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The Statue of Liberty, that shining beacon of freedom and democracy, seems like it should belong to one place without question, right? You'd think so, but her home, Liberty Island, sits at the heart of a centuries-old border dispute between New York and New Jersey.
It's a tale of vague colonial charters, shifting sands, and a healthy dose of rivalry. And while you might think it's all a bit silly, this story gives a fascinating glimpse into the history of these two states and the very formation of the United States.
It All Started With a Vague Charter
Our story begins way back in the 1600s with the Dutch colony of New Netherland. England, flexing its naval muscles, decided to take over, splitting the colony into what would become New York and New Jersey. The problem? The charter defining the border was, to put it mildly, a mess.
Think vague descriptions, inaccurate maps, and a whole lot of head-scratching. The language left much to interpretation, particularly when it came to the islands dotting the waterways. Was the Hudson River part of New York or New Jersey? What about Ellis Island and, you guessed it, Liberty Island? England, in its infinite wisdom, basically said, "You figure it out," and sailed away, leaving the colonies to squabble for the next three hundred years.
New York Asserts Its Dominance
New Jersey argued that its border ran down the middle of the Hudson River, making the islands theirs. New York, however, being the powerful and influential entity it was, had other ideas. They claimed the whole river, the piers built upon it, and yes, those pesky islands too.
When diplomacy failed (and it always did), New York resorted to what we'll call
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