2007-05-19 06:18:37 · 10 answers · asked by dragonskin2000 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
In many cases terrain was the actual deciding factor.
2007-05-19 06:21:36 · answer #1 · answered by Phineas J. Whoopee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Up to 1787 it was terrain as previously stated by other responders. Rivers, mountains, hills etc. formed barriers and that was where lines were drawn. After 1787 the U.S. adopted the township range grid system which was a method of land distribution and measurement that was loosely tied to longitude and latitude. From that point on the borders became more regular. Again, there were major physical features that determined some borders like the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, the Great Lakes the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Columbia and Rio Grande Rivers. If the lines of a state are straight they were determined by the township range grid system. About the same time statehood requirements based on population were established and as a result the people in an area were able to fix the limits of their territory before it became a state.
2007-05-19 06:28:01 · answer #2 · answered by baadevo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its all been historic. The first colonies set up their own borders. The borders of some used to extend theoretically across all of the continent to the Pacific Ocean. In some places natural geography determined borders, like rivers between Ohio and Kentucky for example, or Oregon and Washington. A big grid was put over the west, that is why so many western states are angular in shape.
2007-05-19 06:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by jxt299 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Factors such as natural boundaries, treaties, and surveys are all played a part. In the end, however, statehood, including area encompassed, was determined by Congress.
2007-05-19 09:14:08 · answer #4 · answered by Caesar 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about Lewis and Clark and their unreal trips to map the areas of America??
2007-05-19 12:24:04 · answer #5 · answered by lilabner 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are 50 states and 50 different explanations.
2007-05-19 06:22:39 · answer #6 · answered by professorc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of different people. Most are dead now I should think but perhaps their surviving families may be able to tell you the stories. Would be a fantastic book!
2007-05-23 01:48:29 · answer #7 · answered by MI5 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
many were decided on the course of rivers, mountains etc. a few were actually surveyed out.
2007-05-19 06:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by David B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joking:
A man with a ruler and a map
2007-05-19 07:13:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nature
2007-05-19 06:21:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