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49-668: 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 and the western portion became unorganized territory and shortly after was reorganized as part of the Dakota Territory . The Minnesota Territory was formed on March 3, 1849, encompassing

98-657: A New York merchant. It is likely that these considerations were discussed with Astor during his visits to Montreal and the Beaver Club . Despite not originating the idea to create a venture on the Pacific coast, Astor's "ability to combine and use the ideas of other men" allowed him to pursue the idea. Astor joined in on two NWC voyages charted to sail to the Qing Empire during the 1790s. These were done with American vessels to bypass British commercial law , which at

147-602: A fort at the entrance of the Columbia River. Once the pelts were collected from the extensive outposts they were to be loaded and shipped aboard ships owned by Astor to the Chinese port of Guangzhou, where furs were sold for impressive profits. Chinese products like porcelain , nankeens and tea were to be purchased; with the ships then to cross the Indian Ocean and head for European and American markets to sell

196-770: A monopoly in the Great Lakes region and the Midwest. In the 1820s the AFC expanded its monopoly into the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains , dominating the fur trade in what became Montana by the mid-1830s. To achieve control of the industry, the company bought out or beat out many smaller competitors, like the Rocky Mountain Fur Company . By 1830, the AFC had nearly complete control of

245-489: A more complete list of regions and subdivisions of the United States used in modern times, see List of regions of the United States . † - indicates failed legal entities Unlike the land to the east, most of the land west of the Mississippi River was under French or Spanish rule until the first years of the 19th century. The following are state cessions made during the building of the U.S. The following

294-532: A result of the attempted secession of the Confederacy during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Some were enclaves within enemy-held territories: These were regions disassociated from neighboring areas due to opposing views: Belts are loosely defined sub-regions found throughout the United States that are named for a perceived commonality among the included areas, which is often related to

343-443: Is a list of the 31 U.S. territories that have become states, in the order of the date organized . (All were considered incorporated .) The following are land grants, cessions, defined districts (official or otherwise) or named settlements made within an area that was already part of a U.S. state or territory that did not involve international treaties or Native American cessions or land purchases. These entities were sometimes

392-546: Is no documentation of this and it is more likely that he had sent a copy of the map to Congress due to personal pride. Pond later became a founding member of the North West Company (NWC) and continued to trade in modern Alberta. In time Pond had an influence upon Alexander Mackenzie , who later crossed the North American continent. In 1802, Mackenzie promoted a plan form the "Fishery and Fur Company" to

441-846: The Astor Library in New York City. Later it merged with the Lenox Library to form the New York Public Library . On the frontier, the American Fur Company opened the way for the settlement and economic development of the Midwestern and Western United States. Mountain men working for the company improved Native American trails and carved others that led settlers into the West. Many cities in

490-764: The Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory still exists. Fort Ripley is now the Minnesota National Guard 's Camp Ripley . The first school in the Territory was located at Fort Snelling, as was the first Post Office. The first justice of the peace in Minnesota was at Mendota , as was the first church, St. Peter's Catholic Church , which was built in 1840. The first territorial governor, Alexander Ramsey , requested that Congress approve funds for five military roads in

539-536: The Great Lakes , the Great Plains and the Oregon Country to gain control of the North American fur trade. Comparatively inexpensive manufactured goods were to be shipped to commercial stations for trade with various Indigenous nations for fur pelts. The sizable number of furs collected were then to be brought to the port of Canton , as pelts were in high demand in the Qing Empire . Chinese products were, in turn, to be purchased for resale throughout Europe and

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588-627: The Hudson's Bay Company , in a short time the HBC controlled the majority of the fur trade across the Pacific Northwest. This was done in a manner that "the Americans were forced to acknowledge that Astor's dream" of a multi-continent economic web "had been realized... by his enterprising and far-sighted competitors." The South West Company handled the Midwestern and Southwestern fur trade. In

637-581: The Mayor of New York City , DeWitt Clinton , Astor explained that a state charter would offer a particular level of formal sanction needed in the venture. He in turn requested the Federal government grant his operations military support to defend against Indians and control these new markets. The bold proposals were not given official sanction however, making Astor to continue to promote his ideas among prominent governmental agents. President Thomas Jefferson

