large inland states.
|
|
|
Post by babyzoomer on Sept 10, 2017 22:52:48 GMT
Our forefathers drank a lot. Four fathers? I only had one....
(But I believe we had four bears....)
Four give me..
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Sept 10, 2017 22:56:14 GMT
Quick question for you (no googling) which two states have the most borders with other states? No clue. I have a terrible visual memory. I know they must be fairly large inland states. Looking at my map,they are not that big....
|
|
|
Post by eloneen on Sept 10, 2017 22:59:09 GMT
OK, I think I know because after I responded I asked my son if he knew (he's a geography whiz). He didn't know off the top of his head, but he stopped playing his video game long enough to look it up and tell me. He said Missouri and Tennessee. Is that right? I did not verify.
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Sept 10, 2017 23:00:20 GMT
That's correct Eloneen,top marks to your son!
|
|
|
Post by eloneen on Sept 10, 2017 23:01:14 GMT
|
|