Oregon Territory
| Territory of Oregon | |||||||||||
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| Organized incorporated territory of the United States | |||||||||||
| 1846–1859 | |||||||||||
Seal of the Oregon Territory
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1855 map of the territories of Washington and Oregon | |||||||||||
| Capital |
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| 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 | |||||||||||
| June 15, 1846 | |||||||||||
• Organized | 14 August 1846 | ||||||||||
• Washington Territory split off | March 2, 1853 | ||||||||||
| 14 February | |||||||||||
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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 Territorio de Nutca (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.