Which projection is specifically designed for states that are elongated in a north-south direction?

The Transverse Mercator projection is specifically designed for areas that are elongated in a north-south direction, making it particularly suitable for regions like states that have a long vertical extent. This projection works by orienting the cylindrical projection element so that it is tangent to the globe along a meridian, rather than along the equator as in the standard Mercator projection. Consequently, this alignment minimizes distortions in the north-south dimensions of the area being mapped, ensuring that distances, angles, and shapes are preserved more accurately along the central meridian.

When working with elongated land masses, such as certain U.S. states, the Transverse Mercator projection provides an effective means of visual representation without the inaccuracies that other projections may introduce for such shapes. The other projections listed serve different purposes or suit different configurations of land areas, but for north-south elongated states, the Transverse Mercator is the optimal choice.