TIMELINE

Select another U.S. State

Close[X] United States of America

print this map print this map

1 | 2 Timeline (Page 1)

1600's - 1700's

(1610) Henry Hudson claimed Hudson Bay watershed for England, including eastern North Dakota
(1682) LaSalle claimed Mississippi River drainage, including Missouri River drainage in North Dakota for France
(1713) France gives England northern North Dakota
(1738) French explorer, Pierre Gaultier de la Verendyre, visited Mandan villages
(1762) Land claimed by LaSalle for France given to Spain
(1794) Rene Jusseaume established fur post near Knife River
(1797) English explorer, David Thompson, mapped northern part of state

1800's

(1801) First white settlement established in Pembina
(1803) Spain returned Missouri River watershed to France; Louisiana Purchase transferred area from France to United States
(1804) Lewis and Clark arrived, built Fort Mandan
(1806) Lewis and Clark expedition arrived at Fort Mandan on return to east
(1812) William Douglas established a Scottish settlement near Pembina
(1818) North Dakota became part of Missouri Territory
(1828) American Fur Company opened Fort Union, remained the most important trading post in the area for 40 years
(1837) Smallpox epidemic annihilated Mandan Indians
(1851) Permanent agricultural settlement established at Pembina
(1860) Regular steamboat service began on Missouri River
(1861) Dakota Territory officially organized; William Jayne appointed first governor
(1863) Dakota Territory opened for homesteading
(1867) Fort Totten Indian Reservation established
(1868) Laramie Treaty defined Sioux lands as west of Missouri River in Dakota Territory; Joseph Rolette was first homesteader
(1870) Fort Berthold Indian Reservation established
(1874) Col. George A. Custer explored Black Hills, verified existence of gold
(1875) U. S. War Department allowed white settlement on Indian lands causing major uprising
(1876) Custer defeated at Little Big Horn River
(1878) Ranching began in western Dakota Territory
(1879) Great Dakota land boom began
(1882) Last Indian buffalo hunt occurred; fire destroyed much of Grand Forks
(1883) Territorial capital moved to Bismarck from Yankton
(1884) Fire destroyed half of city of Devils Lake
(1886) Severe winter ended open range ranching
(1889) North Dakota became 39th state
(1890) Sitting Bull killed
(1893) Fire destroyed business section of Fargo
(1898) Fire destroyed Bismarck business section

1 | 2

Timeline continued...