RootsChat.Com

Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 03:51 BST (UK)

Title: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 03:51 BST (UK)
Can anyone please help me find this book/map. Years and years ago my (unknown whether real or adopted) grandfather gave me a smallish Genealogy basics/beginners withdrawn library book. This book had a small (~novel page size) map showing all the USA states boundaries changes (and another map with the formation of the USA). Unfortunately i don't have the book/maps anymore as my 15 years studies papers were destroyed in a crisis that i had a number of years ago (due to being poisoned by dusty water from water sitting in fittings/pipes/tanks it turned out). I can't remember of find the name of the book, and can't find the same or a similar map anywhere (though the 2nd map is easily found in many sources). (Prefer paper copy but e copy is also/alternatively ok. Prefer map, but otherwise/also in words/writing/text is ok. Prefer exact same map/info but otherwise as close/similar as possible. I'm mainly after the map(s) if not the book name, but ideally both would be good.) (Incidentally it seems that one file of info on some early states changes that i did find on the net/web seems to be yet another file suspiciously missing from my hdds since i got my computer back from computer shop after 8 weeks after  virus attack after my popes/emperors discovery.) I can pay any cost but only certain ways (i can do direct credit, can't do pay pal, can only do credit card if safe/trust).
Of course people could also post info on various states boundaries changes here too (though i need to have offline reference/s).
Sean, NZ.

(Sorry i can't remember if i already posted this years ago. The search on this forum is not very good.
Also wasn't sure whether this goes under US or for sale/wanted/events or common room.)

Will just add this interesting lateral/side/tangent info on Jefferson States:

"The Territory of Jefferson existed from 1859 for about eighteen months, and was an enormous rectangular-square of the frontier that contained all of present-day Colorado and parts of Utah, Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska. It was organized by the federal government into the Territory of Colorado as its successor."
".... a united Texas would be strong enough to declare independence and form the backbone of a new confederate resistance. So a bill was introduced in Congress that would split the state into three—central Texas remaining as Texas, the state of Matagorda west of the Colorado river, and the state of Jefferson east of the San Antonio river."
".... a bill introduced to the Texas legislature in 1915 in order to create a State of Jefferson, made up of the Texas Panhandle."
"The most dramatic and interesting attempt at a State of Jefferson was the secession movement in Oregon and California in October 1941. Then, Mayor Gable of Port Orford in Oregon announced that several Oregon counties should join with northern California counties to form a new state of Jefferson. . U.S. Route 99 south of Yreka [...] the state of Jefferson was in “patriotic rebellion against the States of California and Oregon”! ...."
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 04:16 BST (UK)
I have found a copy of the text file i mentioned above in an old(er) hdd. Will just post copy here for if any interest/use to anyone. But i still need/want the map/book that i was asking about. This is/was the only info i could find in previous net/web searches. (Have to post it in parts  as it exceeds 5500 characters limit. (Maybe i should try find the link instead.)


Northern half of Pennsylvania claimed by Connecticut until 1782.

New Hampshire claimed the area of Vermont.

Western New York, claimed by both New York and Massachusetts.

Massachusetts included the "District of Maine" and claimed Southern portions of Wisconsin and Michigan.

Connecticut claimed Northern portions of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio (aka Western Reserve).

Virginia included West Virginia, the "District of Kentucky" and claimed the Central/Southern portions of Illinois, Indiana and  Ohio.

North Carolina included the "Cumberland District" (aka "District of Miro") (now Tennessee).

South Carolina included strip across Northern Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

Georgia included North/Central Alabama and Mississippi.

Spain claimed Southern Alabama and Mississippi as part of West Florida.
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 04:21 BST (UK)
= Land Transfer Events 1783 - 1803 =

1783    Acquired by treaty from Great Britain: Lands North of River Ohio, bordered on the West by the Mississippi  River, with a Northern boundary starting at Lake of the Woods in  the NorthWest continuing East through the center points of Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario.
 Note-  The "District of Maine" and New Hampshire's Northern borders were in dispute with Great Britain until 1842.

1784    Central/Southern portions of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio are ceded by Virginia.

1785    Southern portions of Wisconsin and Michigan are ceded by Massachusetts.

1786    Northern portions of Illinois and Indiana are ceded by Connecticut.

1786    New York and Massachusetts claims to Western New York are adjusted and control given to New York.

1787    Delaware admitted to the Union as 1st state.
 Pennsylvania admitted to the Union as 2nd  state.
 New Jersey admitted to the Union as 3rd  state.

