Some U.S. states are geographical connectors, sharing borders with numerous neighbors. These border-rich states often serve as cultural and economic crossroads, influencing everything from regional accents to transportation networks.
The United States' unique geography creates fascinating border relationships between states. While some states are relatively isolated with only a few neighbors, others serve as major geographical connectors, sharing boundaries with numerous other states. These highly-connected states often become cultural and economic crossroads, where diverse regional influences blend together.
Let's explore which U.S. states touch the most neighbors and what makes these multi-bordered regions so significant to America's geography and culture.
Tennessee: Eight Neighbors
Tennessee shares the title for the most neighboring states with eight border connections. It shares boundaries with Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. This long, narrow state stretches across multiple geographical regions, from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west.
Tennessee's unique shape and central location in the southeastern United States contribute to its high number of neighbors. Its distinctive elongated shape, approximately 440 miles long but only 120 miles wide, maximizes potential border connections.
This extensive connectivity has made Tennessee a crucial transportation corridor throughout American history, from early frontier routes to modern interstate highways. Interstate 40, one of the nation's major east-west routes, runs the entire length of Tennessee.
Missouri: Eight Neighbors
Missouri ties with Tennessee, also bordering eight states: Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Located at the crossroads of the Midwest and the South, Missouri's position makes it a geographical bridge between different regions of the country.
The state's irregular shape, with the "bootheel" extending southward and borders defined by the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, contributes to its numerous neighbors. St. Louis, positioned near the confluence of these major rivers, became known as the "Gateway to the West" during America's westward expansion.
Missouri's central location and multiple borders have historically made it a cultural mixing ground, where Midwestern, Southern, and Western influences converge. This geographical position has influenced everything from the state's distinctive dialect to its political culture.
Kentucky: Seven Neighbors
Kentucky ranks second for the most neighboring states with seven: Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee. The state's irregular shape, with the eastern portion wedged into the Appalachian region and the western part stretching toward the Mississippi River, contributes to this high number of borders.
The Ohio River defines much of Kentucky's northern border, creating natural boundaries with Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. This river served as a crucial transportation route throughout American history and continues to be economically significant today.
Kentucky's position at the intersection of the Midwest, South, and Appalachia has created a unique cultural identity that borrows elements from each region. This blending is evident in everything from the state's cuisine to its musical traditions.
Other States With Six Neighbors
Several states tie for third place with six neighbors each:
- Colorado: Borders Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah. Its perfectly rectangular shape, uncommon among states, still manages to touch numerous neighbors.
- Pennsylvania: Shares borders with New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio. Its position in the Mid-Atlantic region makes it a hub between the Northeast and the Midwest.
- South Dakota: Connects with North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. Despite its rural character, it serves as an important crossroads in the northern Great Plains.
Other states with six borders include Idaho, Nebraska, and Kansas, each serving as connectors between different regions of the country.
Geographical Significance of Multiple Borders
States with numerous neighbors often develop distinctive characteristics as a result of their connectivity. They frequently function as transportation hubs, with major highway intersections, river ports, and railway junctions. These transportation networks historically influenced settlement patterns and continue to impact economic development today.
These highly-connected states also tend to have more irregular shapes, often resulting from historical circumstances, natural boundaries like rivers, or political compromises during their formation. The Mississippi River, for example, defines many state borders in the central United States, contributing to the high number of neighbors for states along its course.
Multiple borders also create unique jurisdictional situations. Metropolitan areas that span state lines, such as Kansas City (Missouri/Kansas) or the Quad Cities (Illinois/Iowa), must navigate complex governance issues across state boundaries.
Cultural and Economic Impact of State Borders
States with many neighbors often develop as cultural "melting pots" where regional influences blend together. Tennessee, for instance, combines Appalachian traditions from its eastern neighbors with Delta influences from Mississippi and Arkansas. These cultural crossroads frequently become centers for distinctive American art forms-Nashville's country music scene benefits from Tennessee's position at the intersection of multiple regional musical traditions.
Economically, multiple borders can provide advantages through diverse trading partners and transportation options. Border cities often become commercial centers, with businesses taking advantage of different state regulations and tax structures. However, this can also create challenges in coordinating regional economic development across state lines.
Tourism also benefits from multiple borders, as states with many neighbors can market themselves as convenient hub destinations for multi-state trips. Tennessee, for example, promotes its accessibility to visitors from numerous nearby states.
Notable Border Disputes and Historical Context
Many of today's state boundaries emerged from historical conflicts and compromises. The Kentucky-Tennessee border, for example, was surveyed incorrectly in 1779-1780, creating an ongoing dispute that wasn't fully resolved until a Supreme Court case in 1859. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 established Missouri's southern border as part of the national debate over slavery's expansion.
Some states with multiple neighbors were specifically designed as buffer zones or compromises between competing interests. Kentucky, originally part of Virginia, became a separate state partly to balance free and slave states in the early republic.
Even today, minor border disputes occasionally arise, particularly where rivers that define borders have changed course over time. The Mississippi River's shifting channel has created several disputed areas between states along its path.
Understanding which states share the most borders offers insight into America's geographical development and the complex interrelationships between regions. These highly-connected states serve as crucial junctions in the nation's physical and cultural landscape, where diverse influences converge to create distinctive American identities.
Frequently Asked Questions About 8 States With the Most Shared Borders in America
Which U.S. state has the most neighbors?
Both Tennessee and Missouri share the distinction of having eight neighboring states each. Tennessee borders Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. Missouri borders Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Why do Tennessee and Missouri have so many neighboring states?
Tennessee's elongated shape (approximately 440 miles long but only 120 miles wide) and central location in the Southeast maximize its border connections. Missouri's irregular shape with the 'bootheel' extension and its position at the crossroads of the Midwest and South, along with borders defined by major rivers, contribute to its high number of neighbors.
Which states have seven neighboring states?
Kentucky is the only state with exactly seven neighboring states: Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee.
How do multiple state borders affect culture and economy?
States with numerous neighbors often become cultural and economic crossroads where regional influences blend. They typically develop as transportation hubs with major highway intersections and railway junctions. These states frequently have more diverse economies due to their connectivity and often become centers for distinctive cultural expressions that blend multiple regional traditions.
What states have the fewest neighbors?
Alaska and Hawaii have no bordering states due to their geographical isolation. Among the contiguous states, Maine has the fewest neighbors with only one (New Hampshire). Rhode Island and Florida each have only two neighboring states.
Are there any points where more than two states meet?
Yes, there are several tri-points where three states meet. The most famous multi-state junction is Four Corners Monument, the only point in the United States where four states meet (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah). There's also a point near the Mississippi River where Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee all meet.
