1. How the States Got Their Shapes

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. 6 April 2010

We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. Every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America.