By 1850s, the eastern part of today's USA was properly defined (except the partitioning of Virginia). The western part started to evolve dramatically giving rise to numerous new states such as Nevada, Arizona, Oklahoma etc. By early December 1850, the last tiny territory of Horseshoe Reef (in Lake Erie) was purchased from the United Kingdom. And from late December, interesting acquisitions began.
Towards the end of December 1850, territorial exchanges took place between Texas, New Mexico and Utah Territory (whose boundaries were different from what they are now) to form a couple of 'unorganized territories'. An intermediate territory called as State of Deseret, that was spread out between California, Oregon Territory and Utah Territory was now dissolved and a part of Oregon Territory was carved out to form Washington Territory. By 1854, new organized territories of Kansas, Nebraska and Indian Territory was carved out, of whose maps were much bigger than today's. By 1859, Oregon Territory was reorganized to form proper Oregon state with remaining area going to Washington Territory. Same year another intermediary region called Jefferson Territory was formed snatching lands from Territories of Kansas, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Nebraska.
Jumping to 1861 when things started to appear a little more dramatic. Utah Territory is now sliced partially to form Nevada Territory, Colorado is already carved out (not yet a state) from the same Utah Territory and a new area is about to get formed - Dakota (spelled originally as Dacotah). The American Civil War has just started and Jefferson Territory is now dissolved. By 1863, another new territory is carved out of the Washington Territory - Idaho Territory. This would be followed by Montana in 1864, and with the ending of the war, Nevada becomes a proper state. By 1869, most of the western part was organized although some of the territories were yet to attain statehood.
After two decades, Dakota is now divided into North Dakota and South Dakota and at the end of 1880s, Montana and Washington would be attaining statehood. 1890s would follow up with Idaho and a new state of Wyoming. In 1907 the Indian Territory would be reorganized as Oklahoma and incorporated as a state. New Mexico and Arizona would become states in 1912.
Technically, it was 1977 when the last territorial dispute between American states on mainland USA would be resolved; a tiny piece of land ceding from Texas to Mexico. Prior to this several other interstate or US-Canada or US-Mexico territorial conflicts were settled down. And if we count the territorial anomalies or changes outside mainland USA, it would be the gaining of independence of Palau in 1994 which was formerly part of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (a group of Micronesian territories such as Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands and Palau out of which only Northern Mariana Islands are even today part of USA).
Also interesting is to see changes in administrative headquarters of these territories and states. Oregon's capital was Corvallis before it changed to Salem in 1855. Fillmore City is shown as the administrative HQ of Utah before it changed to Salt Lake City in 1855 again. Topeka was changed from Lawrence in 1856 for Kansas and Omaha City served capital of Nebraska before Lincoln became in 1867. These were the 'de facto' capitals before a proper headquarter was planned out.
Its interesting again as USA once had its territories all across the globe except Europe (if Liberia and Panama - which was part of Colombia before 1903 - are considered as well). At present except for some islands in Pacific Ocean and in Caribbean Sea (which are known as Unincorporated Territories), USA doesn't have any other colonies or land territories.
@mapsbysagar
@mapsbysagar
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