Louisiana Territory was the official United States government designation from July 4, 1805 until December 11, 1812 for the portion of the Louisiana Purchase which was not partioned off into Orleans Territory, later the state of Louisiana. Louisiana Territory was everything in the Purchase north of the 33rd parallel. Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory on December 12, 1812 to avoid confusion with the new state of Louisiana. Louisiana Territory included the District of Arkansas, organized in 1808 from lands ceded by the Osage people.
