Oregon Territory
| Territory of Oregon | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organized incorporated territory of the United States | |||||||||||
Seal of the Oregon Territory
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Map of the Oregon Territory, before the creation of Washington Territory | |||||||||||
| Capital |
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| Population | |||||||||||
• 1850 | 13,294 | ||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||
| • Type | Organized incorporated territory | ||||||||||
| • Motto | Alis volat propriis | ||||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||||
• 1848–1850; 1853 | Joseph Lane | ||||||||||
• 1850 | Kintzing Prichette | ||||||||||
• 1850–1853 | John P. Gaines | ||||||||||
• 1853–1854 | John W. Davis | ||||||||||
• 1854–1859 | George L. Curry | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| 15 June 1846 | |||||||||||
• Organized | 14 August 1846 | ||||||||||
• Washington Territory split off | 2 March 1853 | ||||||||||
| 14 February 1859 | |||||||||||
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The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries (see Oregon Country), Spanish "El Orejón" was part of the Nootka Territory (1789–1795), later in the 19th century, the region was divided between the British Empire and the US in 1846. When established, the territory encompassed an area that included the current states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as well as parts of Wyoming and Montana. The capital of the territory was first Oregon City, then Salem, followed briefly by Corvallis, then back to Salem, which became the state capital upon Oregon's admission to the Union.