Statehood 1821

Missouri

The Missouri region was claimed by France in 1682 as part of Louisiana and saw small French settlements established over the following decades. Spain acquired the territory secretly via the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762), taking possession of St. Louis and Upper Louisiana in the late 1760s, though maintaining little presence across the broader Illinois Country. France briefly regained the territory via the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso (1800) before Napoleon sold it to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Following an organized territorial period as the Territory of Missouri (1812–1821), Missouri was admitted to the Union in 1821 following the Missouri Compromise.

Statehood
1821
Historic sites
2,494
Military engagements
792

Pre-contact era

The history of Missouri begins with settlement of the region by indigenous people during the Paleo-Indian period beginning in about 12,000 BC. Subsequent periods of native life emerged until the 17th century, when European powers began establishing a presence in the region.

Colonial history

The area was under French control from 1682 to 1762. French Louisiana was not widely developed, due to a lack of human and financial resources.

Spain also took possession of the trading post of St. Louis and all of Upper Louisiana in the late 1760s, though there was little Spanish presence in the wide expanses of what they called the 'Illinois Country'. Spanish Louisiana was a province of New Spain from 1762 to 1801.

The area was under French control in part from 1801 to 1803. Spain agreed to continue administering the colony until French officials arrived and formalized the transfer, so the French period was brief and largely administrative.

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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
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Explore Missouri records

2,494
National Register historic sites
National Register listings ›
792
Military engagements
Military history records ›
2
Civil War regiments
Union, Confederate, USCT ›
2
Indigenous groups
Heritage records ›
30
Notable figures
Born in Missouri ›
38
Colonial-era events
1492 to early statehood ›
Missouri counties
Census population history ›
Sources

State history content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Historic sites data: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

About Missouri

When did Missouri become a state?
Missouri was admitted to the Union in 1821.
What European powers colonized Missouri?
The territory that became Missouri passed through several colonial periods. The area was under French control from 1682 to 1762. French Louisiana was not widely developed, due to a lack of human and financial resources. Spain also took possession of the trading post of St. Louis and all of Upper Louisiana in the late 1760s, though there was little Spanish presence in the wide expanses of what they called the 'Illinois Country'. Spanish Louisiana was a province of New Spai
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