"Where in North America is this?" Section XIII

[Midwest Michael]

and to finish answering the question... the building was completed in 1888, although construction started in 1885.

[AZBuck]

Harking back to the state boundaries and triple points question. Here's one that deals with a unique state boundary. Usually, when a river is used to define the boundary between two states, the boundary is defined as either the mid point between the two banks, or the "thalweg" - the deepest part of the channel. There is one place in the U.S. where this is not the case. Not only that but the exception exists for only part of the river boundary between the two states. So, the obvious questions:

What is the river?
What are the two states?
Why does the exception exist for only part of the river boundary?

I'll even offer a few 'hints'.

The boundary in question has been brought before the US Supreme court on three separate occasions. The ruling has been the same each time. The last time, the Court enjoined the two states involved from ever bringing this question to it again.

Also, one of the states involved has at least a couple of other unique features about its boundaries, but telling you what those are would give it away.

AZBuck

[Midwest Michael]

I think you're talking about the NY-NJ border along the Hudson River, and I think specifically, it is the area around the Statue of Liberty.

The exact details I'm a little fuzzy on, but I seem to remember one of the court cases resulting in New Jersey having some of the land right near the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, because it had originally been dredged from the Jersey side of the river?

[AZBuck]

The NJ-NY state line is defined as the middle of the Hudson River (or the Arthur Kill in the case of Staten Island). The court case you mention had to do with how that channel had been changed due to dredging. As is the case in such instances, the original channel forms the boundary, not later adjustments to that channel. Similar changes in channel not resulting in changes in the boundary can be seen all up and down the Mississippi as meanders in the river get cut off as the channel moves back and forth, but the old channel still defines the state boundary. A great example of this is Kaskaskia IL. Kaskaskia was the original capital of Illinois, but the river moved and it is now completely on the 'Missouri' side of the river although the state line still wraps around it, following the old original channel.

No, the exception I'm looking for goes on for tens of miles and accounts for a number of what at first look like errors on accurately drawn maps.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

and to finish answering the question... the building was completed in 1888, although construction started in 1885.

Excellent work -- nice to see this solved and a new puzzle in play when I returned to the office!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Buck,

Given your clues -- taking a WAG it could have something to do with the upper peninsula of Michigan -- which should have been part of Wisconsin... But now I have to see if this response actually fits the parameters. I like this puzzle.... Requires some serious brain noogling.

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

WAG #2

Hmmm, this might actually have to do with the Alabama & Florida border.... Still working on making the facts fit the puzzle....

Mark

[AZBuck]

The Perdido river forms the boundary between Florida and Alabama. Note that the state line goes down the middle of the river (more or less) as defined (as are most cases) by the bank-to-bank midpoint or the thalweg (deepest channel). In the unique case I am talking about, neither of those two usual measures define the border between the two states on either side of the river. In fact (Big Clue #1):

One state gets the entire river, bank to bank.

And Big Clue #2:

One of the states involved has been involved in an adjudicated border dispute with each and every one of its neighboring states.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

Skimming a lot of riparian law arguments -- hmmm. Ok those ought to be good clues... looking again now.

Not the right answer -- but three states have fought over the Ohio River for more than 200 years.... Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana

[Mark Sedenquist]

Getting closer, I think.

The river in question is the Potomac River. Maryland owns this completely to the Virginia border. I've got to leave -- but if anyone wants to read this -- and explain it -- I think this is the explanation....

Mark