Washington Territory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Territory of Washington
Organized incorporated territory of the United States
Seal of the Washington Territory
Capital	Olympia
• Type	Organized incorporated territory
History
• Split from Oregon Territory	2 March 1853
• Idaho Territory split off	March 4, 1863
• Statehood	11 November 1889
Preceded by Succeeded by Oregon Territory Nebraska Territory Idaho Territory Washington (state)

The Territory of Washington was a special area of the United States that was set up to become a state. It existed from March 2, 1853, until November 11, 1889. On that date, it officially became the State of Washington.

This territory was created from the northern part of the Oregon Territory. This included land north of the lower Columbia River and north of the 46th parallel east of the Columbia. At its largest, it covered all of modern Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming. Its final borders were set in 1863.

History of the Washington Territory

Why the Territory Was Created

In 1851 and 1852, people living north of the Columbia River in the Oregon Territory wanted their own government. They felt they were too far from the main government in Oregon.

A group of important settlers met on November 25, 1852. This meeting was called the "Monticello Convention". It took place in what is now Longview. They wrote a letter asking the United States Congress to create a separate territory. The Oregon government approved their idea, and the request was sent to the federal government.

Naming the New Territory

A bill to create the new territory was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on January 25, 1853. The original name suggested was the Territory of Columbia.

However, Representative Richard H. Stanton worried that this name would be confused with the District of Columbia, where the nation's capital is. He suggested naming it after George Washington instead.

The bill was changed to "Washington" after some discussion. It passed in the House on February 10 and in the United States Senate on March 2. President Millard Fillmore signed it into law on the same day. Some people, like Representative Alexander Evans, thought it would be better to use a local Native American name. But the name Washington was chosen.

Early Government and Leaders

Isaac Stevens was chosen as the first governor of the Washington Territory. He declared Olympia to be the capital city. Governor Stevens also played a big part in making agreements, called treaties, with the Native American groups in the territory.

The territory elected its own lawmakers, who met for the first time in February 1854. The territory's highest court made its first decision later that year. Columbia Lancaster was the first person chosen to represent the territory in the U.S. Congress. He was a non-voting member, meaning he could speak but not vote.

Changing Borders of the Territory

When it was first created, the Washington Territory included all of present-day State of Washington. It also included northern Idaho and parts of Montana west of the continental divide (the line that separates rivers flowing east from rivers flowing west).

In 1859, the State of Oregon became a state. When this happened, the eastern parts of the old Oregon Territory were added to the Washington Territory. This included southern Idaho, parts of Wyoming west of the continental divide, and a small piece of present-day Ravalli County, Montana.

On March 2, 1861, the southeastern tip of the territory (in present-day Wyoming) was given to the Nebraska Territory.

In 1863, a large area of the Washington Territory was used to create the new Idaho Territory. This area was east of the Snake River and the 117th meridian. After this change, the Washington Territory had the same borders as the current State of Washington.

Journey to Statehood

The Washington Territory officially became the 42nd U.S. state on November 11, 1889.

Before it became a state, several towns wanted to be the capital. Besides Olympia, other towns like Steilacoom, Vancouver, Port Townsend, and Ellensburg were in the running. Ellensburg had a big fire just before statehood, which hurt its chances. Even after Olympia was chosen, the debate didn't truly end until the capitol building was finished.

Images for kids

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  The Washington Territory (green) and the Oregon Territory (blue) in 1853

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  The Washington Territory (green) and the State of Oregon in 1859

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  Portions ceded to the Nebraska and Idaho Territories in 1861 and 1863

See also

In Spanish: Territorio de Washington para niños