Orleans, Territory of
ORLEANS, TERRITORY OF
ORLEANS, TERRITORY OF. The Territory of Orleans was so called only during the period of American territorial government. The region, now the state of Louisiana, was first claimed by France in 1682. Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, then governor of Louisiana, founded New Orleans in 1718 and made it the capital in 1722. Louisiana was ceded to Spain in 1762, returned to France in 1800, and sold to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The Territory of Orleans, approved 26 March 1804, included most of the present state of Louisiana. William Claiborne was governor throughout the territorial period. The state of Louisiana was admitted 30 April 1812.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Conrad, Glenn R., ed. The French Experience in Louisiana. Lafayette: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1995.
Din, Gilbert C., ed. The Spanish Presence in Louisiana, 1763– 1803. Lafayette: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1996.
Edgar B.Nixon/h. s.