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Washington Important Dates


Important Dates in Washington History

  • 1800's At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Spain, Russia, and England all claimed what is now Washington.

  • 1811 John Jacob Astor (American) established a trading post at Astoria. This was the first settlement in this area.

  • 1819 Spain withdrew her claims.

  • 1825 Russia withdrew her claims.

  • 1836 Marcus Whitman established the second white settlement near present-day Walla Walla. Early settlement centered in the Willamette Valley.

  • 1846 The present boundary between the United States and Canada was established.

  • 1848 The Oregon Territory was created. It included what is now Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

  • 1849 Settlers went farther north into the Puget Sound area to obtain food and lumber that was needed in the California gold fields.

  • 1850 The Oregon Donation Act was passed. This guaranteed land to those who settled and cultivated land in the territory before 1855. This attracted an estimated 30,000 new settlers.

  • 1853 Washington Territory was created from the northern part of Oregon Territory.

  • 1859 Oregon became a state. Washington Territory was enlarged to include the remaining Oregon territory not included in the new state.

  • 1860 The discovery of gold near Walla Walla attracted many prospectors.

  • 1863 The Idaho Territory was created from lands in eastern Washington Territory.

  • 1881 The Northern Pacific Railway reached Spokane.

  • 1888 The transcontinental railroads reached Washington and brought a great influx of settlers.

  • 1889 Washington became a state. Seattle was the largest city and the chief supply point for the gold rush to the Yukon territory in Alaska.

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