this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2023
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xkcd

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[–] charonn0@startrek.website 8 points 11 months ago (4 children)

It just occurred to me that there are no states named East Statename.

[–] morphballganon@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

English settlers arrived in the east. So wherever they were when they named an area, that was the original, and as they spread west, north or south, they had to add those directions to keep them distinct.

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That's because the expansion of the US across the continent was westward.

[–] charonn0@startrek.website 2 points 11 months ago

I know. It just seemed funny that the other three directions are represented.

If/when Puerto Rico becomes the 51st state, it should take the name East Puerto Rico, just to be fair.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago

Serious answer: we started at the eastern seaboard and expanded west. "East Statename" implies eastern expansion.

[–] bratosch@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Are there any 'West _____' states? I know there are north and south

[–] charonn0@startrek.website 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Country roads take me home to the place I belong

spoilerWest Virginia

[–] bratosch@lemm.ee 4 points 11 months ago

Huh, I always thought it was just called "Virginia". TIL there are two Virginias Regards A Swede

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Which, funny enough, actually refers to >!the western region of the state of Virginia, not the state of West Virginia!<