Oregon Territory
The Oregon Territory was a historical territory in the northwestern United States. It was formed by partition of Oregon Country between the United States and Great Britain (or British North America, now Canada). This division took place in 1846 in the Oregon Treaty, which fixed the boundary at the 49th parallel north and ended the Oregon Boundary Dispute between the two nations.
The territory that fell to the United States was organized as a territory (Territory) on August 14, 1848, by an act of Congress; that is, it did not initially have state status because it was too sparsely populated and undeveloped, and it was directly under the administration of the federal government. The first capital of the territory was Oregon City, and from 1851 Salem. In terms of area, the territory roughly encompassed the present-day US states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, as well as western Montana and Wyoming.
In 1853, the area north of the Columbia River (farther east, the boundary followed the 46th parallel) was seceded and reorganized as Washington Territory.
On February 14, 1859, the newly formed state of Oregon was carved out of the Territory and admitted into the Union within its present boundaries. The remaining areas of the Oregon Territory were annexed to the Washington Territory
In 1861 and 1863, the eastern portions of Washington Territory were annexed to Nebraska Territory and Idaho Territory, respectively.
· 
1848:
Oregon Territory at its founding
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1853:
Oregon Territory
Washington Territory
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1859:
Newly formed state of Oregon
Washington Territory
Seal of the Oregon Territory with the motto Alis volat propriis: "She flies with her own wings".
See also
- Oregon Country
- Oregon Contract
Questions and Answers
Q: What was the original name of the unorganized Oregon Country?
A: The original name of the unorganized Oregon Country was the Oregon Territory.
Q: When did the two countries agree to split this territory?
A: The two countries agreed to split this territory in 1846.
Q: When was the U.S. portion of the Oregon Country organized into a territory?
A: The U.S. portion of the Oregon Country was organized into a territory on August 14, 1848.
Q: What states were originally included in the Oregon Territory?
A: The states originally included in the Oregon Territory were Idaho, Oregon and Washington, as well as Montana west of the Continental Divide and Wyoming west of the Continental Divide and north of 42nd parallel north—the northern border of Mexican Cession.
Q: Where was the first territorial capital located?
A: The first territorial capital was located in Oregon City.
Q: When did part of what is now Idaho and western Wyoming become part Nebraska Territory and Idaho Territory respectively? A: Part what is now Idaho and western Wyoming became part Nebraska Territory and Idaho Territory respectively in 1861 and 1863 respectively.
Q: When did all parts that made up what is now known as "Oregon" enter Union as a state? A: All parts that made up what is now known as "Oregon" entered Union as a state on February 14, 1859
