Alabama Territory
Encyclopedia
The Territory of Alabama (sometimes Alabama Territory[n]) was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 15, 1817, until December 14, 1819, when it was admitted to the Union
as the State of Alabama.
becoming the State of Mississippi on December 10, 1817.
Located in the central area of the Alabama Territory, St. Stephens
, on the Tombigbee River
, was the only territorial capital
. William Wyatt Bibb
was the only territorial governor.
On December 14, 1819, two years and four months after the Alabama Territory was created, Alabama
was admitted to the union as the 22nd U.S. state
, with William Wyatt Bibb
also becoming the first state governor (1819–1820).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as the State of Alabama.
History
Although the Alabama Territory was designated by an Act of Congress on 3 March 1817, it did not become effective until 5 months later on 15 August 1817. The delay was due to a provision in the Congressional Act which stated that the Act would take effect only if and when Mississippi formed a State Constitution. That event took place on 15 August 1817, with Mississippi TerritoryMississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
becoming the State of Mississippi on December 10, 1817.
Located in the central area of the Alabama Territory, St. Stephens
St. Stephens, Alabama
St. Stephens is an unincorporated census-designated place in Washington County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 495. Located near the Tombigbee River in the southwestern part of the state, it is composed of two distinct sites: Old St. Stephens and New St. Stephens....
, on the Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
, was the only territorial capital
Territorial capital
A territorial capital serves as the seat of a territory. It is usually temporary and changes when the territory is divided into separate districts....
. William Wyatt Bibb
William Wyatt Bibb
William Wyatt Bibb was a United States Senator from Georgia and the first Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama. Bibb County, Alabama, and Bibb County, Georgia, are named for him....
was the only territorial governor.
On December 14, 1819, two years and four months after the Alabama Territory was created, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
was admitted to the union as the 22nd U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
, with William Wyatt Bibb
William Wyatt Bibb
William Wyatt Bibb was a United States Senator from Georgia and the first Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama. Bibb County, Alabama, and Bibb County, Georgia, are named for him....
also becoming the first state governor (1819–1820).
See also
- Historic regions of the United StatesHistoric regions of the United StatesThis is a list of historic regions of the United States.-Colonial era :-The Thirteen Colonies:* Connecticut Colony* Delaware Colony* Province of Georgia* Province of Maryland...
- History of AlabamaHistory of AlabamaAlabama became a state of the United States of America on December 14, 1819. After the Indian Wars and removals of the early 19th century forced most Native Americans out of the state, white settlers arrived in large numbers....
- Mobile DistrictMobile DistrictThe Mobile District was an administrative region of the Spanish territory of West Florida, which became part of the independent Republic of West Florida on September 23, 1810. The region was bounded in the north by the 31st parallel, in the south by the Gulf of Mexico, in the east by the Perdido...
- Territorial evolution of the United StatesTerritorial evolution of the United StatesThis is a list of the evolution of the borders of the United States. This lists each change to the internal and external borders of the country, as well as status and name changes. It also shows the surrounding areas that eventually became part of the United States...
- Territories of SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:- La FloridaSpanish FloridaSpanish Florida refers to the Spanish territory of Florida, which formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire. Originally extending over what is now the southeastern United States, but with no defined boundaries, la Florida was a component of...
, 1565–1763 - Florida OccidentalWest FloridaWest Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
, 1783–1821
- La Florida
- Territory of the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:- West FloridaWest FloridaWest Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
, 1763–1783
- West Florida
- U.S. states that ceded territorial claimsState cessionsThe state cessions are those areas of the United States that the separate states ceded to the federal government in the late 18th and early 19th century...
that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:- State of South Carolina, 1787
- State of GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 1803 (sold the Yazoo landsYazoo landsThe Yazoo lands were the sparsely-populated central and western areas of the U.S. state of Georgia, when its western border stretched back to the Mississippi River. It was named for the Yazoo tribe of Native Americans. Several other places and things were named Yazoo, either for or along with the...
to the U.S.)
- U.S. territory with land that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:
- Territory of Mississippi, 1798–1817
- U.S. stateU.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
created from the Territory of Alabama:- State of Alabama, December 14, 1819
- Territories of Spain