1787    "NorthWest Territory" organized from areas of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, majority of Ohio, and NorthEast Minnesota.

1787    Strip across Northern Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi is ceded by South Carolina.  Unaffiliated until  1802.

1788    Georgia admitted to the Union as 4th state.
 Connecticut admitted to the Union as 5th  state.
 Massachusetts admitted to the Union as 6th  state.
 Maryland admitted to the Union as 7th state.
 South Carolina admitted to the Union as 8th  state.
 New Hampshire admitted to the Union as 9th  state.
 Virginia admitted to the Union as 10th state.
 New York admitted to the Union as 11th  state.

1788    Far SouthWest tip of New York sold to Pennsylvania.

1789    (?)Far Western portions of Georgia's claim, between Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers (Yazoo Co's), granted to  Tenn., VA., and S.C.(?).

1789    North Carolina admitted to the Union as 12th state.

1790    New York assumes claim to area of Vermont from New Hampshire.

1790    "Cumberland District" ceded by North Carolina and reorganized as the "Territory South of the River Ohio".

1790    Rhode Island admitted to the Union as 13th state.

1791    District of Columbia (Federal) created from lands ceded by Virginia and Maryland.  In 1846 Virginia lands  were returned.

1791    Vermont admitted to the Union as 14th state.

1792    "District of Kentucky" admitted to the Union as State of Kentucky, 15th state.

1795    North/Central portions of Spanish West Florida are relinquished by Spain.

1795    (?)Yazoo Co's. ceded/relinquished from Tenn., VA., and S.C. back to Georgia.(?)

1796    "Territory South of River Ohio" admitted to the Union as State of Tennessee, 16th state.

1798    Old portion of Spanish West Florida is organized as the Mississippi Territory.     
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 04:25 BST (UK)
1800    West of Mississippi River retroceded from Spain to France.  Possession not taken until 1803.

1800    Northern Ohio (aka Western Reserve) ceded by Connecticut.

1800    Indiana Territory organized from NorthWest Territory, taking Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, NorthEast Minnesota and West half of Michigan.  "New" NorthWest Territory made  up of Ohio and East half
 of Michigan.

1802    North/Central Mississippi and Alabama ceded by Georgia and added to the Mississippi Territory.

1802    Old South Carolina "strip" across Alabama and Mississippi added to the Mississippi Territory.  The "strip"  across Georgia given to Georgia.

1803    Ohio admitted to the Union as 17th state.  Remainder of "New"
   NorthWest Territory (East half of Michigan) added to Indiana Territory.

1803    Louisiana Purchase from France.  Western borders in dispute
   with Spain until 1819.

1804    Louisiana Purchase organized into Territory of Orleans (Louisiana)
        with remainder as "District of Louisiana".
        Western borders in dispute with Spain until 1819.

1805    "District of Louisiana" reorganized as Territory of Louisiana.

1805    Lower Michigan organized as Territory of Michigan from Indiana Territory.

1809    Illinois Territory organized from Indiana Territory, consisting of
   Wisconsin, Illinois and NorthEast Minnesota.  Indiana and Upper Michigan
   remaining in Indiana Territory.

1810    West half of West Florida seized from Spain.

1812    Territory of Louisiana reorganized into Missouri Territory
   (aka The Indian Country).  Western border in dispute with Spain until 1819.

1812    Territory of Orleans admitted to the Union as State of
   Louisiana, 18th state.  Western border in dispute with Spain until 1819.

1813    East half (remainder) of West Florida seized from Spain.

1816    Indiana admitted to the Union as 19th state.
   Remainder of Indiana Territory (Upper Michigan) added to Illinois Territory.

1817    Mississippi admitted to the Union as 20th state.
   Remainder of Mississippi Territory organized into the Territory of Alabama.

1818    Illinois admitted to the Union as 21st state.  Remainder of Illinois
        Territory (Wisc., NE Minn., Mich UP.) added to Michigan Territory.

1818    Treaty with Great Britain sets Northern border at 49 degrees North.
        Running from Lake of the Woods (Minn.), West to the Continental Divide.
        Northern tip of original Louisiana Purchase (now Missouri Terr.) ceded to Britain.
        Lands South of border ceded to the U.S. and added to the Missouri Territory.

1818    Joint claim with Great Britain sets "The Oregon Country" as
        being between 42 degrees North to 54 degrees 40 minutes North with the
        Eastern boundry as the Continental Divide.

Note-  "The Oregon Country", claimed by multiple nations (France,
        Spain, Russia, Great Britain and the U.S.).
        France relinquished claims in 1803 ?with sale of Louisiana Territory?

