State of Washington,
Created from
Washington Territory, which was originally a part of
Oregon, and was the most northwestern portion of the republic until
Alaska was purchased.
It is bounded on the north by
Canada.
The first American settlement in the limits of the
State was at
Tumwater, in 1845, by a few families who had crossed the plains.
Before that the only white dwellers were employes of the Hudson Bay Company.
Washington Territory was set apart from
Oregon by act of Congress, March 2, 1853.
When
Oregon became a State, Feb. 14, 1859, Congress added to
Washington Territory the region between the eastern boundary of that State and the
Rocky Mountains, embracing the present
State of Idaho and parts of
Montana and
Wyoming.
The San
[
191]
Juan Islands, formerly claimed by
Great Britain, were decided, in 1872, by the arbitration of the
Emperor of
Germany,
to belong to the
United States.
Washington was admitted as a State in 1889.
Olympia is the capital.
The population in 1890 was 349,390; in 1900, 518,103.
See
United States, Washington, vol.
IX.
Washington, treaty of