Ever looked at a map of the U.S. and wondered which state is the most "popular" neighbor? Most people guess Texas because it’s massive, or maybe Pennsylvania since it feels tucked into that busy Northeast corner. Honestly, though? Size doesn’t matter as much as you'd think. The answer is actually a tie between two states that sit right in the middle of everything: Tennessee and Missouri.
Both of these states share a border with eight other states.
It’s a fun piece of trivia, but when you really dig into the "why" and "how," it gets kinda wild. We aren't just talking about lines on a map; we’re talking about massive rivers changing course, 19th-century political drama, and the weird reality of being a "landlocked" hub.
The Breakdown: Who Touches Whom?
Let’s start with the hard facts. If you’re looking at Tennessee, you’ve got a long, skinny rectangle that stretches from the Appalachian Mountains all the way to the Mississippi River. Because it’s so wide, it manages to bump into almost everyone in the Southeast and a few folks in the Midwest too.
Tennessee’s eight neighbors are:
- Kentucky (North)
- Virginia (Northeast)
- North Carolina (East)
- Georgia (Southeast)
- Alabama (South)
- Mississippi (Southwest)
- Arkansas (West)
- Missouri (Northwest)
Then you have Missouri. It’s the "Heart of the Midwest," and it’s basically the gateway to the West. Like Tennessee, it’s surrounded on all sides by other states, with no ocean views in sight.
Missouri’s eight neighbors are:
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- Iowa (North)
- Illinois (East)
- Kentucky (Southeast)
- Tennessee (Southeast)
- Arkansas (South)
- Oklahoma (Southwest)
- Kansas (West)
- Nebraska (Northwest)
Notice anything? Tennessee and Missouri actually border each other. That tiny little handshake between them in the corner is what helps both reach that "eight" count. Without that specific connection, the record would look a lot different.
Why Do These Two Have So Many Neighbors?
You might think a giant like California would have more, but California only has three (Oregon, Nevada, Arizona). The reason Tennessee and Missouri win is mostly about geography and timing.
The River Effect
Back in the 1700s and 1800s, rivers were the highways of America. If you were a state, you wanted a piece of the Mississippi River or the Missouri River. Access to these waterways meant trade, transport, and money.
Because everyone was crowding around the rivers, the states in those areas ended up being smaller and more densely packed than the "mega-states" out west. When Congress was carving out territories, they tried to give as many states as possible a "waterfront property" on the big rivers. This led to a jigsaw puzzle of states all touching in a relatively small area.
The "Landlocked" Advantage
If you’re a coastal state like Florida or Maine, half of your "border" is just ocean. That's a lot of wasted potential for neighbors! Missouri and Tennessee are completely surrounded by land (and rivers that act as land boundaries). They are literally in the middle of the "Lower 48" deck of cards.
Historical Politics
There was also a population rule. To become a state, a territory usually needed about 60,000 people. Since people settled near rivers first, these areas hit their population goals quickly. This meant they could become states earlier and stay relatively compact. Out west, where it was drier and harder to settle, states like Wyoming or Montana had to be huge just to encompass enough people to qualify for statehood.
The Weird Glitches: Kentucky Bend and Others
Geography isn't always a clean line. Take the Kentucky Bend (also called the New Madrid Bend). If you look at the map where Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky meet, there’s a weird little bubble of Kentucky that is completely detached from the rest of the state.
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It’s an exclave. To get there by land, you have to drive through Tennessee. Why? Because the Mississippi River loops around in a crazy "S" shape. In the early 1800s, a massive earthquake actually caused the river to flow backward for a bit and changed its course. The surveyors had already drawn the line based on where the river used to be, leaving a tiny pocket of Kentucky stranded on the "wrong" side of the water.
Who Else is Close?
If you think eight is a lot, a few other states are breathing down their necks.
- Kentucky has seven neighbors. It’s almost in the "8-club," but it just misses out.
- Colorado also has seven neighbors (including that famous "Four Corners" spot where you can stand in four states at once).
- Maine, on the other hand, is the loneliest state. It only borders one other state: New Hampshire.
What This Means for You (Actionable Insights)
If you're a traveler or someone looking to move, being in a high-border state like Tennessee or Missouri actually has some cool perks:
- Road Trip Goldmine: From Nashville, you can be in five different states within a three-hour drive. It makes weekend getaways incredibly easy and diverse.
- Economic Crossroads: These states are logistics hubs. There’s a reason FedEx is based in Memphis (Tennessee) and Kansas City (Missouri) is a major rail center. More borders mean more trade routes.
- Cultural Mashups: Because they touch so many different regions (the North, the Deep South, the Great Plains, the Appalachians), these states have some of the best "fusion" food and music in the country. You get the BBQ of the West and the soul food of the South all in one place.
Next time you’re looking at a map, don't just look for the biggest shapes. Look for the ones that are doing the most "networking." Tennessee and Missouri might not be the largest, but they are definitely the most connected.
If you’re planning a trip to hit as many states as possible, start in the bootheel of Missouri. Within a few hours, you can check off Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Illinois. It's the ultimate geography hack.