[boredguy8]

Texas wanted to be admitted to the union as a slave state. But the Missouri Compromise established the 36°30' parallel as the northern limit of slavery for new states. So Texas gave up its claim and the territory became "No Man's Land".

[rmc]

Fun fact, there's a patch of 20,000 km² of desert between Egypt and Sudan that neither country claims. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halaib_Triangle ). It's essentially no-man's land, but for countries.

[dubfan]

The territory you're referring to is called Bir Tawil: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bir_Tawil

[rmc]

Oops, yes got them mixed up, thanks.