686-728: The Royal Navy forced the sale of all company assets across the Oregon Country. This was formalized on 23 October 1813 with the raising of the Union Jack at Fort Astoria . On 30 November HMS Racoon arrived at the Columbia River and in honor of George III of the United Kingdom , Fort Astoria was renamed Fort George. After the forced merger in 1821 of the North West Company into their long time rivals,

735-631: The 1830s, competition began to resurface. At the same time, the availability of furs in the Midwest declined. During this period, the Hudson's Bay Company began an effort to destroy the American fur companies from its Columbia District headquarters at Fort Vancouver . By depleting furs in the Snake River country and underselling the American Fur Company at the annual Rocky Mountain Rendezvous ,

784-460: The 1850s. In 1834, John Jacob Astor sold his interest on the river to replace the old fur company. He invested his fortune in real estate on Manhattan Island, New York, and became the wealthiest man in America. After 1840, the business of the American Fur Company declined. During its heyday, the American Fur Company was one of the largest enterprises in the United States and held a total monopoly of

833-722: The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis continues to oversee the Catholic dioceses in the Dakotas within its ecclesiastical province. In the 1850 United States census , the nine counties in the Minnesota Territory reported the following population counts: [REDACTED] Media related to Minnesota Territory at Wikimedia Commons 46°00′N 97°24′W  /  46°N 97.4°W  / 46; -97.4 Organized incorporated territory of

882-724: The British government. In it he called for "a supreme Civil & Military Establishment" on Nootka Island , with two additional posts located on the Columbia River and another in the Alexander Archipelago . Additionally this plan was formed to bypass the three major British monopolies at the time, the Hudson's Bay Company , the South Sea Company and the East India Company for access

931-458: The Chinese markets. However the British government turned down the offer, leaving the NWC to pursue MacKenzie's plans alone. Another likely influence upon Astor was a longtime friend, Alexander Henry . At times Henry mused at the potential of the western coast. Forming establishments on the Pacific shoreline to harness the economic potential would be "my favorite plan" as Henry described in a letter to

980-732: The Chinese wares. To begin his plans of a chain of trading stations spread across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Northwest , Astor incorporated the AFC subsidiary, the Pacific Fur Company . Astor and the partners met in New York on 23 June 1810 and signed the Pacific Fur Company's provisional agreement. The fellow partners were former NWC men, being Alexander McKay , Duncan McDougall , and Donald Mackenzie . The chief representative of Astor in

1029-559: The HBC effectively ruined American fur trading efforts in the Rocky Mountains. By the 1840s, silk was replacing fur for hats as the clothing fashion in Europe. The company was unable to cope with all these factors. Despite efforts to increase profits by diversifying into other industries like lead mining, the American Fur Company folded. The assets of the company were split into several smaller operations, most of which failed by

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1078-492: The Midwest, it also competed with regional companies along the upper Missouri, upper Mississippi, Platte rivers and as far south as New Mexico. These competitors were mostly companies based in Saint Louis, Missouri , which were active in the fur trade as well as in trade of general merchandise, and which were typically founded and led by French colonial families, such as Pratte, Chouteau , Cabanne and Ceran St. Vrain amongst

1127-682: The Pacific Coast. Peter Pond , an active American fur trader, offered maps of his explorations in modern Alberta , Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories to both the United States Congress and to Henry Hamilton , Lieutenant Governor of Quebec in 1785. While it has been conjectured that Pond wanted funding from the Americans to explore the Pacific Coast for the Northwest Passage , there

1176-701: The Territory: Mendota/Fort Snelling to the confluence of the Big Sioux River with the Missouri River ; Point Douglas to Fort Ripley; Fort Ripley Road/Swan River to Long Prairie Indian Agency; and Point Douglas to Superior. A budget was approved in 1850 for four of these roads, with the Point Douglas–Fort Ripley Military Road being the first. Additional funds were later appropriated for a survey of

1225-674: The United States The territory of the United States and its overseas possessions has evolved over time , from the colonial era to the present day. It includes formally organized territories, proposed and failed states, unrecognized breakaway states , international and interstate purchases, cessions , and land grants , and historical military departments and administrative districts. The last section lists informal regions from American vernacular geography known by popular nicknames and linked by geographical, cultural, or economic similarities, some of which are still in use today. For

