IN.gov - Skip Navigation

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.

IHB > Shop > Books Listed by Topic > The Indiana Historian > Search for a New Capital, Part 1 > Search for a New Capital, Part 1 - Timeline Search for a New Capital, Part 1 - Timeline

1800

May 7--Indiana Territory established (including what would become Illinois, Wisconsin, and portions of Michigan and Minnesota) with its capital at Vincennes.

1804

December 5--Territory moves into second stage of government, allowing for election of a General Assembly.

1805

January 11--Michigan Territory formed.

1809

February 3--Illinois Territory formed.

1810

December 17, 19--Acts establish a permanent seat of government for Indiana Territory.

1811

January 7--Indiana Territorial General Assembly petitions United States Congress for a donation of land for a capital.

1813

March 11--Act moves the seat of government from Vincennes to Corydon.

Sources: Hawkins, Indiana's Road to Statehood; Ewbank, Laws of Indiana Territory, 1809-1816.

Achieving Statehood timeline

1811

December 11--Territorial Assembly petitions Congress to admit Indiana into the Union.

1812

March 31--Congressional committee recommends admission when the population of Indiana Territory is 35,000.

1813

March 3--Thomas Posey becomes second governor of Indiana Territory. Harrison resigned to pursue a military commission.

1814

August 29--Territorial census authorized in 1815; showed population at 63,897.

1815

December 11--Territorial Assembly again petitions Congress to admit Indiana into the Union.

1816

April 19--President James Madison approves the Enabling Act allowing for the Indiana Constitutional Convention.

August 5--Elections held under new constitution; Jonathan Jennings became first state governor.

December 11--Indiana becomes nineteenth state.

Sources: Barnhart and Riker, Indiana to 1816; Hawkins, Indiana's Road to Statehood; Kettleborough, Constitution Making.

Stay Connected

You are leaving the IN.gov website. By clicking OK, you will be taken to a website that is not affiliated with the State of Indiana and may have different privacy and security policies. The State of Indiana is not responsible for, and does not endorse, guarantee, or monitor content, availability, viewpoints, products, or services that are offered or expressed on this non IN.gov portal website.