25th meridian west from Washington
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The 25th meridian of longitude west from Washington is a line of
Washington Meridian defines the eastern boundary of the State of Colorado, the western boundary of the State of Kansas, and the western boundary of the State of Nebraska south of the 41st parallel north
.
History
On January 1, 1861, the Act Admitting the State of Kansas to the
Territory of Nebraska south of the 41st parallel north
east to this meridian. These boundaries on the 25th meridian of longitude west from Washington remained when Nebraska became a state on March 1, 1867, and Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876.
Longitude in the United States
Latitude and longitude uniquely describe the location of any point on Earth. Latitude may be simply calculated from astronomical or solar observation, either at land or sea, interrupted only by cloudy skies. Longitude, on the other hand, requires both astronomical or solar observation and some form of time reference to a longitude reference point. John Harrison produced the first precise marine chronometer in 1761.
The completion of the first
Greenwich, England) for all nautical and international use, and the Washington Meridian (through the old United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.) for more accurate astronomical and domestic use. The completion of the first telegraph line across North America, on October 24, 1861, allowed time signals from the Naval Observatory
in Washington, D.C. to be transmitted across the continent.
The United States used the Washington Meridian as the longitude reference for most
Prime Meridian
. On August 12, 1912, the United States adopted the Prime Meridian of Greenwich for all uses domestic and international.
References
- Thirty-sixth United States Congress. 1861-02-28. Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 December 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-14.