How the States Got Their Shapes

The History Channel's series "How the States Got Their Shapes" is a great look at the not-so-distant history of why our States are shaped the way they are. Some of the divisions make sense, like the Mississippi River dividing Illinois from Iowa, while others have split communities (literally!). For example, one town has a tavern where the state border runs directly through the center of the bar! You can consume alcohol on the one side where the bar is, but the bathrooms are located in the neighboring state, and you cannot take your drink over the state line. The segment on the Michigan/Ohio war and football rivalry was particularly entertaining, hypothesizing that the rivalry is an extension of aggression over the Toledo War in 1835.