I often see queries on the site along the lines of “Map of counties in State X that border on State Y.” I’m not entirely sure why this is a topic of such interest but apparently there are people who care about such things. There aren’t a lot of resources on this monumental topic so they all seem to land on my page.
I never wondered about it before but it crossed my mind while I was tinkering with some simple maps, and next thing I knew I’d produced a number of them. Usually it creates a rather boring ribbon, either north-south or east-west, or sometimes diagonally.
That’s not always the case. Sometimes the collected border counties produce beautiful, fanciful shapes. I selected a few of my favorites and now present them purely for amusement. There’s no larger significance and there’s nothing much to learn. Just enjoy them.
If you want to make a game out of it, that’s fine too. In that instance, see how many of these new “states” you can identify. I’ll provide each answer directly after the image so I won’t give away the solution inadvertently should you wish to take the challenge. Scroll down carefully and you’ll be fine.
Ready? I’ll start with an easier one.
The giveaway is the long diagonal line. Indeed, this is an outline map of Nevada counties that border California. I think this one may actually be my favorite because it includes an enclave. That’s Storey County. It does not border California in the slightest but it is completely surrounded by counties that do, plus the independent city of Carson City which also borders California.
Another One on the Easier Side
This one should be fairly recognizable too. I think one clue is the horizontal and vertical line that forms a corner. Maybe the northern protrusion has a familiar look. Indeed, that’s the unmistakable shape of West Virginia’s northern panhandle so these are the counties adjacent to Pennsylvania.
Gigantic Counties!
Did I say that border counties often form a thin ribbon? Not here. In this case the counties take up about a third of the state! These counties are massive, and when combined cover more acreage than some of the eastern states. The upper-right quadrant contributes to the famous Four Corners. These are the counties of Arizona that border Utah.
The Big “U”
I love this U-shaped creation. Would it help if I told you that the bump along the bottom is known as the Southwick Jog? My blogger friend Steve at CTMQ would say, “take back the notch!” We’re talking about the Massachusetts counties that border Connecticut including that sneaky little appendage.
Nixon’s Face?
This is a really attractive shape, isn’t it? I’ve enjoyed the twists and turns as I continue to contemplate it. A really odd Facebook page [link no longer works] equates one side of it to Richard Nixon’s face. The Bitterroot Range is a better explanation. These are the Idaho counties that border Montana.
There are many more instances which I’ve left for you to discover. I might produce more maps if anyone is interested or if I get bored. I might also produce a slightly different set of maps that include the border counties of both states combined. Some of those are even more bizarre.
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