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Season 1 – How the States Got Their Shapes

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – How the States Got Their Shapes May 2011 History Special Interest Mystery & Thriller War Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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How the States Got Their Shapes — Season 1

How the States Got Their Shapes — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Brian Unger

Host

Sean Gallagher

Executive Producer

Abby Greensfelder

Executive Producer

Ann Carroll

Executive Producer

David McKillop

Executive Producer

Paul Cabana

Executive Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 3, 2011 A River Runs Through It A mistake made by the Founding Fathers affects the Georgia-Tennessee border; why Maine has so much water. Details Episode 2 Aired May 10, 2011 The Great Plains, Trains and Automobiles Why Chicago could have been in Wisconsin; why are states out West so big and boxy; Forgottonia. Details Episode 3 Aired May 17, 2011 Force of Nature How an asteroid created the border for three states; how glaciers that plowed the Great Plains altered the map. Details Episode 4 Aired May 24, 2011 State of Rebellion Why Montana looks like it took a bite out of Idaho; why Texas was broken up into five states; why are there two Carolinas. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 7, 2011 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. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 14, 2011 Use It or Lose It A corner of Washington, DC is stolen; Is Ohio a state?; why St. Louis isn't the nation's capital. Details Episode 7 Aired Jun 21, 2011 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. Details Episode 8 Aired Jun 28, 2011 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. Details Episode 9 Aired Jul 5, 2011 Culture Clash World War II preserves the shape of California; part of Maine becomes northern Massachusetts; Florida's cowboy tradition. Details Episode 10 Aired Jul 12, 2011 Mouthing Off Why southern accents didn't exist until after the Civil War; California athletes coin new words; pop versus soda; an accent that may cause New York to break up. Details

Season Info

Executive Producer
Sean Gallagher, Abby Greensfelder, Ann Carroll, David McKillop, Paul Cabana
Network
History
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
History, Special Interest, Mystery & Thriller, War
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 3, 2011