Minnesota Territory

Territory of Minnesota
Organized incorporated territory of the United States
←   ← 1849–1858 →   →
Capital		St. Paul
Government		Organized incorporated territory
Governor
•	1849–1853	Alexander Ramsey
•	1853–1857	Willis A. Gorman
•	1857–1858	Samuel Medary
Legislature		Minnesota Territorial Legislature
History
•	Split from Iowa and Wisconsin territories	March 3, 1849
•	Statehood	May 11, 1858

The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1849, until May 11, 1858, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota.

The boundaries of the Minnesota Territory, as carved out of Iowa Territory, included the current Minnesota region and most of what later became Dakota Territory east of the Missouri River. Minnesota Territory also included portions of Wisconsin Territory that did not become part of Wisconsin, located between the Mississippi River and Wisconsin, including the Arrowhead Region.

At the time of its formation, the territory contained three cities: St. Paul, St. Anthony (now part of Minneapolis), and Stillwater. The major territorial institutions were divided among the three: St. Paul was made the capital; Minneapolis was selected as the site of the University of Minnesota; and Stillwater was chosen as the site of the Minnesota Territorial Prison.

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Wikipedia