Washington State History
Some key dates in the history of Washington leading up to statehood are listed below. For more information, I encourage you to visit History Link, The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History.
1805
- Lewis and Clark Expedition enters the present state of Washington on October 10.
- Lewis and Clark Expedition reaches the Columbia River on October 16.
- Members of Lewis and Clark expedition vote in the first recorded election in the Pacific Northwest on November 24.
1818-1819
- Great Britain and the United States sign the Treaty of Joint Occupation of Oregon on October 20, 1818.
- Spain cedes its original Pacific Northwest claims to the United States in the
- Transcontinental Treaty of 1819.
- Members of Lewis and Clark expedition vote in the first recorded election in the Pacific
- Northwest on November 24.
1836
- Beaver, Puget Sound’s first steamship, sails from Fort Vancouver on June 18.
1845-1846
- Provisional government of Oregon Territory creates Clark County, covering all of present-day Washington, on August 20, 1845.
- Britain cedes claims to the Pacific Northwest by signing the Treaty of Oregon on June 15, 1846.
1849
- U. S. Army’s Fort Steilacoom established.
- U.S. troops establish Columbia Barracks at Fort Vancouver.
1850
- Isaac Ebey is first permanent settler on Whidbey Island.
- Donation Land Claim Act takes effect on September 11.
- Hudson’s Bay Co. establishes a fishing station on San Juan Island.
1851
- Denny party lands at Alki Point (near site of Seattle) on November 13, 1851.
1852
- Washington’s first newspaper, the Columbian, begins publication at Olympia on September 11.
1853
- Oregon Legislature creates Island County on January 6.
- U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory on March 2.
1854-1855
- Eight counties, including Whatcom County, are incorporated in 1854.
- Several treaties are signed with American Indian nations.
- Medicine Creek Treaty signed on December 26, 1854.
- Point Elliott Treaty signed on January 22, 1855.
- Treaty of Point No Point signed on January 26, 1855.
- Treaty of Neah Bay signed on January 31, 1855.
1859
- Olympia, third territorial town and future capital, incorporated.
- Frost and Fowler establish a store at Mukilteo, the first Snohomish County settlement.
1861-1870
- Washington Territorial Legislature creates Snohomish County (out of Island County) on January 14, 1861.
- President Abraham Lincoln signs law separating new Idaho Territory from Washington on March 4, 1863.
- Western Union transcontinental telegraph line reaches Seattle on October 25, 1864.
- Road completed over Snoqualmie Pass by October 7, 1867.
- Town of Seattle is formed in 1865, but legislature voids its charter two years later. The City of Seattle is incorporated on December 2, 1869.
- Jasper Gates settles Mount Vernon (now in Skagit County) 1870.
1861-1870
- Washington Territorial Legislature creates San Juan County (out of Whatcom County) on October 31, 1873.
- David Batey and Joseph Hart arrive in Sedro (now in Skagit County) 1878.
- Seattle’s first telephone line is installed in 1878.
- Rutherford B. Hayes visits Puget Sound cities in October 1880 during the first trip west of the Rockies by a U.S. President.
1881-1890
- Women win, lose, regain, and again lose right to vote in Territorial elections between 1883 and 1888.
- Northern Pacific Railroad’s mainline between Washington and Minnesota is completed at Gold Creek, Montana, on September 8, 1883.
- Washington Territorial Legislature creates Skagit County (out of Whatcom County) on November 28, 1883.
- John McMillan establishes Roche Harbor (San Juan County) Limestone in 1886.
- Great fire burns Seattle on June 6, 1889.
- Washington becomes a state, November 11, 1889.
