Dakota Territory

Dakota Territory

Dakota Territory was the name of the northernmost part of the Louisiana Purchase territory of the United States. It was organized on March 2, 1861, and divided into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota in November 2, 1889. At times, the territory of Dakota Territory included parts of present-day Montana and Wyoming, the territory was reduced in 1863 to the present boundaries of the Dakotas.

The territorial capital was Yankton from 1861 until 1883, when it was moved to Bismarck. The admission of the two Dakotas, rather than one Dakota, was the result of Republican control of the Congress who wanted two new states, rather than one, who favored Republican candidates and would add to their heft in the Senate and the House.