Historical regions of 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 a more complete list of regions and subdivisions of the United States used in modern times, see List of regions of the United States.

Colonial era (before 1776)

A 1775 map of the German Coast, a historical region of present-day Louisiana located above New Orleans on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River

*Vandalia* was the name of a proposed British colony located south of the Ohio River, primarily in what is now the U.S. states of West Virginia and eastern Kentucky

A proposal for the creation of *Westsylvania* was largely deterred by the Revolutionary War

Thirteen Colonies

Pre-Revolutionary War regions

† - indicates failed legal entities

New England

Acadia
Dominion of New England†
Equivalent Lands
King's College Tract
Provinces of Maine†
- Territory of Sagadahock
- Popham Colony (or Sagadahoc Colony)†
- Gorges-Mason Grant†
- Mason Lands
- Gorges Patent†
  - Lygonia Patent†
  - New Somersetshire†
- Muscongus Patent (also known as the Waldo Patent and, eventually, the Bingham Purchase)
Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Narragansett Country†
New Hampshire Grants
New Haven Colony
Plymouth Colony
Saybrook Colony
Wessagusset Colony†

Mid-Atlantic

Southern

Province of Carolina
Fort Caroline†
Charlesfort†
La Florida
- San Agustín (St. Augustine)
- San Miguel de Gualdape† (in present-day South Carolina)
- Mocama Province†
Jamestown
Natchez District
Northern Neck Proprietary (or "Fairfax Grant")
The Lost Colony of Roanoke†
Stuarts Town†

Interior

Map showing North American territorial boundaries leading up to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States: British claims are indicated in red and pink, while Spanish claims are in orange and yellow.

District of West Augusta
Illinois Country
Indiana Company
The Indian Reserve
Ohio Country (or The Ohio Company of Virginia)†
Province of Quebec (lower portion below the Great Lakes)

Far West

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.

La Louisiane (French Louisiana, 1682–1762 and 1802–1803)
- Arkansas Post
- The German Coast
Luisiana^[1] (Spanish Louisiana, 1762–1802)
Tejas
- Fort Saint Louis†
Santa Fe de Nuevo México
Las Californias

Colonies settled but unrecognized

Transylvania†
Watauga Republic

The Oregon Country. The dispute over Oregon, between Britain and the U.S., led to an uneasy, parallel governing of the territory for almost 30 years.

Colonies proposed but unrealized

Independent entities later joined to the Union

Vermont Republic (also known as the Republic of New Connecticut), 1791
Republic of Texas (disputed with Mexico), 1846
Republic of Hawaii, 1898 (after U.S. immigrant and military involvement in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom)

Regions purchased from foreign powers

Louisiana Purchase, 1803, from France, for $15,000,000
Florida Purchase (or the Spanish Cession), 1819 (effective 1821), from Spain, for $5,000,000; included: East Florida, West Florida, and Sabine Free State or Neutral Ground
Gadsden Purchase, 1853, from Mexico, for $10,000,000
Alaska Purchase (also called "Seward's Folly"), 1867, from Russia, for $7,200,000
Virgin Islands, 1917, from Denmark, for $25,000,000

Regions annexed from or ceded by foreign powers

Republic of West Florida Annexation; seceded from Spain, 1810; disputed with Spain until 1821
- Baton Rouge District (annexed by the U.S., 1810)
- Mobile District (annexed by the U.S., 1812)
Pembina Region, formerly part of Rupert's Land and the Red River Colony (often referred to as the British Cession of 1818) to U.S. in an exchange for the unorganized territory of the original Louisiana Purchase lands north of the 49th parallel
The Aroostook War Compromise Lands; 1842, split jointly claimed areas with the UK
- Maine–New Brunswick Border
  - Republic of Indian Stream
  - South Acadia
- Northwest Angle
- Rupert's Land south of the 49th parallel
Oregon Country (U.S.); the 1846 Oregon Treaty finally split the jointly governed region (called Columbia by the English) between the U.S. and United Kingdom at the 49th parallel
Mexican Cession; effective 1848, from Mexico, including:
- Alta California (California, Nevada, Utah)
- Nuevo México (New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Kansas)
  - Provisional New Mexico
Texas annexation; annexed from Mexico in 1846, including most of present-day Texas and parts of Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and No Man's Land; disputed with Mexico until the end of the Mexican–American War in 1848
- included old Coahuila y Tejas areas
United States Minor Outlying Islands; most claimed under the Guano Islands Act as outside the jurisdiction of other nations (1856 and later)
After victory in the Spanish–American War in 1898, from Spain:
- The Philippine Islands; became a U.S. Territory (1900–1935) and a U.S. commonwealth (1935–1946)
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
American Samoa; 1899, from Germany

