Divided regions are transnational regions, islands, etc., i.e. areas that are known under a common name, that may have at one time been a united sovereign state but are or have been subsequently politically divided by national borders, into separate sovereign and/or administrative divisions. The later qualification includes many reorganized regions within nation states blurring the pure "transnational" distinction, but retaining the sense of a historic region once governed together which is significant both historically and culturally.

Typically the divided parts still retain the common geographical placename, or a variation there of, and may or may not be subject to irrendentist claims and territorial disputes. They are by their very nature situated in border areas.

Divided regions frequently have close cultural, economic, transportation ties and not infrequently authorities or commissions which smooth the process of co-operative efforts across their common borders.

Divided regions

Divided Regions of Asia

East Asia

• North Korea and South Korea

South Asia

• Punjab
• Bengal

Divided regions of Europe

• Basque Country, Spain and Northern Basque Country, France

• Catalonia, Spain and Northern Catalonia, France

• Ireland (the island), Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom.

• Limburg The border Duchy of Limburg

• Luxembourg and Luxembourg province, Belgium

• Schleswig (also South Jutland) — The former Danish Duchy of Schleswig was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866, which created the province of Schleswig-Holstein, the northern part of Schleswig came back to Denmark in 1920, while Southern Schleswig has remained a part of Germany since.

Municipalities

• Herzogenrath and Kerkrade As is the case for many parts of Limburg, Herzogenrath changed hands several times in the last few centuries. Together with the (other) Southern Netherlands it was under Spanish control from 1661, Austrian between 1713 and 1795 and French between 1795 and 1813. In 1815, when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed (see Vienna Congress), the border was drawn through the town, the eastern part being Prussian town of Herzogenrath, the western part being Dutch Kerkrade. This division continues today.

Divided regions of North America

• California, USA and Baja California, Mexico

Sub-national divided regions in the USA

Municipalities

• Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas

Provinces or States

• North Carolina and South Carolina
• Virginia and West Virginia — Split during the American Civil War in 1861 as the western counties voted to remain in the Union, and the geographical barrier of the Appalachians disabled the ability of the more populous eastern counties from preventing the succession by force of arms, which forces were preoccupied with the Army of the Potomac stationed in Washington, D.C., which itself was on the border of Virginia.

See also

• Divided cities
• Cross-border town naming

nn:Delte område