A division of the
United States definitely set apart for the Indians, June 30, 1834, lat. 33° 35′ to 37° N., long.
94° 20′ to 103°
W. Oklahoma and
Kansas are on the north,
Missouri and
Arkansas to the east, and
Texas on the south and west.
Area, 31,400 square miles.
Population, 1890, about 75,000; 1900, 392,060.
Its former area has been reduced by the loss of the “
Cherokee strip,” added to
Oklahoma.
Cherokees get lands west of the
Mississippi by treaty......May 6, 1828
Grant (5,000,000 acres in the north and northwest) further confirmed by treaty......Feb. 4, 1833
Their final removal effected by treaty......Dec. 29, 1835
Choctaws receive lands (6,668,000 acres in the southwest) by treaty......Sept. 27, 1830
Their removal was gradual, mostly in......1838
Creeks are granted land in the
Territory by treaty......March 24, 1832
Grant defined, 3,215,495 acres in the eastern part by a further treaty......Feb. 14, 1833
Their removal was gradual, mostly in......1838
Seminoles are allotted lands here by treaty......March 28, 1833
It was not until after the
Seminole War that they were removed to the
Territory, the last leaving
Florida......1858
[They have some 200,000 acres, central.]
Chickasaws receive land in the
Territory by treaty......May 24, 1834
[Removal effected gradually, mostly in 1838.
They occupy about 4,377,000 acres in the south.]
Besides these five civilized tribes, Congress has from time to time located other tribes and fragments of tribes in this Territory.
Large sections of the
Territory being occupied, the
Creek,
Seminole, and other tribes cede lands to the
United States, which are incorporated into
Oklahoma.
The
Cherokee strip opened for public settlement......Sept. 16, 1893
Choctaws and Chickasaws agree to distribute the common land to the individual members of the tribes......April 23, 1897
Creek or
Muscogee Indians agree to give each citizen member of the tribe 160 acres of the common land......March 1, 1901
Seminole Indians agree to divide their lands into three classes, valued at $5, $2.50 and $1.25 per acre respectively, and to allot an equal value in lands to each member of the tribe......April 23, 1897
Banking.
In 1900 there were thirty-three national banks in operation, having $1,400,630 in capital, $482,970 in outstanding circulation, and $437,500 in
United States bonds.
There were also thirty-one State banks, with $473,833 capital, and $44,051 surplus; and three private banks, with $80,000 capital.
Churches and education.
The strongest denominations in the
Territory are the
Methodist Episcopal, South; regular
Baptist, South; Disciples of
Christ; Presbyterian, North;
Roman Catholic; Cumberland Presbyterian; Church of God; and
African Methodist.
In 1899 there were 387 Evangelical Sunday-schools, with 2,942 officers and teachers, and 16,393 scholars.
There are no general school statistics, but the Five Nations, the United States government, and religious societies support over 400 schools.
There were in 1899 four public high and ten private secondary schools, the Indian University at Bacone, and Henry Kendall College at
Muscogee.
Railroads.
The total length of railroads within the
Territory, Jan. 1, 1901, was 1,501 miles, of which 158 miles were constructed during the previous year.
Post-offices and periodicals.—In 1901 there were 527 post-offices of all grades,
[
329]
and ninety-four periodicals, of which nine were daily, eighty-one weekly, three monthly, and one bimonthly.
Territorial government.
Each of the five great nations is allowed self-government under officers chosen by popular election.
Each nation maintains educational institutions in addition to those supported by the United States government and by religious organizations.
The United States treasury holds trust funds for the
Territory exceeding $8,000,000, the interest of which is paid regularly to the national treasuries.
Indiana 
