How was the Canada-U.S. border established? What else is important to know about this significant international border? The facts may be surprising. The following guide will outline the most important information about setting and surveying the Canada-U.S. border.
How was the Canada-U.S. border set?
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 established the present-day Canada-U.S. border. This treaty also ended the Revolutionary War. As the colonies became independent, it was important to clearly outline where these territories were established.
How was the Canada-U.S. border surveyed?
In 1794, the Jay Treaty established the International Boundary Commission. This agency was tasked with surveying and mapping the Canada-U.S. border. This was no easy task, due to remote areas, large bodies of water, dense forests and mountainous terrain.
Did setting and surveying the Canada-U.S. border cause any conflict?
While this border is one of the most peaceful on the planet today, the process of setting and surveying the Canada-U.S. border was not without controversy and conflict. The Aroostook War was fought in 1842 over the boundary along the 49th parallel. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 more clearly delineated the boundary along the states of Maine and Minnesota.
In 1844, the western coast boundary came under dispute. This was resolved in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty. This treaty established the Canada-U.S. border along the 49th parallel out to the Pacific Ocean. The boundary in the waterway between Washington and British Columbia was settled in 1872 after debate over this area in the Pig War of 1859.
Who oversees the boundaries and surveys of the Canada-U.S. border today?
The organization established in 1794 as the International Boundary Commission became a permanent agency in 1925. Today, a joint commission made up of American and Canadian members maintains the boundaries. This commission is responsible for surveying and mapping the border, which includes maintaining boundary monuments and boundary buoys.
How much does setting and surveying the Canada-U.S. border cost?
The International Boundary Commission has an annual budget of $1.4 million USD. This covers the costs of the previously mentioned monuments and buoys and ongoing surveying of the landscape.
How long is the Canada-U.S. border?
The border between the United States and Canada is 5,525 miles long. This includes bodies of water and the Alaskan border. It is the longest un-militarized border on the planet.
What else is important to know about the Canada-U.S. border?
Setting and surveying the Canada-U.S. border was crucial to establishing the territory of the United States. Today, professional surveyors continue to maintain these boundaries. For specifics on how these surveys are completed, contact your local survey experts.
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