In 1861, the United States Congress passed a bill that formed Dakota Territory. Two days before his presidential term was over, President James BuchananU.S. President who signed the bill that created Dakota Territory signed the bill, which placed the present-day states of North Dakota, South Dakota, most of Montana, and most of Wyoming into Dakota Territory.• Originally made up of North Dakota, South Dakota, most of Montana, and most of Wyoming
• Later reduced to North Dakota and South Dakota
Early North Dakota Homestead. (Hultstrand Collection, Institute for Regional Studies, NDSU, 2028.259)