View source for U.S. state

===Borders===
The borders of the 13 original states were largely determined by [[British colonization of the Americas|colonial charters]]. Their western boundaries were subsequently modified as the states ceded their western land claims to the Federal government during the 1780s and 1790s. Many state borders beyond those of the original 13 were set by Congress as it created territories, divided them, and over time, created states within them. Territorial and new state lines often followed various geographic features (such as [[List of river borders of U.S. states|rivers]] or mountain range peaks), and were influenced by settlement or transportation patterns. At various times, national borders with territories formerly controlled by other countries ([[British North America]], [[New France]], [[New Spain]] including [[Spanish Florida]], and [[Russian America]]) became institutionalized as the borders of U.S. states. In the West, relatively arbitrary straight lines following latitude and longitude often prevail, due to the sparseness of settlement west of the Mississippi River.

Once established, most state borders have, with few exceptions, been generally stable. Only two states, Missouri ([[Platte Purchase]]) and Nevada, grew appreciably after statehood. Several of the original states [[State cessions|ceded land]], over a several year period, to the Federal government, which in turn became the Northwest Territory, [[Southwest Territory]], and [[Mississippi Territory]]. In 1791 Maryland and Virginia ceded land to create the [[District of Columbia]] (Virginia's portion was [[District of Columbia retrocession|returned]] in 1847). In 1850, Texas ceded a large swath of land to the federal government. Additionally, Massachusetts and Virginia (on two occasions), have lost land, in each instance to form a new state.

There have been numerous other minor adjustments to state boundaries over the years due to improved surveys, resolution of ambiguous or disputed boundary definitions, or minor mutually agreed boundary adjustments for administrative convenience or other purposes.<ref name=StatesShapes>{{cite book |last= Stein |first= Mark |title= How the States Got Their Shapes |year= 2008 |publisher= HarperCollins |location= New York |isbn= 9780061431395 |pages= xvi, 334}}</ref> Occasionally the [[United States Congress]] or the [[United States Supreme Court]] have settled state border disputes. One notable example is the case [[New Jersey v. New York]], in which [[New Jersey]] won roughly 90% of [[Ellis Island]] from [[New York]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |first= Linda |last=  Greenhouse |date= May 27, 1998 |url= http://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/27/nyregion/ellis-island-verdict-ruling-high-court-gives-new-jersey-most-ellis-island.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=The Ellis Island Verdict: The Ruling; High Court Gives New Jersey Most of Ellis Island |work= [[The New York Times]] |accessdate= August 2, 2012}}</ref>