United States
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

Which U.S. State Has the Most Neighbors?

If you're the type of homeowner who likes to feel safely surrounded by friendly neighbors, there are no better places to live in America than Missouri and Tennessee. Those two states are each surrounded by eight others – the most of any state. Missouri's neighbors include Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Meanwhile, Tennessee's bordering buddies are Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.

Next in line in terms of sharing borders with other states are Colorado and Kentucky, which each have seven neighbors. On the other hand, two states – Hawaii and Alaska – are all alone (unless you count Canada as a neighbor for Alaska), while Maine is the only state in the contiguous United States with only one neighbor (New Hampshire).

Missouri or Tennessee?

  • One U.S. president, Harry S. Truman, was born in Missouri; no president has been born in Tennessee.

  • Three teams from Missouri – the Kansas City Chiefs twice and the St. Louis Rams once – have won the Super Bowl, while the Tennessee Titans have reached the title game once, but lost.

  • The most-visited national park is Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee; the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere.

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Tennessee and Missouri are the most “neighborly” states; each shares a border with 8 other U.S. states.
      By: HL
      Tennessee and Missouri are the most “neighborly” states; each shares a border with 8 other U.S. states.