How the States Got Their Shapes

If you've ever wondered why the 50 states have the shapes they do' this book's for you. In a light' accessible style (aimed at family as well as adult markets)' Mark Stein unpacks the mysteries state by state' line by line. Why are some states boringly square' and others' like Texas and California' truly "outsized." How can Maryland possibly be - is that even a shape? HOW THE STATES GOT THEIR SHAPES is packed with fun oddities and trivia' but you'll also encounter the major fault lines of American history through the fresh lens of geographic disputes' military skirmishes' and land grabs.