1819    East Florida ceded by Spain.

1819    Alabama Territory admitted to the Union as State of Alabama, 22nd state.

1819    Western borders of Louisiana and the Missouri Territory set by
        treaty with Spain.

1819    Arkansas Territory organized from Missouri Territory.
   Consists of Arkansas and majority of Oklahoma.

1819    Treaty with Spain sets the Northern border of Spanish claims
        at 42 degrees North.  Relinquishing claims to "The Oregon Country".
        Lands North of the border added to "The Oregon Country".

1820    District of Maine separated from Massachusetts and admitted to
   the Union, 23rd state.  Northern boundry still in dispute with Great Britain.

1821    Missouri admitted to the Union, 24th state.
        Note - Current NW corner not included until 1836.

1821    Mexico (aka New Spain) declares independance from Spain.

1822    East Florida organized as Territory of Florida.

1824    Indian Territory (majority of Oklahoma) created from Arkansas
        Territory.  Remaining Arkansas Territiory consists of Arkansas.

1825    Russia abandons claims to "The Oregon Country".

1834    Lands East of the Missouri River in the Missouri Territory are
        transfered to the Michigan Territory.  (Central/East N.Dakota and
        S.Dakota, Iowa and Western half of Minnesota.)


1834    ?Indian Territory definitely set apart for Indians?

1836    Arkansas admitted to the Union as 25th state.
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 04:28 BST (UK)
1836    Wisconsin Territory created from Michigan Territory.  Includes
        Wisconsin, Eastern Minn., and the area "East of the Missouri River"
        (Central/East N.Dakota and S.Dakota, Iowa and Western half of Minnesota.)
        Remaining Michigan Territory consists of Lower and Upper Michigan.

1836    NorthWest corner of Missouri added.
        (From Michigan/Wisconsin Territory)

1836    "Republic of Texas" declaration of independance from Mexico.

1837    Michigan admitted to the Union as 26th state.

1838    Iowa Territory created from Wisconsin Territory.  Consists of
        the area "East of the Missouri River" (Central/East N.Dakota and
        S.Dakota, Iowa and Western half of Minnesota.)  Remaining Wisconsin
        Territory consists of Wisconsin and Eastern Minn.

1842    Northern borders of New Hampshire and Maine are set by treaty
        with Great Britain.

1845    Florida admitted to the Union as 27th state.

1845    Texas annexed to the Union as 28th state.
        Most of area in dispute with Mexico until 1848.

1846    Southern boundry of Texas set at the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo)
        River.  In dispute with Mexico until 1848.

1846    Iowa admitted to the Union as 29th state.


1846    Lands ceded to the District of Columbia (Federal)
        by Virginia (in 1791) are returned.

1846    Treaty with Great Britain sets the Northern boundry of
        "The Oregon Country" at 49 degrees North.
        Great Britain relinquish's claims to "The Oregon Country".
        Vancouver Island in dispute until 1872.

1848    Treaty with Mexico setting Southern boundry of Texas at the
        Rio Grande River.  Treaty also transfers lands North of the Gila
        River (Ariz.) to the U.S. consisting of California, Nevada, Utah,
        Western Colorado and New Mexico.
        Central Colorado and Eastern New Mexico are claimed by Texas.

1848    "The Oregon Country" organized as the Oregon Territory.

1848    Wisconsin admitted to the Union as 30th state.

1849    Remainder of Wisconsin Territory (Eastern Minn.) and remainder
        of the Iowa Territory (Central/East N.Dakota and S.Dakota, and Western
        half of Minnesota) are reorganized as the Minnesota Territory.

1850    California admitted to the Union as 31st state.

1850    Utah Territory (Utah, Nevada-North of 36 degrees 30 min, Western Colorado
        and SouthWestern Wyoming) organized.

1850    New Mexico Territory (Western New Mexico, Arizona and
        Nevada-South of 36 degrees 30 min) organized.

1850    Texas borders finalized.  Central Colorado and SouthCentral Wyoming added
        to the Utah Territory.  Eastern New Mexico added to the New Mexico Territory.
        With an unorganized piece North of the Texas panhandle. ?added to Missouri
        Territory?

1853    Gadsden Purchase from Mexico (Southern Arizona and New Mexico),
        added to the New Mexico Territory.

1853    Washington Territory (Washington, Northern Idaho and NorthWest
        Montana) created from Oregon Territory.  Remainder (Oregon, Southern Idaho
        and WestCentral Wyoming) as Oregon Territory.
        Vancouver Island in dispute with Great Britain until 1872.

