Colonial Land Claims

At end of Revolutionary War.

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.

Click to enlarge and view picture.

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.

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.

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.