How the States Got Their Shapes

How The States Got Their Shapes
Format History Documentary
Starring Brian Unger
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 1 (+ 1 special)
No. of episodes 11
Production
Location(s) United States of America
Running time 45 minutes (+ 2 hour special)
Broadcast
Original channel History Channel
Original run April 6, 2010 (2010-04-06) – present
External links
Website

How the States Got Their Shapes is a television series that airs on the History channel. It is hosted by Brian Unger and is based on Mark Stein's book, How the States Got Their Shapes. The show deals with how the various states of the United States established their borders, but also delves into other aspects of U.S. history, including failed states, proposed new states, and the local culture and character of various U.S. states. It thus deals with the "shapes" of the states in a metaphorical sense as well as a literal sense.

Each episode has a particular theme, such as how the landscape, or language, or natural resources contributed to the borders and character of various U.S. states. The show format follows Unger as he travels to various locations, and interviews local people, visits important historical and cultural sites, and provides commentary from behind the wheel of his car as he drives from location to location. Interspersed with these segments are brief historical synopses by notable U.S. historians.

The show started as a single two-hour special which first aired in April 2010, but returned as a regular series of one-hour shows starting in May 2011.

Contents

Episode guide

Special (2010)

# Title Original air date
1 1 "How the States Got Their Shapes" April 6, 2010 (2010-04-06)[1]

Season 1 (2011)

# Title Original air date
1 2 "A River Runs Through It" May 3, 2011 (2011-05-03)[2]
2 3 "The Great Plains, Trains, & Automobiles" May 10, 2011 (2011-05-10)[3]
3 4 "Force of Nature" May 17, 2011 (2011-05-17)[4]
4 5 "State of Rebellion" May 24, 2011 (2011-05-24)[5]
5 6 "Living on the Edge" June 7, 2011 (2011-06-07)[6]
6 7 "Use It or Lose It" June 14, 2011 (2011-06-14)[7]
7 8 "Church And States" June 21, 2011 (2011-06-21)[8]
8 9 "A Boom with a View" June 28, 2011 (2011-06-28)[9]
9 10 "Culture Clash" July 5, 2011 (2011-07-05)[10]
10 11 "Mouthing Off" July 12, 2011 (2011-07-12)[11]

See also

References

External links