Land Survey Systems: Many U.S. states were divided and organized using land survey systems, such as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).
Ease of Administration: Square shapes simplify administrative boundaries, making it easier for governments to manage and govern the territory within the state.
Geographic Features: Natural geographic features like rivers, mountain ranges, and coastlines can influence state borders, leading to straighter.
Historical Boundaries: Historical events, treaties, and agreements often played a role in shaping state borders, sometimes resulting in square.
Agricultural Efficiency: Square or rectangular states can facilitate agricultural planning and land management.
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Transportation Networks: Straight-line transportation routes, such as roads and railways, often follow state borders.
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Colonial Influence: Colonial powers, such as England and France, imposed their grid-based survey systems on territories they controlled.
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Property Ownership: The PLSS facilitated the division and sale of land to settlers, resulting in square or rectangular plots.
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Political Compromises: During the process of admitting new states to the Union, political compromises sometimes led to the adoption of square.
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Legal Clarity: Square or rectangular shapes provide clear and easily identifiable boundaries, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes over jurisdiction.