With the Chiefs hanging up their cleats until next fall, Kansas City sports fans turn their attention to the beginning of Royals spring training. As part of our ongoing What’s Your KC Q? collaboration with the Kansas City Star, we’re asking for your questions about Kansas City’s long history with America’s pastime.

A recent What’s Your KC Q? submission asked us to explain the odd, seemingly arbitrary state line between Kansas and Missouri as it passes through the West Bottoms. The asker describes himself as a geography nerd with an interest in maps who’s always wondered why the Missouri border doesn’t extend to the Kansas River. When you look at it, the line does seem strange. Just to the north, the state line begins following the more obvious Missouri River. Why not just push the line a few hundred yards west to make things nice and neat? Seems like a no-brainer.