1854    Missouri Territory (aka The Indian Country) reorganized into the
        Nebraska Territory (Nebraska, NorthEast/NorthCentral Colorado, majority of
        Wyoming, WestCentral So.Dakota, Western No.Dakota and majority of Montana)
        and the Kansas Territory (Kansas and Central/Eastern Colorado).
        With an unorganized "public land strip" (Oklahoma panhandle).
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 04:30 BST (UK)
1858    Minnesota admitted to the Union as 32nd state.  Minnesota Territory
        reorganized, consists of Central/East No.Dakota and So.Dakota.

1859    Oregon admitted to the Union as 33rd state.  Remainder of Oregon
        Territory (Southern Idaho and WestCentral Wyoming) added to the Washington
        Territory.

1861    Utah Territory reorganized into the Colorado Territory (West half of
        Colorado), the Utah Territory (Utah) and the Nevada Territory (Nevada-North
        of 36 degrees 30 min).  SouthWest Wyoming added to the Nebraska Territory.

1861    Kansas admitted to the Union as 34th state.  Remainder of Kansas
        Territory (Central/Eastern Colorado) added to the Colorado Territory.

1861    Nebraska Territory and remainder of Minnesota Territory reorganized
        into the Dakota Territory (So.Dakota, No.Dakota, North half of Wyoming, and
        majority of Montana) and the Nebraska Territory (Nebraska and South half of
        Wyoming).  NorthEast/NorthCentral Colorado added to the Colorado Territory.
        Far SouthEast corner of Washington Territory (SouthCentral Wyoming) added to
        the Nebraska Territory.

1861    ?New Mexico Territory "piece" of Colorado added to the Colorado Territory?

1863    New Mexico Territory reorganized into the Arizona Territory (Arizona)
        and the New Mexico Territory (New Mexico).
        ?Nevada "piece" added to the Nevada Territory?

1863    Washington Territory reorganized into the Washington Territory (Washington)
        and the Idaho Territory (Idaho, Western Montana and WestCentral Wyoming).
        Vancouver Island in dispute with Great Britain until 1872.

1863    Dakota Territory reorganized, now consists of North and South Dakota,
        with the remainder (North half of Wyoming and majority of Montana) added
        to the Idaho Territory.

1863    West Virginia separates from Virginia, admitted to the Union as 35th state.

1864    Montana Territory (Montana) created from Idaho Territory.
        Remainder of Idaho Territory consists of Idaho and North half of Wyoming.

1864    Nevada admitted to the Union as 36th state.

1867    Alaska purchased from Russia.

1867    Nebraska admitted to the Union as 37th state.
        Remainder of territory (South half of Wyoming) added to the Idaho Territory.

1868    Idaho Territory reorganized into the Wyoming Territory (Wyoming)
        and the Idaho Territory (Idaho).

1872    Treaty with Great Britain setting the "Strait of Juan De Fuca", South
        of Vancouver Island, as the boundry.

1876    Colorado admitted to the Union as 38th state.

1889    North Dakota admitted to the Union as 39th state.
        South Dakota admitted to the Union as 40th state.
        Montana admitted to the Union as 41st state.
        Washington admitted to the Union as 42nd state.

1890    Idaho admitted to the Union as 43rd state.
        Wyoming admitted to the Union as 44th state.

1896    Utah admitted to the Union as 45th state.

1898    Hawaiian Islands acquired.
        Acquired the Islands of Porto Rico, Guam, Midway and Wake.
        Philippine Islands acquired.

1899    Samoa Islands acquired.

1900    Territory of Hawaii organized.

1907    Oklahoma admitted to the Union as 46th state.

1912    Territory of Alaska organized.

1912    New Mexico admitted to the Union as 47th state.
        Arizona admitted to the Union as 48th state.

1917    Virgin Islands (Danish West Indies) acquired.

1959    Alaska admitted to the Union as 49th state.
        Hawaii admitted to the Union as 50th state.
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: barryd on Tuesday 26 April 16 05:19 BST (UK)
"1863 West Virginia separates from Virginia, admitted to the Union as 35th state". ILLEGALLY!
However there is no point in righting the wrong as Virginia would never accept West Virginia back.
Technically there should be only 49 stars on the US flag.   
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 07:16 BST (UK)
Thanks for that Barryd. That is interesting/good extra details to know.

