Washington became a U.S. state on November 11, 1889, when it was admitted as the 42nd state in the Union.

It was organized earlier as Washington Territory on March 2, 1853, after being split from the larger Oregon Territory.

Quick Scoop: Key Dates

  • Territory created: March 2, 1853 (Washington Territory established from northern Oregon Territory).
  • Statehood granted: November 11, 1889 (official admission to the Union as the 42nd state).
  • Name origin: Named after George Washington, the first U.S. president, and it remains the only state named after a U.S. president.

Short Story Version

For decades, the area that is now Washington was part of Oregon Territory, which itself only took shape in the mid‑1800s.

Settlers north of the Columbia River wanted their own political voice, so they pushed Congress to carve out a separate region, which became Washington Territory in 1853.

Over the next generation, population growth, economic development (timber, mining, and trade), and several failed bids for statehood set the stage for admission.

After Washington residents drafted and approved a state constitution in 1889, President Benjamin Harrison issued the proclamation that made Washington a state on November 11, 1889, triggering celebrations in Olympia and beyond.

Timeline Snapshot

  • 1848: Oregon becomes a U.S. territory, including present‑day Washington.
  • March 2, 1853: U.S. Congress creates Washington Territory; President Millard Fillmore signs it into law.
  • 1863: Washington Territory’s boundaries shrink to roughly the current state shape after Idaho Territory is created.
  • Summer–Fall 1889: Delegates meet in Olympia to draft a state constitution; voters approve it on October 1, 1889.
  • November 11, 1889: President Benjamin Harrison proclaims Washington’s admission as the 42nd state; its “admission into the Union is complete.”

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