1274-419: The United States and engaging in trade with Native Americans. Congress passed this law at the urging of John Jacob Astor with the caveat that a special exemption to this law could be granted exclusively by the president. Later this power would be given to Native American tribes and some territorial officials. One years time was enough that John Jacob Astor and the American Fur Company has sufficient connections in

1323-596: The United States. A beneficial agreement with the Russian-American Company was also planned through the regular supply of provisions for posts in Russian America . This was planned in part to prevent the rival Montreal based NWC to gain a presence along the Pacific Coast, a prospect neither the Russian colonial authorities or Astor favored. Demand for furs in Europe began to decline during

1372-819: The West Plains Trail, East Plains Trail, and Woods Trails. They connected Fort Garry and the Selkirk Settlement in British North America with Fort Snelling and the American Fur Trading Company at Mendota . Later, the Oxcarts became synonymous with St. Paul's Kellogg Street and the riverboat landing on the Mississippi River. Fort Ripley lay along the East Plains Trail. In 1850, 10 years after

1421-540: The area to fill the void left by the banning of the British Companies that formerly held control of the Chicago fur trade. By 1808, Astor had established "an international empire that mixed furs, teas, and silks and penetrated markets on three continents." He began to court diplomatic and government support of a fur trading venture to be established on the Pacific shore in the same year. In correspondence with

1470-513: The area. This foundation began with a partnership between the American Fur Company and two British companies that supplied trade goods to the Chicago area. The terms of this arrangement were such that the partnership would last for five years or until the American government prohibited the use of foreign capital in the United States. This partnership was short lived as after the War of 1812 the United States government banned foreign investors from entering

1519-515: The business as Pratte, Chouteau & Company. For a time, it seemed that the company had been destroyed but, following the war, the United States passed a law excluding foreign traders from operating on U.S. territory. This freed the American Fur Company from having to compete with the Canadian and British companies, particularly along the borders around the Great Lakes and in the West. The AFC competed fiercely among American companies to establish

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1568-475: The construction of the Beaver in 1803 to expand his trade fleet. By the early 1800's the Chicago area was already a large center for the fur trade. The city was largely occupied by soldiers stationed at Fort Dearborn and fur traders in small camps. Prior to the War of 1812 the British maintained control of the area. However, in 1811 John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company began to lay the foundation to move into

1617-750: The daily operations was Wilson Price Hunt , a St. Louis businessman with no outback experience. From the outpost on the Columbia , Astor hoped to gain a commercial foothold in Russian America and China. In particular, the ongoing supply issues faced by the Russian-American Company were seen as a means to gain yet more furs. Cargo ships en route from the Columbia were planned to then sail north for Russian America to bring much needed provisions. By cooperating with Russian colonial authorities to strengthen their material presence in Russian America, it

1666-399: The early 19th century, leading to the stagnation of the fur trade by the mid-19th century. Astor left his company in 1830, the company declared bankruptcy in 1842, and the American Fur Company ultimately ceased trading in 1847. Before John Jacob Astor founded his enterprise in the Oregon Country , European descendants throughout previous decades had suggested creating trade stations along

1715-490: The end of the Second Great Awakening (1790–1840), of the three churches with regular services in the Minnesota Territory, 1 was Methodist , 1 was Presbyterian , and 1 was Catholic . The Roman Catholic diocese of Saint Paul of Minnesota was established by Pope Pius IX on July 19, 1850, and consisted of the entirety of the Minnesota Territory. Because of this original territorial designation, to this day

1764-524: The entirety of the present-day state of Minnesota and the majority portions of modern-day North and South Dakota east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. At the time of formation there were an estimated 5,000 settlers living in the Territory. There were no roads from adjoining Wisconsin or Iowa . The easiest access to the region was via waterway , of which the Mississippi River

1813-477: The first trusts in American business and a major competitor to the British commercial dominance in North American fur trade . Expanding into many former British fur-trapping regions and trade routes , the company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest and wealthiest businesses in the country. Astor planned for several companies to function across

1862-499: The fur trade in the United States. The company's time at the top of America's business world was short-lived. Sensing the eventual decline of fur's popularity in fashion, John Jacob Astor withdrew from the company in 1834. The company split into smaller entities like the Pacific Fur Company. The Northern Division of the midwestern outfit continued to be called the American Fur Company and was led by Ramsay Crooks . To cut down on expenses, it began closing many of its trading posts. Through