(Edit post: Sorry if this is briefly abit off-topic but just a thought on that "illegally": Legalities only really matter to those whom they serve. It was illegal for the meter reader to break and enter by picking my door lock on the 15th feb, but no one cares. If God is true then it is illegal to break the sabbath, and illegal/unclean for them to poison our/my water with fluoride and alluminium. The "pope" [really Emperor] may perhaps say Europe & USA etc are legally part of the empire ("(King) Arthur" broke from empire? USA broke from UK)? Most all law(s) is covered in one law "love your neighbour as yourself" / "do unto others as would have done to you".)


I just thought that i had better search for the original sources that the 2 texts above are from just in case any copyright dispute or moderator warning.

cominganarchy.com/2010/05/25/which-jefferson/

usgenmap.rootsweb.ancestry.com/us1783.htm

Here's hoping that someone can help me find the map/book that i mentioned in the original post.
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: aghadowey on Tuesday 26 April 16 09:55 BST (UK)
New York (New Amsterdam) once claimed all the islands in Long Island Sound along the Connecticut coast. See here (https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=v8DeCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=new+york+ownership+of+islands+in+long+island+sound&source=bl&ots=cpaX4P3ax4&sig=IHjqpJ_Ti9xB2pL-OOT3pVm7FnQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi62vTv9qvMAhWrKsAKHfW1CNYQ6AEIMzAE#v=onepage&q=new%20york%20ownership%20of%20islands%20in%20long%20island%20sound&f=false)
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Tuesday 26 April 16 11:45 BST (UK)
Thanks for that Aghadowey.
I wonder if that book may have the map that i am looking for in it? (It is obviously not the same book as the genealogy book though.) I wouldn't want to buy it to find out it doesn't though. (Side note: It says the book is by Gary Alden Smith, that is the first time i have seen someone else with the same name Alden as my high school friend.)

(I was recently thinking that 'Empire State' seemed maybe a strange name for New York. Even though they say it is because leading position in population, wealth, and commercial enterprise. Is it connected with British Empire, or Roman Empire??)

New York was New Netherland incl New Amsterdam. (Some have called it New Jerusalem.)

New Sweden incl New Stockholm was roughly New Jersey?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Sweden
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport,_New_Jersey )

I think that the same book with the map in it that i am looking for that i mentioned in original post said USA only chose English over German as national language by a few percent or few votes.

Edited by moderator
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Thursday 28 April 16 07:50 BST (UK)

I can't believe that no one knows or has seen the book and/or map that i asked about in the original post. (Though topic has only been read 130 times.)

Found some more info of interest, but still not found the book/map i need that i asked help to find.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_regions_of_the_United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_evolution_of_the_United_States
plus the other two i already posted
usgenmap.rootsweb.ancestry.com/us1783.htm
cominganarchy.com/2010/05/25/which-jefferson/
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 28 April 16 09:34 BST (UK)
Number of times a thread has been read is not the same thing as the number of people reading it. In this instance I've probably read it around a dozen times.

You've only posted a few days ago so you'll need to be patient. Looking for a picture of a map in a book whose title you can't remember is a bit more difficult than asking to find a death record, census record, etc.
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: RJ137 on Thursday 28 April 16 16:37 BST (UK)
I have no knowledge of the book you are talking about, but everything you mentioned is on the below website. ( I have Texas linked)

http://www.mapofus.org/texas/

Just click on a state from the left margin and it will show  map of the state. Below the map is the County Formation years. The years listed are years when there was a change. Click on a year and the map will change with a text description in the upper right corner of the map with a description what change occurred.

I personally use the county census year maps and overlays in researching. Often a person may have never moved but description of their location on censuses can indicate they have when actually it was the boundaries is what changed. Or a territory or district in an earlier census is made into or added to a county(s) in later censuses.
Title: Re: States boundaries changes
Post by: ealdred on Friday 29 April 16 07:39 BST (UK)

Ok Thanks Aghadowey. I guess the internet does tend to make even me unrealisingly impatient. (I also have had no response to the other two topics on Italian pow and on Bambrough.)
(I know/knew that the number of times read includes number of readings by same people including me.)

Thanks for the site link RJ.

I do still need/want to be able to find the map/book if i can. The map was very handy just like how RJ says that site is. I was able to look at it all in one map without having to be online or go through many pages.

The book was i think a genealogy basics/starters book. It had the map showing all the usa states boundaries changes, and a map of usa aquistitions, plus it mentioned in it that USA chose English over German by only a couple of votes or percent. I thought someone might recognise the map description.