We are so familiar with the map of the United States that our state borders seem as much a part of nature as mountains and rivers. Even the odditiesthe entire state of Maryland(!)have become so ingrained that our map might as well be a giant jigsaw puzzle designed by Divine Providence.How the States Got Their Shapesis the first book to tackle why our state lines are where they are. Here are the stories behind the stories, right down to the tiny northward jog at the eastern end of Tennessee and the teeny-tiny (and little known) parts of Delaware that are not attached to Delaware but to New Jersey. Written by Mark Stein. Paperback;334 pages.

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