Some historic and current U.S. territories
The Philippines was a commonwealth of the United States, 1935–1946
Worldwide location of current U.S. insular areas:
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Ceded or purchased Native American regions

Progression of the two territorial governments, 1819–1836: Indian Territory is in teal;^{[further explanation needed]} Arkansas is in dark green; western portion of Lovely's Purchase is in light green (to Indian Territory, 1828)

Black Hawk Purchase; $640,000; purchased 1832; Michigan Territory (eventually Iowa)
California Indian Reservations and Cessions; 1851–52; unratified treaties; California
Cherokee Outlet; $7,000,000; purchased 1893; Oklahoma Territory (eventually Oklahoma)
Cherokee Strip; a disputed two-mile wide tract of land between the Cherokee Nation and Kansas that was eventually ceded to Kansas in 1866
Jackson Purchase; $300,000; purchased by Tennessee and Kentucky from the Chickasaw Nation in 1818
LaFlore's District (Mississippi)
Lovely's Purchase; 1816 land purchase from the Osage Nation
Moshulatubee's District (Mississippi/Alabama)
Nittakechi's District (Mississippi/Alabama)
Platte Purchase; $7,500; purchased 1836; Missouri
Saginaw Cession; ceded 1819; Michigan Territory (eventually Michigan)

Interstate, territorial, and federal cessions

The following are state cessions made during the building of the U.S.

The Delaware Wedge, dispute with Pennsylvania settled in 1921; now a part of the state of Delaware.
Washington, D.C.; to the federal government from Virginia and Maryland, 1790.
District of Columbia retrocession; the return to Virginia of the District of Columbia lands which Virginia had originally ceded for its creation, 1847.
Greer County, Texas; a disputed county claimed both by Texas and the federal government; to Oklahoma Territory, 1896.
The Honey Lands; a disputed tract of land between the Territory of Iowa and State of Missouri; to State of Iowa, 1851
District of Kentucky; from Virginia; became the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1792.
Illinois County; from Virginia; became Northwest Territory, 1784.
District of Maine; from Massachusetts; became the state of Maine, 1820.
The Toledo Strip; the object of the nearly bloodless Toledo War between Ohio and Michigan; to Ohio, 1837.
Washington District; from North Carolina; became the Southwest Territory, 1790.
West Virginia; from Virginia; separating itself from the Confederacy, declared 1861; admitted to the Union in 1863.
The Western Reserve; from Connecticut to the Northwest Territory (Ohio), 1800.
The Yazoo lands; from Georgia to the Mississippi Territory, 1802.

Former organized territories

Census Bureau map depicting territorial acquisitions and effective dates of statehood

The following is a list of the 31 U.S. territories that have become states, in the order of the date organized. (All were considered incorporated.)

