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Because of its unique history, many of the boundaries of the political divisions of the United States were artificially constructed (rather than permitted to evolve and drawn using natural features of the landscape). Therefore, many U.S. states have straight lines as boundaries, especially in the West. However, there are many partial state boundaries, particularly in the Midwest, Northeast, and South, that are defined by rivers; in fact, only four mainland states (Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming) completely lack any borders defined by rivers or waterways, as well as Hawaii whose borders are the islands.
River boundaries are typically defined by the "thread of the channel" (the river's thalweg, usually in the approximate middle of the river's channel), under a rule that the United States inherited from England, where it applies to boundaries between counties.[ citation needed ] In the United States, there are at least six exceptions, however, where the boundary is one bank of the river rather than the thread of the channel:
The course of the Charles River was used to indirectly define the border between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.[ citation needed ] The Merrimack River defines part of the border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, which runs parallel to the river, three miles north of it (see Northern boundary of Massachusetts.)
Nearly every US states' border has some portion that is a river or other water way; 44 in total.
The list of state parks in the United States are listed by individual state.
These are lists of school districts in the United States
The National Register of Historic Places in the United States is a register including buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects. The Register automatically includes all National Historic Landmarks as well as all historic areas administered by the U.S. National Park Service. Since its introduction in 1966, more than 90,000 separate listings have been added to the register.
In the United States, the first full week of September is designated National Blood Donation Week. Established in 2016, the week United States is to hold individual state blood donation days. This serves to assist blood banks all over the country to keep their shelves full and to raise awareness of the continual need to donate blood and blood products. The final day of the week holds most of the states' blood donation days, and is known as National Blood Donation Day.
National Blood Donation Day comes each year on September 4. It is an observance and campaign that highlights the need for blood. Multiple states throughout the United States have their state blood donation day on this same day uniting the country in its effort to keep blood banks and hospitals stocked.
The 119th United States Congress is the next meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 2025, to January 3, 2027, during the final weeks of Joe Biden's term. The elections of November 2024 will decide control of both houses.