Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #329468 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

A Quick Look at the Reasons for Boundary Twists, Turns, and Quirks

This book describes more boundary quirks than you have probably ever noticed. If nothing else, you'll know the edges of your state better after looking at this research work.

There are overall explanations that account for the bulk of the boundaries such as the original colonial charters from England and other nations, foreign treaties (such as the one ending the French and Indian War), land purchases (such as the ones for Louisiana and Alaska), borders inherited from England and Spain, borders developed by independent nations (Texas and California), borders affected by slavery (including West Virginia seceding from Virginia), and lines that were disputed and resolved among various states.

You'll learn about surveying mistakes, battles over resources, disagreements about which river branch is the main one, and lots of goofy compromises.

In checking out the states where I have lived, I found only one surprise that I didn't know about. So you may not learn as much as you hope about your home area. But you'll probably learn a lot about places where you rarely go.

If you read this book just for two or three states, that's a mistake. The information isn't all that details or well documented. Check it out of the library if that's your intention.

How the States got their Shapes
Though I'm English I hugely enjoyed this book. It explained many things I've never understood and a whole lot more. Anyone outside the US who is fascinated by maps and, like me, loves America will similarly enjoy it.