Northwest Territory (1787–1803); became the state of Ohio and the Territory of Indiana
Territory South of the River Ohio (also known as the Southwest Territory) (1790–1796); became the State of Tennessee
Territory of Mississippi (1798–1817); became the State of Mississippi and the Territory of Alabama
Territory of Indiana (1800–1816); split into the Illinois Territory, the Michigan Territory, and the State of Indiana
Territory of Orleans (1804–1812); became the State of Louisiana.
Territory of Michigan (1805–1837); became State of Michigan and the Territory of Wisconsin
Territory of Louisiana (1805–1812) (preceded by the District of Louisiana), then renamed the Territory of Missouri
Territory of Illinois (1809–1818); split into the State of Illinois and additions to the Michigan Territory
Territory of Missouri (1812–1821); became the State of Missouri and unorganized territory (the eastern part of which was attached to the Territory of Michigan in 1834)
Territory of Alabama (1817–1819); became the State of Alabama
Territory of Arkansaw (1819–1836); became the State of Arkansas, additions to the unorganized territory of the original Louisiana Purchase, and the unorganized Indian Territory (which eventually spawned Indian Territory, Oklahoma Territory and No Man's Land)
Territory of Florida (1822–1845); became the State of Florida
Territory of Wisconsin (1836–1848); split into the State of Wisconsin, the Iowa Territory and Unorganized Territory
Territory of Iowa (1838–1846); split into the State of Iowa and unorganized territory of the original Louisiana Purchase
Territory of Oregon (1848–1859) (preceded by the unrecognized Oregon Country); split into the State of Oregon and Washington Territory
Territory of Minnesota (1849–1858) (preceded by unorganized territory of the original Northwest Territory (remnant of former Wisconsin Territory) and original Louisiana Purchase); split into the State of Minnesota and unorganized territory of the original Louisiana Purchase
Territory of New Mexico (1850–1912) (preceded by Nuevo Mexico, of which the southern part was known as the Arizona Territory (1861–1864) by the Confederate States of America); split into the Arizona Territory and the State of New Mexico
Territory of Utah (1850–1896) (preceded by Alta California and the unrecognized State of Deseret); split into the State of Utah, the Nevada Territory, additions to the Colorado Territory and additions to the Wyoming Territory
Territory of Washington (1853–1889); became the State of Washington and additions to the Idaho Territory.
Territory of Kansas (1854–1861) (preceded by unorganized territory of the original Louisiana Purchase); part became the modern State of Kansas; the western part became part of the Colorado Territory
Territory of Nebraska (1854–1867) (preceded by unorganized territory of the original Louisiana Purchase); split into the State of Nebraska, the Dakota Territory, additions to the Idaho Territory and additions to the Colorado Territory
Territory of Colorado (1861–1876) (preceded by parts of the territories of Kansas, Utah, New Mexico and Nebraska); became the State of Colorado (see also Jefferson Territory)
Territory of Nevada (1861–1864) (preceded by the Utah Territory and the unrecognized State of Deseret); became the State of Nevada.
Territory of Dakota (1861–1889); became the State of North Dakota, the State of South Dakota, additions to the Idaho Territory and additions to the Wyoming Territory.
Territory of Arizona (1863–1912); became the State of Arizona and an addition to the State of Nevada.
Territory of Idaho (1863–1890) (preceded by parts of the territories of Washington, Dakota, and Nebraska); became the State of Idaho, the Montana Territory, additions to the Dakota Territory and additions to the Wyoming Territory.
Territory of Montana (1864–1889); became the State of Montana.
Territory of Wyoming (1868–1890) (preceded by parts of the territories of Dakota, Utah and Idaho); became the State of Wyoming.
Territory of Oklahoma (1890–1907) (preceded by the unorganized Indian Territory (1834–1907) and the Neutral Strip); became the State of Oklahoma.
Territory of Hawaii (1900–1959) (preceded by the Republic of Hawaii); became the State of Hawaii.
Territory of Alaska (1912–1959) (preceded by the Department of Alaska and the District of Alaska); became the State of Alaska.

Internal land grants, cessions, districts, departments, claims and settlements

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.

Cumberland District, North Carolina (also called the District of Miro); Tennessee.
District of Louisiana; Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming; renamed Missouri Territory in 1812.
Military Tract of 1812; Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas, Missouri.
Ohio Country; parts of Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.

Alaska

District of Alaska; renamed the Alaska Territory in 1912.

Colorado

Pike's Peak Country

Iowa

Nebraska

Nemaha Half-Breed Reservation

New York

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Federal military districts and departments

These entities were sometimes 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.

Central United States

Department of the Northwest (1862–1865) Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska^[2]
- District of Minnesota (1862–1865)
- District of Wisconsin (1862–1865)
- District of Iowa (1862–1865)
- District of Dakota (1862–1866)
- District of Montana (1864–1866)
Department of the Missouri (1861–1865) Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, part of Kentucky, and later Kansas; re-configured in 1865 as part of the Division of the Missouri.
Division of the Missouri (1865–1891).
- Department of Dakota (1866–1911) Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and parts of Idaho, South Dakota and the Yellowstone portion of Wyoming.
- Department of the Missouri (1865–1891) Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Indian Territory, and Territory of Oklahoma.
- Department of the Platte (1866–1898) Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Dakota Territory, Utah Territory, Wyoming (except Yellowstone), and a portion of Idaho.
- Department of Texas (1871–1880) (originally part of the Department of the Gulf) Texas after 1865.
Department of New Mexico (1854–65) New Mexico Territory; previously part of the District of California and the Department of the West.

