Definition of the word state line

The word "state line" refers to the boundary that separates two adjacent states in the United States. The concept of state lines originated with the passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which was a legislative act that established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Ordinance defined the process of admission of new states to the Union and also established guidelines for their boundaries. According to the ordinance, both vertical and horizontal lines would separate each state from its neighbors, and those lines would continue westward until the east and west borders of the territory were reached. This practice continued as new states were added to the Union throughout the 19th century, and the boundaries between them were ascertained through surveys and agreements between adjoining states. The term "state line" became commonly used to refer to the boundary between two bordering states during this time, and it has remained in use ever since. Today, state lines serve not only as administrative boundaries but also as important cultural, economic, and political divisions that distinguish one region from another.