How Did Tennessee Get Its Shape

So, there I was, driving through Tennessee, windows down, radio blaring, when I started thinking, "Huh, this state's shape is kinda weird, isn't it?" I mean, it's not like a nice, neat square or a tidy circle. No, Tennessee had to go and be all... unique. And that's when I decided, "Self, you need to find out how Tennessee got its shape."

Let's Start at the Beginning

Alright, so way back in the day, before there were even states, there were these things called colonies. North Carolina and South Carolina, they were all buddy-buddy, sharing a border. But then, some folks in the North Carolina colony said, "Hey, let's make our own thing over here," and thus, the state of North Carolina was born. But wait, there's more!

See, these North Carolinians, they wanted to expand their territory. They had their eyes on the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. They called this area the Washington District, named after their favorite president (well, he would be president someday).

Enter the Land Grab

Now, you might be thinking, "That's all well and good, but what about the people already living there?" Well, let me introduce you to the Cherokee Nation. They were living on this land long before the Europeans showed up. But, as you can imagine, the North Carolinians weren't too keen on sharing.

So, in 1784, North Carolina passed a law claiming all the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. They even started selling land grants to settlers. But here's where things get interesting. The Cherokee Nation wasn't having any of it. They fought back, and in 1785, they signed a treaty with North Carolina, giving them a chunk of land but keeping the rest for themselves.

Divide and Conquer

Now, fast forward to 1789. The U.S. Constitution is ratified, and the new government wants to create a new state out of the Washington District. But there's a problem. North Carolina still claims this land, and they're not too keen on giving it up. So, the federal government does what any reasonable government would do: they bribe them.

The deal was simple. North Carolina would give up their claim to the Washington District, and in return, they'd get a bigger slice of the pie when it came to congressional representation. North Carolina agreed, and in 1790, the state of Tennessee was officially created. But why did it end up looking like a big ol' hook?

Early settlements surnames of tennessee 1756 1780 – Artofit

Why the Hook?

Well, my curious friend, that's all thanks to the Northwest Ordinance. In 1787, Congress passed this law that said new states would be admitted to the Union in pairs, one slave and one free. So, when Tennessee became a state in 1796, they needed a free state to balance it out. That's where Kentucky comes in.

Kentucky was part of Virginia at the time, but they wanted out. So, they drew a line along the Ohio River and called it a day. But Tennessee, they wanted a piece of that sweet, sweet land too. So, they negotiated a deal, and in 1792, they got a chunk of what's now Kentucky, giving Tennessee its distinctive hook shape.

And There You Have It

So, that's the story of how Tennessee got its shape. It's a tale of land grabs, treaties, and a little bit of bribery. And now, the next time you're driving through Tennessee, you can look at that hook and say, "I know why you're here, you little shape, you."

And hey, if you've got any other burning questions about the weird and wonderful world of state shapes, just let me know. I'm always up for a good mystery. Until next time, happy driving!