1911-430: The lucrative fur trade in the young nation by the 1820s. Through his profits from the company, John Jacob Astor made numerous, lucrative land investments and became the richest man in the world and the first multi-millionaire in the United States. The German-born Astor is ranked as the eighteenth-wealthiest person of all time, and the eighth to create his fortune in the United States. He used part of his fortune to found

1960-475: The most prominent, both before and after the Louisiana Purchase or Astor setting up his company. Competition in the wilderness areas between men of the companies sometimes erupted into physical violence and outright attacks. In 1834, the American Fur Company sold its Western Division to Bernard Pratte and Pierre Chouteau Jr. , with whom they had been already cooperating, with the latter continuing

2009-535: The only governmental authority in the listed areas, although they often co-existed with civil governments in scarcely populated states and territories. Civilian administered "military" tracts, districts, departments, etc., will be listed elsewhere. During the American Civil War, the Department of the Pacific had six subordinate military districts: The Department of California (1858–1861) comprised

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2058-445: The region's economy or climate. American Fur Trading Company During the 18th century, furs had become a major commodity in Europe, and North America became a major supplier. Several British companies, most notably the North West Company (NWC) and the Hudson's Bay Company , were eventual competitors against Astor and capitalized on the lucrative trade in furs . Astor used a variety of commercial strategies to become one of

2107-885: The route to the Big Sioux/Missouri, the Fort Ridgely and South Pass Wagon Road and the Wagon Road from Fort Ripley to Fort Abercrombie . Private trails were cut as well, the most well known of which was Dodd Road from 1853. It was named after its builder, Captain William B. Dodd, and significant portions of it still exist. When the region was still part of the Wisconsin Territory , the Red River Trails were further developed by Joe Rolette . There were three main trails, now identified as

2156-455: The southern part of the Department of the Pacific: California, Nevada, and southern part of Oregon Territory; merged into the Department of the Pacific as the District of California. The Department of Oregon (1858–1861) comprised the northern part of the Department of the Pacific: Washington Territory and Oregon Territory. These "territories" had actual, functioning governments (recognized or not): These are functioning governments created as

2205-642: The time prohibited any company besides the East India Company from commerce with China. These were financially profitable ventures, enough so that Astor offered to become the NWC agent for all shipments of furs destined for Guangzhou . However Alexander Mackenzie denied his offer, making Astor consider financing voyages to China without the Canadian traders. Now a fully independent international merchant, Astor began to fund trading voyages to China along with several partners. Cargoes often amounted to $ 150,000 (equivalent to about $ 4 million in 2023) in such as otter and beaver pelts, in addition to needed specie. Astor ordered

2254-430: Was contacted by the ambitious merchant as well. Astor gave a detailed plan of his mercantile considerations, declaring that they were designed to bring about American commercial dominance over "the greater part of the fur-trade of this continent..." This was to be accomplished through a chain of interconnected trading posts that stretching across the Great Lakes, the Missouri River basin, the Rocky Mountains, and ending with

2303-431: Was founded in 1852. The Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies were created in 1853. All of these were also located adjacent to waterways. The primary territorial institutions were in the three main settlements. St. Paul was made the territorial capital , Minneapolis was selected as the site of the University of Minnesota , and Stillwater was chosen for the Territorial Prison . The military reservations were federal land, of which

2352-401: Was hoped by Astor to stop the NWC or any other British presence to be established upon the Pacific Coast. A tentative agreement for merchant vessels owned by Astor to ship furs gathered in Russian America into the Qing Empire was signed in 1812. While intended to gain control of the regional fur trade, the Pacific Fur Company floundered in the War of 1812 . The possibility of an occupation by

2401-415: Was primary. The primary mode of transport was the riverboat . Minnesota Territory had three significant pioneer settlements: St. Paul , St. Anthony/ Minneapolis , and Stillwater , plus two military reservations: Fort Snelling and Fort Ripley . All of these were located on waterways. A reservation for the Winnebago people had been created at Long Prairie in 1848. The Chippewa Agency, at Crow Wing ,

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