Mississippi admitted as the 20th U.S. state

Background. The Mississippi Territory was an organized incorporated territory created by an organic act passed by Congress. It existed for 19 years before being dissolved on December 10, 1817. Federal statutes enacted on March 1 and 3, 1817, provided the legal framework for dividing the territory. The plan established the western portion as the state of Mississippi and the eastern portion as the Alabama Territory, setting the stage for the admission event.

Legislative Process. The admission was finalized on December 10, 1817, when the western portion of the Mississippi Territory was admitted to the Union. This action followed the legislative plan established earlier in the year. The territory's dissolution marked the transition from territorial governance to statehood. The event was part of a broader division of the territory, which also involved the creation of the Alabama Territory in the east.

Territorial Context. At the time of statehood in 1817, the Mississippi Territory comprised 14 counties. The population had grown significantly from less than 9,000 in 1798 to more than 22,000 by 1820. Migration waves, particularly after the War of 1812, contributed to this demographic shift. The territory's borders had been defined by earlier expansions, including disputed areas claimed by Spain.