Oregon Territory

The Oregon Territory was a region in the Pacific Northwest of North America, reaching from what is now northern California to southern Alaska, and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples and was explored by European and American traders and settlers. In 1846, the United States and Britain agreed to split the land, and the territory became part of the U.S. in 1848, eventually evolving into the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of others. The area was important for fur trading, agriculture, and its strategic location along scenic and navigable waterways.