Pacific area

Pacific Division (1848–1853) lands won in the Mexican–American War; became the original Department of the Pacific in 1853.
- Military Department 10 (1848–1851) California.
- Military Department 11 (1848–1851) Oregon Territory.
Department of the Pacific (1853–1858; and 1861–1865); separated into the Department of California and the Department of Oregon in 1858.
- District of Oregon (1853–1858) Washington Territory, Oregon Territory.
- District of California (1853–1858) California, New Mexico Territory; Utah added 1858

During the American Civil War, the Department of the Pacific had six subordinate military districts:

District of Oregon (headquarters at Fort Vancouver) January 15, 1861 – July 27, 1865
District of California (headquarters at San Francisco, co-located with Department of the Pacific). Independent command from Department from (July 1, 1864 – July 27, 1865); those parts of California not in other districts.
District of Southern California (September 25, 1861 – July 27, 1865); Counties of Southern California (southward from San Luis Obispo and Tulare Counties).
District of Humboldt (December 12, 1861 – July 27, 1865); Del Norte, Humboldt, Klamath, Mendocino Counties of California.
District of Utah (August 6, 1862 – July 27, 1865); Utah Territory, Nevada Territory, later State of Nevada.
District of Arizona (March 7, 1865 – July 27, 1865); Territory of Arizona

The Department of California (1858–1861) comprised 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.

Military Division of the Pacific (1865–1891).
- Department of Alaska (1868–1884) became the civilian-ruled District of Alaska.
- Department of Arizona (1865–1891) Arizona Territory; included New Mexico Territory after 1885.
- Department of the Columbia (1865–1891) Oregon, Washington Territory, part of Idaho Territory, and Alaska after 1870.
  - District of Oregon (1865–1867) Washington Territory, Oregon Territory and Idaho Territory.
- New Department of California (1865–1891) California, Nevada Territory, Arizona Territory, and part of New Mexico Territory.

The south

Department of the Gulf (1862–1865; created by the U.S. for the Civil War) Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.
Trans-Mississippi (or Trans-Mississippi Department; CSA) (1862–1865). Formerly "Military Dept. 2"; Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), Kansas, and Louisiana west of the Mississippi River.

The west

Department of the West (1853–1861): all U.S. lands between the Mississippi River and the Military District of the Pacific not included in other Districts or Departments.

Retroceded possessions and overseas territories

The Panama Canal Zone was once a territory of the United States

The Milk River and Poplar River cessions to the United Kingdom (Treaty of 1818)
Commonwealth of the Philippines to Republic of the Philippines (1946)
Chamizal, Texas, to Mexico (1964)
Swan Islands to Honduras (1971)
Rio Rico, Texas, (Horcón Tract) to Mexico (1977)
Panama Canal Zone to Panama (1979)
Canton and Enderbury Islands (administered jointly with the UK) to Kiribati (1979)

Functioning but non-sanctioned territories

These "territories" had actual, functioning governments (recognized or not):

Cimarron Territory
State of Deseret
State of Frankland / Franklin
Jefferson Territory
Kansas Territory (1854–1861) had two different governments in different cities, pro-slavery and anti-slavery, each claiming to be the real, lawful government of the entire territory. Since Kansas entered the union as a free state in 1861, there has only been one capital, Topeka, Kansas. It entered as a free state in 1861 because the entire pro-slavery block in Congress, which would not have allowed this, had left to become the Confederacy.
Long Republic
Nataqua Territory
Trans-Oconee Republic

These are functioning governments created as a result of the attempted secession of the Confederacy during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Some were enclaves within enemy-held territories:

Confederate States of America (CSA) – see map.
- Confederate Arizona (parts of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico)
- State of Dade
- Second Republic of South Carolina

These were regions disassociated from neighboring areas due to opposing views:

Nickajack
Free State of Jones
Republic of Winston (see Winston County, Alabama)
State of Scott, seceded from Tennessee and became a Union enclave (see Scott County, Tennessee)
Town Line, New York
Free State of Van Zandt, seceded from Texas to be its own republic.

Regional nicknames

Belts

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 the region's economy or climate.

References

^ "Luisiana". Artifacts.org. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
^ Heidler, David Stephen; Heidler, Jeanne T.; Coles, David J.; Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History; W. W. Norton & Company; New York; 2000; p. 590.

External links

[1] "Luisiana". Artifacts.org. Retrieved 2012-09-17.

[2] Heidler, David Stephen; Heidler, Jeanne T.; Coles, David J.; Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History; W. W. Norton & Company; New York; 2000; p. 590.

[1]

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