Oklahoma Territory

Oklahoma Territory was a region within the United States that was established in 1890. Initially, much of this land was designated as Indian Territory, where various Native American tribes were forcibly relocated between 1830 and 1843. This territory was set aside specifically for Indigenous peoples.1

Over time, the western portion of Indian Territory was ceded back to the United States. In 1890, this section was organized as the Territory of Oklahoma. Eventually, this territory expanded to include all the lands previously ceded in 1866. In 1907, the Territory of Oklahoma and Indian Territory were united and admitted to the Union as the state of Oklahoma. The region has a long history of human occupation, dating back to ancient cultures like Clovis and Folsom around 9500 BCE.12