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TVPGHDHow the States Got Their Shapes30mStory Television

How the U.S. is divided politically and what happens to the states caught in the middle.

How the U.S. is divided politically and what happens to the states caught in the middle.

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How the States Got Their Shapes

S1, EP8 "A Boom With a View"

How Green Bay helped carve the border with Canada; what football has to do with fur; is North Carolina the real Golden State; why everyone should move to North Dakota.

How the States Got Their Shapes

S1, EP5 "Living on the Edge"

Behind blank spots like Area 51; what possessed the citizens of Key West to secede from Florida; old missile bunkers turned into dream homes; a county that was left off Georgia's quarter.

How the States Got Their Shapes

S1, EP7 "Church and States"

Could Utah have been bigger than Texas?; how religion shattered New England into little shapes; the Civil War's origin in Kansas.

How the States Got Their Shapes

S2, EP1 "Red State vs. Blue State"

How the U.S. is divided politically and what happens to the states caught in the middle.

The United States is like a giant jigsaw puzzle, with each state having a uniquely shaped border to fit into its neighboring states. Americans are familiar with each state's shape, but how did those shapes come about? That's what this series, hosted by former "Daily Show" correspondent Brian Unger, explains. Unger crisscrosses the country talking to local experts and everyday people in search of the stories behind the boundaries. Religion, transportation and Mother Nature are just a few of the factors that have caused the states' borders to evolve over time, some of which may be continuing to evolve.
Original Air Date: May 3, 2011
Genres: DocuseriesTV Series
Rating: TVPG
Playback: HD
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