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Machias Seal Island and North Rock are claimed by both the US and Canada. The sovereignty of both islands are still in dispute between both Countries even though Machias Seal Island has a lighthouse maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard. They are located at the boundary between the Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy.
A quick comparison of US counties east and west of the Mississippi River:
Of the 100 largest US counties in total geographic area, 95 of them are located west of the Mississippi River. Only Arostook and Piscataquis Counties in Maine, Keweenaw and Alger Counties in Michigan, and St. Louis County in Minnesota are east of the river.
Even though the West clearly dominates in county sizes, most of those mammoth counties do not possess very high populations. Of the 100 most populous US counties, the majority (61) are located east of the Mississippi, and the minority (39) are located west. Of course, it should be noted that there are far more US counties on the east side of the river.
The only two US counties to rank in the top 20 on both lists (largest in area and in population) are located west of the Mississippi: San Bernardino County, CA, the 12th most populous county and the #1 largest in area; and Maricopa County, AZ, the fourth most populous county and the 15th largest in area.
Some figures are very deceptive. Keweenaw is the smallest county in Michigan, unless you include the 90% that is Lake Superior water territory and the uninhabited Isle Royale. All counties in Michigan contain the adjacent waters of the Great Lakes, but in other states, they do not. If you count Michigan's share of the Great Lakes, it becomes the 11th largest state, comparable to Oregon and Wyoming, with the Great Lakes comprising about 41% of Michigan.
Some figures are very deceptive. Keweenaw is the smallest county in Michigan, unless you include the 90% that is Lake Superior water territory and the uninhabited Isle Royale. All counties in Michigan contain the adjacent waters of the Great Lakes, but in other states, they do not. If you count Michigan's share of the Great Lakes, it becomes the 11th largest state, comparable to Oregon and Wyoming, with the Great Lakes comprising about 41% of Michigan.
Correct. Keweenaw County is listed as being 5966 square miles, but the actual land area is only 540 square miles, Isle Royale is 206 square Miles so that leaves only 334 miles that are inhabited. the rest is all Lake Superior. I don't know if that makes it the smallest land wise or not, but it is no-where near what a person might think when reading it is almost 6000 square miles total.
Bennett County, South Dakota, contains the "pole of inaccessability" of the North American continent. A "pole of inaccessability" is the specific geographic point that lies the greatest distance from any coastline. Therefore, residents of this portion of South Dakota enjoy the distinction of living farther from a seashore than any place else in North America. The closest settlements to this point are Martin (pop. 1071) and Kyle (pop. 846).
Bennett County, South Dakota, contains the "pole of inaccessability" of the North American continent. A "pole of inaccessability" is the specific geographic point that lies the greatest distance from any coastline. Therefore, residents of this portion of South Dakota enjoy the distinction of living farther from a seashore than any place else in North America. The closest settlements to this point are Martin (pop. 1071) and Kyle (pop. 846).
Yet, this point is barely 100 miles from the Missouri River, at a point once navigable by steamboats from the Gulf of Mexico.
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Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
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