We are so familiar with the map of the United States that our state borders seem as much part of nature as mountains and rivers. Yet you may be surprised how politics, wars, geological features, bad surveys, battles between states, and petty grievances played into how our states got their shapes. For example: Why are many of the northeastern states so small compared to the other states? Why is Vermont not considered one of the original 13 states? Why is there a West Virgina but not an East Virginia? Why does Oklahoma have that long skinny panhandle… wouldn’t it make more sense for Texas to have that land? Why does Missouri have a boot heel on their southern border? And why did Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan gang-up and take land away from Wisconsin?

Join us for this four-part in-person series of “How The States Got Their Shapes” for answers to these and other questions as we explore how all 50 states received their shapes. Learn how we struggled as a young nation to develop from over-sized territories to more equally sized states.

Our presenter will be Brad Keyes, amateur historian.