How the States Got Their Shapes S1:E4

A River Runs Through It

How has water has literally shaped the States? There's surprising history hidden in the blue, squiggly lines on the map. Did the founding fathers make a mistake along the Georgia Tennessee border? Can that boundary actually change because of water? Why does Maine have so much water? Why was Nevada was left high and dry? -- All these answers can be found in the unique shapes of these states.

The Great Plains, Trains, and Automobiles

The history of transportation is hidden in the lines of the map. From canals to trains and cars, how did getting around help draw the American map? Could Chicago have been in Wisconsin? Why are states out West or so big and boxy? And why did we almost had a state called Forgottonia?

Force of Nature

How have massive geological events helped create the American map? Long before the Founding Fathers drew the map, mother nature shaped some states. How did an asteroid create the border for three states and change history? How did glaciers plow the great plains and how did natural disasters continue to alter the map?

Living on the Edge

Mysterious or fringe areas and how they shaped the states are examined. States include Nevada; Florida; Missouri; and Georgia.

Use it or Lose it

The role of politics is examined. States include Ohio; and Missouri. Also: Washington, D.C.

Church and States

The influence of religion is considered. States include Utah; and Kansas; and New England states.

A Boom with a View

The influences of money and prosperity are examined. States include Wisconsin; North Carolina; and North Dakota.

Culture Clash

Conflict can sometimes arise between different cultures that share the same state. Find out how culture clashes all over the country have shaped our map.

Mouthing Off

We all live in the same country, so why do we sound do different? It's a matter of where you are on the map. Why didn't the southern accent exist until after the Civil War? How did California athletes end up coining so many new words? Why do we have so many different words for the same things -- like pop versus soda? Will one particularly strong accent cause New York to break up and create a 51st state?