How the States Got Their Shapes - Season 1

How the States Got Their Shapes - Season 1

Season 1

Network
Episodes10
DatesMay 3, 2011 - Jul 12, 2011
Next Season

Episodes

A River Runs Through It
Season 1Episode 160 min

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.
May 3, 2011
The Great Plains, Trains and Automobiles
Season 1Episode 260 min

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?
May 10, 2011
Force of Nature
Season 1Episode 360 min

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?
May 17, 2011
State of Rebellion
Season 1Episode 460 min

State of Rebellion

How did the most rebellious states took shape? How did they earn their outsized features and outspoken reputations. For instance, why does Montana looks like it took a bite out of Idaho? Why wasn't Texas broken up into five states? And why exactly do we have not one but two Carolinas?
May 24, 2011
Living On The Edge
Season 1Episode 560 min

Living On The Edge

Mysterious or fringe areas and how they shaped the states are examined. States include Nevada; Florida; Missouri; and Georgia.
Jun 7, 2011
Use it or Lose It
Season 1Episode 660 min

Use it or Lose It

The role of politics is examined. States include Ohio; and Missouri. Also: Washington, D.C.
Jun 14, 2011
Church and States
Season 1Episode 760 min

Church and States

The influence of religion is considered. States include Utah; and Kansas; and New England states.
Jun 21, 2011
A Boom with A View
Season 1Episode 860 min

A Boom with A View

The influences of money and prosperity are examined. States include Wisconsin; North Carolina; and North Dakota.
Jun 28, 2011
Culture Clash
Season 1Episode 960 min

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.
Jul 5, 2011
Mouthing Off
Season 1Episode 1060 min

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?
Jul 12, 2011

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